By Allyson Johnson | Celebrity | December 30, 2023 |
By Allyson Johnson | Celebrity | December 30, 2023 |
It’s funny, if unsurprising that it has taken until The Iron Claw for people to reconsider Zac Efron’s star power. Directed by Sean Durkin, the based-on-true-events wrestling drama is catnip to industry types. No doubt a solid film as well, it’s clear how actors and Hollywood folk alike would lap up this type of role—it’s a big role based on a real person who was surrounded by tragedy and requires a specific, extreme level of physicality. Efron has long experienced a certain naked level of public scrutiny regarding his physical transformations, from speculation on plastic surgery to the shock at his physique around the release of Baywatch. In a way, it makes sense that his next move would be to utilize his physicality for a role that requires innate athleticism, and the awards chatter surrounding the film and hype about his performance seem to make it all worthwhile. That said, Efron has demonstrated that athleticism before; it just hasn’t been as critically heralded because it was in the form of a musical.
A fun fact about me is that in 2007, I saw Hairspray, directed by Adam Shankman, in theaters not once, not twice, but three times. I was a lazy musical theater person — I listened to the soundtracks of the BIG ones of the moment, like Spring Awakening and Wicked, but few more — and hadn’t been this committed to a movie musical since I first saw Moulin Rouge. At two hours long, the film didn’t capture my interest really, and I didn’t leave humming the songs. No, 16-year-old me wanted to see Efron as Link again, a supporting character, as he hilariously crooned the start of “Without Love” in a committed turn.
This isn’t just further evidence of teenagers being inherently embarrassing creatures and a reminder that Efron’s star power began early. While Efron has made a name for himself for a particular generation since his High School Musical days, his charisma has been best captured in the adaptation of Hairspray and, later, The Greatest Showman when he stole the film out from under Hugh Jackman, along with his comedic turn in the Seth Rogen Neighbors films. There’s even proof of his charisma in slighter films, such as the silly but entertaining 17 Again. These films should’ve gained him similar industry credibility, but instead, it’s the latest and grittier The Iron Claw that’s making the most noise.
For Efron, who has long experienced physical transformations, there’s no denying he’s a strong fit for the role of a wrestler in The Iron Claw. The hype is warranted for his turn, and he deserves accolades. It’s always exciting and revealing to see how Hollywood tends to praise these dramatic, bruising turns compared to comedies or other genres — such as musicals.
In theory, Efron should have attained a similar career to Channing Tatum, who also had to muscle his way through demonstrating his range of abilities before being taken “seriously.” Still, it’s his roles in films such as the lighthearted 21 Jump Street and his song and dance number in the Coen Brothers flick Hail Caesar that are truly demonstrative of his star power. In Foxcatcher, the film meant to certify him as a “real actor,” he delivers a devastating performance as someone who can barely understand how to express his emotions. In 21 Jump Street, he makes us laugh; when he sings ‘No Dames,’ we’re entertained. There’s a necessity for more triple threats and actors who can actually sing and dance rather than elbow their way through it, and people like Efron possess those abilities.
This is why Efron’s latest spark of critical success and platitudes due to The Iron Claw are so soaked in cynicism to me. Isn’t he demonstrating a certain level of credibility, physical control, and athleticism in his dancing as he is as a wrestler? Isn’t his timing and comedic literacy as deft and compelling as his ability to reduce a viewer to tears? What’s more challenging, making someone laugh or cry?
It’s not like all of Efron’s comedic or dramatic efforts have been worthwhile. From The Paperboy to Dirty Grandpa and last year’s Firestarter, he’s had a great many duds in his career as he’s tried to figure out what type of actor he is and the genres that best suit his abilities. But his charisma is abundant when he finds the proper role, be it while dancing and singing, making people laugh, or moving them to tears, such as in The Iron Claw. It’s just a shame that the Disney effect held on for so long that he needed to constantly prove himself when he’d been long overdue for his real “breakout moment.”