The Most Interesting Man’s son is a funny, sleazy dirtbag.
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt used fedora hats, a Razor scooter and sexy dance moves to steal this weekend’s episode of “Saturday Night Live.”
The episode’s two “Tres Equis” beer commercials were the biggest highlight, instant comedy gold showing Gordon-Levitt as the son of the “Most Interesting Man in the World” from those addictive Dos Equis ads.
Where the “Dos Equis” guy’s life is full of worldwide expeditions and feats of sexual prowess, the son’s exploits include fake names at Starbucks and falsified claims that he dated a model (she only appeared in an ad for her dad’s car dealership).
He owns five different styles of fedora hats – and can make a woman cringe just by entering the room.
But what exactly is Tres Equis?
“It’s one Equis more than my dad’s beer, because he was never there for me,” JGL’s character explains. “Two parts Dos Equis, one part none of your business.
“Keep banging, my friends.”
The son’s escapades become more ridiculous, more absurd, more hilarious in the second skit. When he tips, he puts a negative amount on the receipt and says it’s cash back.
He can almost do a 180 on his Razor scooter.
Oh – he also has multiple parody Twitter accounts.
At the end of the second mock commercial, the bearded, suit-wearing father from the actual commercials (played by cast member Jason Sudeikis) emerges on-camera to berate his deadbeat son.
“One swim meet, you couldn’t come to just one of my swim meets,” the son pines.
“He didn’t even make the team,” the dad responds. “You swam two laps, and then you puked like a dog. They had to drain the pool.”
The father later swigs some Tres Equis and spits it onto the table, proclaiming, “This tastes like s—.”
The beer ads were so memorable, they diverted the focus from Gordon-Levitt’s “Magic Mike”-inspired monologue, a powerful “wow” moment that marked another level of growth for the actor. Gordon-Levitt is 31 now, spending many of those years in front of the camera. He was the boy in “Angels in the Outfield” and “3rd Rock From the Sun.” He was the love-struck everyman in “(500) Days of Summer.”
Raw sexuality isn’t his forte. But there he was on SNL, shedding his vest, writhing on the stage and gyrating to “It’s Raining Men,” shooting confetti out of a cane to mark the skit’s climax.
The night’s other standout was SNL cast member Jay Pharoah, an up-and-comer whose star has shined bright so far this season. He followed last week’s unveiling of his President Obama impersonation with layered impressions of Michael Strahan and ESPN mouthpiece Stephen A. Smith.
Where Pharoah’s Strahan provided aw-shucks lines about the ease of his new morning hosting gig – “I can’t believe I got smashed in the head for 15 years while this is a job,” he says – Smith captured the sports reporter’s unique mannerisms and energy by discussing the Jets.
In terms of backup quarterback Tim Tebow: “Tim Tebow’s throwing arm is proof there is no God.”
Much of the segment involves Stephen A. hyping his connections with the Jets personnel. “Mark Sanchez and I talk every night before bed,” Pharoah’s Smith explains. Smith and cornerback Darrelle Revis watched sunsets together from side-by-side bathtubs.
And then there was the time coach Rex Ryan saved him from a river, and how Smith returned the favor by rescuing Ryan from the same river …
Other episode peaks included an “undecided voters” spoof that saw people wondering about basic US government processes, as well as a pub skit involving four dimwitted buddies listening to a Beatles cover band played by musical guest Mumford & Sons.
But those “Tres Equis” skits stand out – an extra Equis for the “3rd Rock” kid, all grown up and still entertaining us, fedoras and scooters and all.