For Oscar winner and current Bond villain Rami Malek, hosting Saturday Night Live is one of those intriguingly incongruous pairings. Never known as a comedian, the reliably intense Malek came out in a natty sweater vest and tie, telling the live audience that, “I never thought this would be my life.” He was talking about it all—the Best Actor award, Mr. Robot, possibly excluding the third Night At The Museum movie—but hosting Saturday Night Live might just be Malek’s least-expected gig yet. Thankfully, the show tailored itself to what Malek could do (act, play straight man, do a creditable Pete Davidson), with the No Time To Die star emerging, like most dramatic actors not known for wackiness, as both a good sport and a grateful guest. Hopping into co-star (in the Bond franchise and tonight’s episode) Daniel Craig’s arms during the goodnights, Malek made for a second (of three) solid if unremarkable hosts this young season.
I have to confess that Malek playing second stink-bug to Bowen Yang’s campily scene-stealing daddy longlegs in his first sketch made me a little nervous. Sticking your acclaimed thespian host into an insect costume and having him stand around while someone else gets the laughs isn’t the strongest vote of confidence I’ve ever seen. But Malek rose to the occasion in his limited number of sketches, his wonted intensity working wonders in a hammy two-hander with Aidy Bryant, and making the inevitable Squid Game pre-tape into something appropriately unnerving. And, in the impression-fest that was game show Celeb School, Malek just went for—and got—those laughs, aping Pete Davidson’s mannerisms with all the enthusiasm of a guy who saw his opening to truly get into the SNL groove. I’m not alone in my excitement that SNL pro and finally emergent comedy all-star Jason Sudeikis will be the first actual sketch comedian to host next week, but a good, offbeat booking necessarily transforms the show into something unpredictable. That can be truly dire, sure, but Malek’s off-center presence tonight made for a consistently funny, ensemble-centric show.
(Source and courtesy: https://www.avclub.com/news)
