Someone Finally Found the Perfect Use for Jack Black's Beard

It’s the day after the worst election result any of us could imagine, and since we’re being candid and trying to offer distraction, here’s a story: After my son received a bone marrow transplant to treat his cancer, his lungs mysteriously began to fail. He needed oxygen, and when that wasn’t enough and he continued to struggle to breathe, they put him on a ventilator. He’d lost nearly 30 pounds. He was sedated most of the time, and he wasn’t improving. This was during COVID. Though I knew he didn’t have COVID, I had no illusions about what it meant to be put on a ventilator.

We were in Boston, and my wife and I took turns living in his hospital room, one week at a time. The Friday night I was scheduled to leave was the lowest point of the entire ordeal. Of my life. I was terrified that if I left, Declan wouldn’t survive the week. I was afraid I might never see my son alive again.

The switch-off was at 5 p.m., but around 4:30, I received a video message from an A-list actor that some truly incredible people had arranged. The actor sang a Hebrew song and sent my son his best wishes. It was thoughtful and sweet and he even gave a shout-out to my son’s dog. I watched that video and broke down. I just completely lost it in that hospital room while sitting behind my son’s bed, listening to the hisses of that ventilator. I showed the video to Declan. He was barely conscious, but he registered it. Then, I switched off with my wife and drove back to Maine.

After that, my son started to get a little better. And then a little better still. Soon, he could watch the video of his favorite actor and retain it. And then he got even better. By the time I returned a week later, he was off the ventilator. He was eating the Egg McMuffins I went out to get him every morning until he weighed enough to be discharged. I don’t know if that video had anything to do with it, but it certainly didn’t hurt.

There’s little reason to have faith in America after last night, honestly. But I will say this: There are still good people who will take a few minutes to lift a sick child’s spirits. And it will mean everything to his father.

I’m not going to say who that A-list actor was because that wouldn’t be appropriate. But also, just look at who’s playing Satan in the new Farrelly Brothers comedy, Dear Santa. The film is about a kid who tries to send a letter to Santa and invite him to his home but misspells “Santa,” accidentally inviting Satan into his life. Jack Black is perfect for the role, according to Bobby Farrelly in Entertainment Weekly.

“Jack is just that guy—with his arching eyebrows and his expressions, there’s always a little bit of mischief to him, but he’s also incredibly likable. That’s just Jack. We never wanted to make it a horror movie; we wanted it to be comical. It was a delicate balance, playing this iconic character in a way that’s fun for the audience. And Jack was the perfect guy.”

Mostly, I’m just glad someone found a good use for that beard Jack Black has been sporting for the last five years.

via EW