If you’ve ever watched a movie or TV series and suddenly developed a crush on one of the actors, you would understand how Bryce Dallas Howard felt when she saw Jake Johnson in the 2010 rom-com Ceremony. The only real difference between you and Howard is that you probably may never get the chance to work with your crush.
Interestingly, Howard’s crush developed long before she and Johnson teamed up in Jurassic World. Sharing her story on James Corden’s The Late Late Show, Howard said she even revealed her feelings to her husband before she met Johnson, just to get it “out of the way.” Aside from making the situation very relatable, that revelation also stirred curiosity about the movie that sparked her crush on Johnson in the first place.
How ‘Ceremony’ Won Over Bryce Dallas Howard — Before She Even Met Jake Johnson
Howard’s conversation with Corden took place in 2015, while publicity was being drummed up for Jurassic World. Somehow, that conversation drifted to which of Howard’s co-stars on Jurassic World her husband has to worry about. At that point, she easily admitted, albeit with some embarrassment because Johnson was right there, that Johnson wasn’t just “on the list,” he was “the list” for her. While most crushes develop primarily because of physical appearance, for Howard, it was a lot more than that. What really got to her was Johnson’s vibe in Ceremony.
While the movie itself, directed by Max Winkler, doesn’t exactly make you sit up and take notice, it is filled with beautifully cringey moments. Moments that make you laugh half the time, and hide your embarrassment behind a pillow for the other half. The depth of Howard’s crush becomes even more intriguing when you consider the fact that Johnson wasn’t even one of the main characters in the film. He plays the role of Teddy, the brother of Zoe (Uma Thurman), a bride whose wedding is crashed by her hopeless romantic ex, Sam (Michael Angarano).
Watching Johnson’s Teddy makes it easy to understand why Howard was so hooked when she saw the movie. Despite not being the main character he ended up stealing the show with his absolutely unhinged outfits and his hilarious penchant to say whatever pops into his head to diffuse a situation. For instance, there’s the scene where he casually interrupts an awkward moment between Sam and Zoe, completely oblivious, and his timing is quite impressive. In fact, watching this movie now feels like discovering the origin story for every character Johnson would ever play. You can almost catch a glimpse of the Nick Miller we saw in New Girl being born in real time.
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‘Ceremony’ Gave Us the Perfect Mix of Awkward Humor, Quiet Heartbreak, and Jake Johnson’s Magic Touch
Right off the bat, there is no illusion that Ceremony will ever be recognized as one of the all-time rom-com greats, thanks to the plot, the characters who all seem to enjoy making terrible life choices and the uneven pacing. Still, that’s part of the charm, and these elements are elevated by Johnson’s particular brand of offbeat humor. Johnson infused his character, Teddy, with a perfect mix of awkwardness and charm. Watching him makes you think of that drunk friend who somehow makes sense by accident. You never see him trying to be cool; instead, he’s just real, and that’s something you don’t see all the time. It’s a style that has worked for Johnson throughout his acting career because most people find it relatable.
Even though Ceremony didn’t exactly impress critics, who gave it a brutal 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it still earned praise it for being awkward, heartfelt, and quietly funny. Overall, it’s the kind of movie that may not be everyone’s cup of tea initially, but give it a minute, and it’ll you over one scene at a time. And at the end of the day, watching Johnson navigate that world makes you realize why Bryce Dallas Howard couldn’t help but develop a soft spot for him. Perhaps, that’s the real takeaway — sometimes, the roles that fly under the radar are the ones that show us who an actor really is.
Ceremony is available to watch on Prime Video, giving you the perfect chance to see why Bryce Dallas Howard couldn’t resist Jake Johnson.
