Conan O’Brien Surprises in A24’s Dark Drama: Early Buzz Has Fans Stoked

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As a dedicated film enthusiast for quite some time now, I’ve always been captivated by Conan O’Brien‘s comedic prowess. Yet, an intriguing thought has crossed my mind: wouldn’t it be fascinating to witness him venture into the realm of drama? Despite his humble assertions that he lacks the talent for acting and his self-deprecating remarks about his abilities, I firmly believe this perceived inadequacy could serve as a powerful motivator. It fuels my anticipation to one day see him deliver a sincere and moving performance on the silver screen.

Indeed, it seems that sometimes dreams do come to pass as O’Brien has been cast in an upcoming A24 production titled “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You“. At first glance, the title might suggest a comedy, but the movie’s narrative is far from jest. To discover more about the storyline, O’Brien’s role, and my excitement for this project, continue reading below.

Who Conan O’Brien Plays In If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Though Conan O’Brien has often popped up in various roles (typically as himself) and played a significant part in “Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain” in 2023, it is unprecedented for the host of the widely acclaimed podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend”, to be featured in a production similar to “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”. This intriguing second film by writer and director Mary Bronstein, which made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January, features Golden Globe nominee Rose Byrne as Linda – a therapist grappling with a personal crisis involving her unwell child and missing spouse.

In my opinion, during the Q&A session at Sundance, the portrayal of Linda’s therapist, played by O’Brien, was rather harshly characterized as “a challenging individual” – to put it mildly. This unflattering depiction can be found in the post-screening footage shared by IONCINEMA on YouTube. Interestingly, O’Brien, known for his warm and generous public persona, delves into a dramatically contrasting role in this film, showcasing a side of him that is far from the affable image he has cultivated over his long career of interacting with people.

Reviews For The Film And Conan’s Performance Are Looking Good

After its debut, the movie “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” garnered a delightful 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have largely agreed on its daring storytelling about mental health through a contemporary female lens, its nerve-wracking content that borders on horror movie territory, and their astonishment at finding Conan O’Brien in such a film.

For many critics, though, his performance has elicited unexpected admiration due to its quality, even drawing praise from The New York Post, who deemed him “quite competent at portraying a cold, detached, seemingly emotionless character.” In an interview with SFGate during Sundance, Byrne herself commended O’Brien as a dedicated scene partner and highlighted his dedication to the role in the film’s most challenging and peculiar scenes.

I’ve Never Been More Excited To See A Dark, Existential Drama Like This

To put it simply, though I’ve long admired A24 productions and consider them my favorite studio, my curiosity about “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” wouldn’t have been piqued if Conan hadn’t been involved in the film.

Showing appreciation for movies that honestly portray mental health issues, I must admit I’m usually not eager for the type of introspective, unsettling stories this upcoming film seems to promise. Still, I find myself hoping it will be released in the 2025 movie schedule so I can witness O’Brien tackle this significant career milestone as soon as possible. It’s almost unbelievable to see my long-admired talk show host stepping into a serious drama role – something I never thought would happen – and now, it’s actually happening.

In other news related to Conan, he will be hosting the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025. How fantastic would it be if he were to appear again next year’s ceremony as a nominee for his role in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You“? But perhaps I should just enjoy that one dream of mine has come true and not get my hopes up too high for the moment.

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2025-02-01 01:07