Tangled Magazine

Seann William Scott seeks ‘Promotion’

BY MARSHALL FINE

It’s every actor’s fear: finding a role so juicy that it launches his career - and then pigeonholes him as that character for the rest of his life.

In the case of Seann William Scott, it could be called the Curse of Steve Stifler - the role of the obnoxious, oversexed teen in “American Pie” that introduced him to a mass audience. But Scott is hoping his latest film, “The Promotion,” will reverse the curse.

“On the one hand, [Stifler] created a real career for me,” says Scott, 31. “It gave me the opportunity to take care of my family. But it really is this one-dimensional, over-the-top, silly, stupid character. Thank God that Steve [Conrad] said, ‘I can see beyond that.’”

Conrad, who wrote and directed “The Promotion,” opening Friday, thinks Scott is selling himself short.

“Among my friends who are directors, he’s talked about as a gifted comic actor,” says Conrad. “To just think of him as Stifler is an easy mistake to make. Seann has a real knack for playing into what’s funny in any given circumstance.”

In “The Promotion,” Scott plays Doug, assistant manager of a grocery store in Chicago. When the grocery chain selects a site for a new Chicago store, Doug becomes the front runner to manage it, which will allow him and his wife (Jenna Fischer) to ditch their cramped apartment for a house.

But his dream seems blocked when the chain brings in Richard (John C. Reilly), another assistant manager, to Doug’s store - and Richard announces he’s applying for the same job.

The film is neither raucous nor slapstick, focusing instead on the humor created by the stress of workaday life. It’s a welcome change, Scott says, from Stifler and similar roles he played in “Road Trip” (2000), “Evolution” (2001) and 2005’s “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

“As much fun as it is to be that stupid-crazy, wild guy, I was never that guy in high school,” says Scott. “What’s nice about ‘The Promotion’ is that it deals with things that feel a little more human.”

A native of suburban Minneapolis, Scott grew up hoping to be a baseball player. Unfulfilled by athletics, he moved to Los Angeles to give acting a try. He landed occasional roles, supporting himself with odd jobs like being the host at a California Pizza Kitchen.

Scott, in fact, was working at a Home Depot while shooting “American Pie.” One day during production, a producer called him aside and said, “I think you’re stealing this movie.” To which the inexperienced Scott replied, “I’m sorry” - then realized it was a compliment.

Though he has worked steadily as an actor since “American Pie,” Scott recognizes that many of the films he has done haven’t exactly been gems.

“You always hope the films you’ll be in will be great,” says Scott, whose role in “American Beauty,” 1999’s Best Picture, ended up on the cutting-room floor.

“I mean, I signed on to do a comedy with Billy Bob Thornton and Susan Sarandon [2007's 'Mr. Woodcock'], and on paper, it looked great. You know, my friends back in Minnesota are proud of me, but they’re not afraid to tell me when I’ve done a crappy film like that one, or ‘The Dukes of Hazzard.’”

Scott keeps moving forward. He has several films on his schedule and hopes that “The Promotion” can turn things around for him.

“I’m still trying to figure myself out as an actor,” he says. “You have to have fear to take risks - and I want to at least try. I’m never afraid to try something if I think it’s funny. And I know I’ll regret it if I don’t.”

Source: NY Daily News