Jason Segel is the Perfect Choice to Play David Foster Wallace

Jason Segel is the Perfect Choice to Play David Foster Wallace Last week, news broke that Jason Segel would be playing David Foster Wallace in a film adaptation of part of David Lipskys 2010 book Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace. At first blush, Segel as DFW seems a controversial choice (and, predictably, the internet responded with its usual dose of cynicism). The general consensus: How could a goofy comedic actor portray a man as brilliant and troubled as DFW? But you know what? Jason Segel is the perfect choice to play David Foster Wallace. Heres why: DFW was a normal, self-conscious, self-deprecating, and really funny dude. And nobody plays that better that Segel. One of the main themes of Lipskys book â€" based on four days of conversations while traveling with DFW on his Infinite Jest tour in 1996, just as DFWs fame was exploding â€" is how surprised he is that DFW seems normal. In fact, Lipskys actually skeptical. I think you still feel youre smarter than other people. And youre acting like someone whos about 31 or 32, whos playing in the kids softball game, and is trying to hold back his power hitting, to check his swing at the plate, more or less. DFW cracks: Boy, that would make me a real asshole, wouldnt it? DFW vehemently denies that hes acting, even as hes aware that by trying too hard not to act like a normal guy, he ends up appearing as if he actually is putting on an act. (Isnt that DFW in a nutshell?!) And but so, DFW was anything if not hyper-self-aware, and he addresses his act, or lack thereof, in answer to Lipskys question: Theres a couple times Ive tried to do it a little bit. And it seems like youve caught me every time, and then weve both just laughed. Basically, hes saying, outside of a few times when hes aware of how hed be perceived in what Lipsky wrote, he really had just been being himself. All indications are that even while managing his depression with medication, DFW was truly just an honest, slightly-awkward, joke-cracking, self-deprecating mid-30s dude who just wanted to be liked. (Quote example from Lipsky: I dont think writers are smarter than other people. I think they may be more compelling in their stupidity, or in their confusion.) And, lets be honest, and you know this if youve read him: He really was very, very funny. In Lipskys book, hed complain at times about how it sucked his new fame hadnt gotten him laid. And hed warn Lipsky not to use the bathroom after him because hed just wreaked a little havoc. Comments like that arent exactly aimed at a wine-and-cheese crowd and its not hard at all to envision Segel delivering them to a chuckling movie crowd. If you think about all the roles Segel has played, most of which hes nailed â€" from Marshall Eriksen in HIMYM, to Peter Bretter in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, to Sydney Fife in I Love You, Man â€" and you think about how his characters are readily willing to laugh at themselves and their awkwardness, and if you think about how adept Segel is at delivering one liners with an ironic smirk (I still want to hang out, despite that joke. Youre better than that.), and at how good he seems at being appealingly honestwell, its hard to imagine any other actor but Segel playing DFW! Indeed, since the news broke, Ive been thinking hard about who could do it better, and Ive come up empty. Segel is almost perfect. Hes just gonna have to grow his hair out a bit and practice his bandanna-wearing. Ill certainly concede that its a risky casting decision. Its an unconventional choice, to be sure, and it could fail. But I dont think it will. As one final example, though not part of the movie, think about DFWs essay A Supposedly Fun Thing Id Never Do Again, about his experience on a cruise. Think about about the one actor youd like to see in the scenes in which DFW emerges from his room to beat the shit out of a teenager in ping-pong â€" the only thing he enjoys about the whole cruise. Think about Segel playing that guy. I laugh just typing that. I hope it works. I really do. And I wish Mr. Segel way more than luck. _________________________ Sign up for our newsletter to have the best of Book Riot delivered straight to your inbox every two weeks. No spam. We promise. To keep up with Book Riot on a daily basis, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, , and subscribe to the Book Riot podcast in iTunes or via RSS. So much bookish goodnessall day, every day.