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Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Puff. Shimmy Shimmy Bop

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (32)

hanks_tom02.jpg

If you look at the world’s biggest movie stars — Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey, Nicolas Cage, Eddie Murphy, Johnny Depp, and Tom Hanks — there’s only one of those guys that seems like an honest to God down-to-Earth guy in real life, and that’s Tom Hanks (Johnny Depp is way too fucking cool to be down to Earth). He doesn’t always make movies I’m aching to see (e.g., Angels and Demons), but hardly anyone does the talk show circuit as well as Hanks does (in fact, as I’m writing this, I’m watching him on last night’s Letterman). He really is just a charming goddamn guy — a self-effacing, rock solid personable guy (and honestly, he should really do another comedy soon. He’s fucking gold in comedic roles).

Anyway, he was on some British talk show last week, “Friday Night with Jonathon Ross,” and the host asked him the sorts of things that people say to him on the street and one thing leads to another and before you know it, Tom Hanks is rocking the Big rap. I’m telling you — forget about the bad Robert Langdon hair, forget about The Polar Express and the somber movies he’s been making lately, and just bask in the awesomeness that is Tom Hanks. Check out this clip — it’s two minutes that will make you happy for the rest of the day.


(H/T Slashfilm)









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Comments

Hahaha, love it. DO ANOTHER COMEDY HANKS. And get your son to stop acting while you're at it.

Posted by: Mick J at May 12, 2009 10:53 AM

Aww. I need to see some GOOD Hanks movies.

Posted by: dsbs at May 12, 2009 10:58 AM

Like 'The Burbs'- that is a great movie, it's funny every time.

Posted by: workisboringpajibaisbetter at May 12, 2009 11:01 AM

That was the tits!!!
He needs to get back into comedy. "Bachelor Party" and "Philadelphia" are two of my favorite comedies.

Posted by: Kballs at May 12, 2009 11:04 AM

Nah, his best comedy was the one he did with the clown hair...The Da Vinci Code

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at May 12, 2009 11:11 AM

Aw. I love him more than my luggage.

Posted by: Janey at May 12, 2009 11:17 AM

Meet a tall and sexy girl on
– S e e k I n g T a l l.com --. I’m sure your lover is there.

Posted by: kate green at May 12, 2009 11:19 AM

I maintain that the greatest thing about Forrest Gump is that you can get blitzed quickly by drinking when he says "Jenny".

Posted by: Melody at May 12, 2009 11:25 AM

Definitely one of my favorite actors of all-time, and as you pointed out, Dustin, just a super cool guy, too.

I actually think Johnny Depp and Will Smith would be great to hang out with, too. Everything I read about Depp says that, despite his supreme badassness, he always stops and talks with fans and helps random people out with things as mundane as picking up groceries that have fallen on the sidewalk. And even though Will Smith has seemingly gone to the dark side in recent years with Scientology, he also seems like he would be a blast to just shoot the shit with at a bar. Like he would be the type of guy that would over-laugh at all of my jokes, just to be nice.

Besides, imagine the girls these two would attract. Spillover effect.

Posted by: Abe Froman at May 12, 2009 11:49 AM

I just saw The 'Burbs workisboringpajibaisbetter! Why doesn't Joe Dante direct more? Gremlins is the tits. Gremlins 2 is double d's. And The Burbs was awesome. (I shall rank it by cup-size upon more viewings)

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at May 12, 2009 11:57 AM

It has probably been done, but Abe has a pretty good idea for a comment diversion.
Which actor or actress would you want as your wingman? You would have to exclude TV characters, because otherwise Barney (NPH vesion, although simpsons would be an interesting choice) would clearly be the only acceptable answer.

Posted by: "luker" the barbarian at May 12, 2009 12:06 PM

You have hit a nerve, Rowles. I have a strong, somewhat-inexplicable loathing for the Hank. I think he's a middling actor at best. I will absolutely avoid a movie that he's in as I know that his presence will automatically mean that the movie's aimed low and will undoubtedly be heavy-handed. Flame away, but I have a visceral reaction to the dude.

That being said, I did watch a speech he gave at his daughter's graduation from Vassar and he seemed gracious and lovely. As for truly down-to-earth, I actually think Jim Carrey's the real deal.

Posted by: samantha t at May 12, 2009 12:12 PM

Oooooooh that really was wunnerful! And Tom Hanks is just a goddamn nice guy!

Posted by: Brite at May 12, 2009 12:14 PM

It has probably been done, but Abe has a pretty good idea for a comment diversion.
Which actor or actress would you want as your wingman? You would have to exclude TV characters, because otherwise Barney (NPH vesion, although simpsons would be an interesting choice) would clearly be the only acceptable answer.

Posted by: "luker" the barbarian at May 12, 2009 12:17 PM

stupid internet.

Sorry for the double post. It decides to resubmit things against my will.

Posted by: "luker" the barbarian at May 12, 2009 12:19 PM

Dustin, you have a heart.

