Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons just starred in “The Late Bloomer,” which is now available on VOD and out in limited theaters. Simmons’ character in the movie is the father of 27-year-old Peter (Johnny Simmons), who has never gone through puberty due to a brain tumor. After the tumor is removed, Peter goes through three weeks of intense, catch-up puberty. Sex-based comedic hijinks ensue.
“He’s only a teenager below the waist,” Simmons explained while talking to The Huffington Post about his fictional son in the film. “That was a big part of what makes this movie unique.” Most comedies in this genre focus on confused high school teens ― such as Jason Biggs’ “American Pie” character, who copulates with a pie. Due to the age of the protagonist and the relationship he has with his father, “The Late Bloomer” raises a few more questions about what it means to be a man, compared to the typical sex-based romp.
“Sex is good,” Simmons said with a laugh. “The thing that I found fun and interesting about the father-son relationship here is, this guy, he doesn’t understand at all what is going on with his kid. When his kid was 12 or 14 or 15 [Simmons’ character] was kind of giving him the talk and ready for the kid to do the whole puberty thing. And it kind of never happened.”
Simmons’ character James is initially a bit disapproving of his kid pre-puberty because his son is a sex therapist who gives speeches on the values of oppressing sexual urges. “He suppresses people’s natural desires, strike up the band,” says Simmons’ character at one point, referring to his son.
The actor told HuffPost that he hopes “we live in this time of acceptance of hopefully everybody,” but there are still father and son relationships that test those boundaries.
“There’s definitely still that element of that old school ― like father, like son ― thing,” said Simmons. “A dad wants his kid to be like him and be a man in all those sorts of traditional senses of the word and I think this is something that this guy kind of gave up on 15 years ago. Now that it’s happening and there’s actually a medical explanation that makes sense, it’s fun for him to vicariously enjoy his son’s sexual awakening.”
Simmons’ character in “The Late Bloomer” continues a line in his long history of playing disapproving, traditional father figures. Earlier this year, he made fun of himself for this recurrence on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” participating in a segment called “Stern Father Finally Praises You.”
Although he didn’t technically play the father of the main character in “Whiplash,” Simmons won his first Academy Award in 2015 for portraying a screaming, overbearing teacher-turned-father-figure in that movie.
Colbert asked the actor why he thinks he gets typecast in that role, and Simmons had this to say: “You know, I used to think it was just because I’m like a bald guy with a low voice, so I play stern, authoritative figures. But I think really it’s just, I think my inner-curmudgeon is just not as inner as I think it is.” He also joked his kids make fun of him for always playing “the stern dad.”
Well, J.K. Simmons, you’re damn good at it.
Here’s the trailer for “The Late Bloomer.”
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