John Michael Higgins on Bad Teacher and the State of Female-Centric Comedies

John Michael Higgins is poised to be all over the pop culture landscape for the next six months. The veteran film and television actor co-stars as the principal in Bad Teacher (out June 24) and appears opposite Fran Drescher on the new TV Land series Happily Divorced, which debuts tonight after Hot in Cleveland. Plus, he's also got a supporting role in Cameron Crowe's We Bought a Zoo, due out in theaters at Christmas. In short: get used to merrily shouting, "That guy!" when his face appears on television and movie screens throughout the rest of 2011.

The somewhat ubiquitous Higgins rang up Movieline earlier this week to discuss the filming of Bad Teacher, why that film is different from fellow summer female-fronted comedy Bridesmaids, the lost art of the four-camera television series, and what to expect from We Bought a Zoo. Hint on that last one: something potentially great.

You've done a lot of ensemble comedies in the last decade, what made Bad Teacher stand out?

The director, Jake Kasdan, was somebody I had worked with before on Walk Hard and really got along with artistically. We had similar ideas about comedy, so I always find that refreshing when I find that on the set. So, when he called up and said, "Do you wanna try Bad Teacher?" I thought, "Yes, let's do it." I also looked at the rest of the cast -- I would say that even though they're big stars, they are actually quite funny. They really are. Cameron Diaz is a very good comedian -- very skilled, I found. I really like her as a person as well, but she's quite a sophisticated comedian. I really appreciate that about her. It was great to work with her -- a real pro, and she has real chops as a comedian. The same thing is true of Justin Timberlake. He's a very funny person, as a civilian -- so is Cameron, incidentally. It was really fun to hang out with them, because they're actually funny people. Often comedians are sort of self-hating, dark curmudgeons against the landscape in person, but not those two. And Jason Segel, I had known a little bit before, and he's just a great guy. It was just a great hang.

You mention Cameron Diaz, and Bad Teacher is really being sold on her charms as a comedian. Coming so soon on the success of Bridesmaids, do you think there's some pressure on Bad Teacher to keep that female-led comedy box-office push going strong?

Well I supposed there is, actually. There is something in the air this summer that says maybe women aren't unbankable after all. And if someone is bankable, it's got to be Cameron -- she's got it all. I would think there's a bit of pressure on the film, though. Expect the film is not... I think Bridesmaids is basically a male film in dresses. You know? It's like a bunch of guys, doing that. This is not that at all. This is a woman interacting in a male world. It's sort of a throwback to the '80s with Working Girl, Desperately Seeking Susan -- these female powered comedies that occur in a normal world setting, not just a girls' night out, bachelorette party setting. I think the burden is off a little bit in that way, but at the same time, I'm really glad that Bridesmaids cut through.

I think that the comedies that we've been having have been so male-centric that they're starting to become ingrown toenails. The world has become so small, and sort of imploded in testosterone. And Cameron is such a great prow for the ship. She's got so much to offer as a movie star, so I'm glad the focus is moving along to the other sex, particularly in comedy. There's some weird notion in our culture that women aren't funny. There's just a couple of handfuls that we allow to be funny.

That's the thing, though. It feels like if you just rattled off your favorite comedy stars, many would be women. It seems like such a false premise to say that "women aren't funny."

It is odd. Particularly now. I totally agree with you -- if you grabbed me, unaware, and said, "Who's funny right now?" I would probably start rattling off women. I think that's just what's going on, and I think -- I hope it continues. I don't know why it shouldn't? The products they make are really good. They're funny.

I have a feeling that with the success of Bridesmaids, we're going to be inundated with female comedies over the next few years.

Even if they overdo it, we can afford it! I think our culture needs a bit of a correction.

Bad Teacher is also notable because it offers Justin Timberlake his first real big-screen starring comedy role. As a comedian, what did you think of his chops?

Oh, he's great. He's an unusual case, I think. He grew up in show business, and he can't buy a pack of gum without getting mobbed. It's a strange life; it's very difficult to remain sane, and to have a healthy version of yourself that you can interact with. But he really is an adult. He's got loads of talent, and it's just obvious. But it may not be obvious as a comedian. But he is built for comedy. He really is. If you watch The Social Network, it's a wonderful performance -- but in a way it's a comedic performance. There's a sheen on it; it's carbonated, as I like to say. Those are natural comic instincts, as an actor. He's also a good dancer, which is always a good tell for comedy. Comedy has to do with holding and releasing tension; it's very technical. It's more technical than drama. People who can dance and sing are often very good at comedy. I think he's a very good example of that. I watch the way he holds his body -- I'm a stage guy, so I notice these things -- and he actually understands how to hold and how to be still. Those are really important in comedy. People who don't do comedy well are people who release too much tension.

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