Posted by: mograph at May 12, 2009 12:28 PM

Look no further than his relationship with his wife, Rita Wilson, who is wonderful and beautiful but not a stereotypical silicon Hollywood wife. They've been together a long time and pretty much picked up the torch from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward as the Hollywood couple you'd really want for next-door neighbors.

In terms of his range, just look at his most iconic roles and how far apart they are: Big, Philadelphia, Saving Private Ryan, and Forrest Gump, and that's pretty much ignoring his fantastic comedic roles. He does play the same character repeatedly in many of his other movies, but so did Jimmie Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Cary Grant ... everyone has a groove they use to get through 90% of their job.

Posted by: socalledonlycousins at May 12, 2009 12:39 PM

I've never much cared for meeting "stars" because it's usually such a letdown when fantasy meets reality but dammit if I wouldn't like to just hang out with Hanks at a bar and have some fun. The guy seems likable, down to earth and ready to have a good time no matter the circumstances. Same with Carrey, Depp and even Will Smith.
Hmmm... add Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson to the list. What a pub crawl THAT would be.

Posted by: Spender at May 12, 2009 12:43 PM

HA, that was so awesome. He seems like the nicest guy in the world. His wife is pretty cool, too.

Dude really needs to make another comedy soon. And NOT a romantic comedy.

Posted by: figgy at May 12, 2009 1:15 PM

Hell yeah, Spender. Emma Thompson sounds like she would be the most awesome bar buddy of all time.

Posted by: figgy at May 12, 2009 1:24 PM

While we're in a Hollywood-sequel-addicted-drunken-stupor can we mix in a little Joe Versus the Volcano 2: It's Terminal, For Real, Yo.

Posted by: gunnertec at May 12, 2009 1:37 PM

I love older Tom Hanks movies. The Man With One Red Shoe is awesome and I don't care what you say.

As far as the rap goes, I still break into "whoo, shanita" randomly sometimes, complete with arm motions.

Posted by: Sharon at May 12, 2009 2:41 PM

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what they call PURE JOY. Loved it.

As far as old school Hanks comedy goes, The Money Pit kills me every time. The look on his face when he grabs for the stair rail and it breaks off in his hand... priceless. Plus, he has one of the greatest laughs in the history of ever.

Posted by: Melissa at May 12, 2009 3:08 PM

You know, Samantha, I had a class with his daughter when I studied abroad in St Andrews, Scotland (it was her semester abroad too). She was super nice, down to earth, and smart as hell. She gave the asshole teacher quite the verbal smackdown when he was spouting his sexist crap. We both talked about going to women's colleges back in the states. Also, when the other students in class were talking about her spring break plans, she mentioned that her family was coming to visit her. It wasn't until later when I realized that her dad was Tom Hanks.

Posted by: sarahcat at May 12, 2009 5:54 PM

It should be "their spring break plans." Ugh, long day.

Posted by: sarahcat at May 12, 2009 5:55 PM

I avoid everything Tom Hanks is in like the plague these days, but show me Turner and Hooch on TBS on a Sunday and I am hooked. I adore old school comedy Hanks. Bring him back! Letter writing campaign?

As much as his nice guy persona grates sometimes, it does seem genuine. Go Hanks.

Posted by: Cara at May 12, 2009 7:35 PM

I for one would like to welcome the sausage king of Chicago.

Posted by: Jack Random at May 12, 2009 8:42 PM

Tom Hanks, I hereby issue you one free pass for life.

Posted by: Elfrieda at May 12, 2009 9:43 PM

Tom gets a temporary pass for "Bosom Buddies," but even he admits that he's only been in about four *good* movies out of--what?--fifty odd films. And in other interviews, he admits that the nice guy act is just that, an act. I'm convinced that he's just Sean Penn in a Tom Hanks mask.

Tom H.? Pass.

Posted by: Rosa at May 13, 2009 12:23 AM

You just can't fake being this affable.

Not and sustain it over this long a period of this long a time, over and over in interview after interview.

He really IS this nice a friggin' guy.

Unbelievable.

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at May 13, 2009 10:58 AM

Oh god, I hate it when I dislike someone for very good reasons (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, The Da Vinci Code, that thing with the basket ball) and they actually turn out to be really sweet and good-natured and funny. Damn you, Hanks, for being so likable.

He still hasn't made a good film since - er - parts of Saving Private Ryan.

Posted by: Caspar at May 13, 2009 11:48 AM

Sarahcat - you're making my hatred of Hanks harder and harder! Damn. Love that his daughter was just in the rabble with everybody else and that she's not pursuing some preposterous acting career on her father's coattails. Also love that she's not at one of the cookie-cutter Hollywood Ivies. I swear to God those people attend Columbia, Harvard, etc. not b/c of the academics but merely because people who watch movies would recognize the names.

Posted by: samantha t at May 13, 2009 12:18 PM