LOVE HIM

Once an entertainment writer declares you a part of the Frat Pack, it's pretty much official that you've been spending a lot of your comedic career filling the trough for the douchebag quote farm. It's the modern comic's mark of success. Who wouldn't want to know that their best movie lines are out there, somewhere, being volleyed in brotherly conversation as if the average Joes quoting you are part of some global, pseudo-elite inside joke?

But why I love Frat Pack member Jack Black is not so much because of his infamously quotable one-liner from "Anchorman" where he kicks a puppy off a bridge-or because Tenacious D lyrics are huge with the DC++ dorm set. Outside of the Frat Pack, Black's got his own thing going on.

Surprisingly, Black's popularity with kids (see his Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award)-accompanied by his classic, over-performed musical numbers, slovenly appearance and exaggerated expressions-is quite an endearing combination. Whether or not something funny actually comes out of his mouth (as it didn't in "Nacho Libre"), I can't help but laugh at him. He's a master at physical comedy wherever he goes. To put it simply, Black makes funny look effortless.

Of course, the man is not about being versatile. Still, I have to give props to his unexpected part as Kate Winslet's love interest in the "The Holiday," which proved that he does indeed have the chops to make a heart go mushy.

Now, there's "Tropic Thunder." It's a step back into the Frat Pack realm and a film will no doubt solidify his place in Hollywood's elite fleet of man-children. But I have no doubt his brand of hilarious will remain intact-to quote his line in "Anchorman": That's how he rolls.

-Patrici Flores

HATE HIM

When I tell people that I hate Jack Black, I'm often faced with this look, the same one I get when I tell them I hate Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler. It says, "Do you hate laughter? Do you hate fun? Do you also, for whatever reason, hate puppies?"

I'm not a monster, I swear. I just don't find Black's brash, in-your-face style of comedy all that amusing. Humor doesn't have to be highbrow-I'd list "Drop Dead Gorgeous" as one of the great comedies of our time. But humor does have to be funny, and Black being large and loud for the sake of being large and loud simply doesn't qualify.

To some extent, the hatred isn't rational. It's probably not Black's fault that he's managed to infiltrate his way into so many films I might otherwise enjoy. Still, I take it personally.

Take "Kung Fu Panda," for example. I heard good things. I like kung fu. I'm pretty wild about pandas. But just hearing Black's voice in the trailer was enough to dissuade me. Well, that and seeing photographic evidence of his behavior at the premiere: a series of silly kung fu poses that try (and fail) to shove that "I'm so wacky and spontaneous" message down your throat.

Subtlety is not his strong suit. When Black appears in movies I do like-"Orange County" and "King Kong," to name a couple-he proves a distracting nuisance, stealing screen time from more worthy performers, like Colin Hanks and a giant ape. Luckily, I have a fast-forward button at my disposal.

I almost want to give "Tropic Thunder" a chance, but I'm skeptical. Maybe I'll try looking on the bright side. At best, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. will make it worthwhile. At worst, it can't be more painful than "Nacho Libre."

-Louis Peitzman

Tags: THUMB WARS