Regardless of the development of film, some character tropes have remained over the years. Lazy characters have become ingrained in the movie industry due to their familiarity with the audiences. These roles are often given to sidekicks to help reduce the tension and evoke laughter. Some characters remain static throughout the storyline, while others reveal their different layers and grow.
Many stereotypes accompany the lazy personality, including being unintelligent and passive. A familiar subtype is the stoner trope, in which the characters’ lack of motivation stems from their cannabis use. However, other lazy characters are quite intelligent and play more central roles. Despite their intelligence, these personalities might not want to apply themselves or get others to do their bidding. Regardless of how this familiar trope is portrayed, it remains an integral part of the film industry.
10 Diana Is A successful Con Artist (Identity Thief)
Diana/Dawn Budgie has no job and seems to be living between cons in Identity Thief about her car. The star of the movie is a textbook slacker, getting by through life on the bare minimum. However, unlike most lazy roles, Diana is brilliant when she wants to apply herself.
Effortlessly, she gathers Sandy Patterson’s information over the phone by pretending to sell him identity theft insurance and gains access to his credit cards. Single-handedly, Diana sets up a successful con so she can spoil herself lavishly without having to work for the money.
9 Kumar’s Only Motivation Is Getting Sliders (Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle)
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle started a series of stoner films. Unlike his best friend, who is an accountant, Kumar has no interest in holding down a job. Right from the start, he sabotages his job interviews so he can go home, get high, and watch TV.
Although Kumar has no overall motivation, he and Harold are determined to get to White Castle after seeing a commercial. The two go on a wild adventure, running into different groups who get them into trouble before finally making it to the fast food franchise.
8 Ben Has Trouble Stepping Up As A Father (Knocked Up)
Seth Rogen has portrayed many lazy yet endearing characters throughout his career. In Knocked Up, Ben Stone (Rogen) brings the stoner trope to the screen. Ben spends most of his time smoking pot with his friends at home. He knows all the movie scenes that feature nudity because he runs a nude celebrities website. Besides the website’s income, Ben lives off the settlement he received when a postal truck ran over his foot.
When Ben’s one-night stand with Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) results in her being pregnant, he tries to step up. However, it takes Ben time and a lot of trials until he finds a stable environment to raise the baby.
7 The Axiom Humans Never Leave Their Chairs (Wall-E)
While lazy characters tend to be minor in movies, they are the rule, not the exception, in Wall-E. The Axiom Humans do not move; they just float around in their hoverchairs. Not only are they not physically active, but they are also not mentally engaged. They rarely discuss matters or critically engage their surroundings. Instead, they passively consume the advertisements surrounding them.
Their laziness goes as far as video chatting with the person beside them so they don’t have to turn their heads. The robots execute most physical activities, including sports, while the Axiom Humans watch from their seats.
6 Ben Has No Plans After College (The Graduate)
Based on the novel by the same name, The Graduate is one of the most influential movies in Hollywood. Not only did it change the industry’s idea of marketing and have spectacular cinematography, but it also had captivating characters. Benjamin “Ben” Braddock, the protagonist, is one of the earlier portrayals of laziness.
After college, Ben tries to enjoy his summer vacation by relaxing. He spends most of his time in his parents’ pool and ignores their questions about his future. Throughout the movie, Ben appears to be lost and without goals. However, his affair with Mrs. Robinson added a thrill to his otherwise uneventful break and helped him discover himself.
5 Floyd Inspired Other Stoner Characters (True Romance)
Although Quentin Tarantino’s films are creative and imaginative, they include many familiar and overused tropes. In True Romance, Floyd (Brad Pitt) shines through the ensemble’s incredible performances. Pitt portrays a lazy stoner who always hangs out on the couch with a bag of chips.
Not to be confused with Floyd D, Dick’s roommate spends most of his time in front of the TV and is unemployed. Initially, Tarantino did not intend for Floyd to be an extreme slacker, but this change inspired Judd Apatow to create Pineapple Express, which expands on the lazy stoner stereotype.
4 Scott Cruises Through Life (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World)
Although Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is action-packed, the protagonist does the bare minimum to get by. Scott lacks motivation and discipline; despite wanting to become a musician, he only plays when he wants to without any clear direction. He wants to live an easy, convenient life without conflict.
However, when Scott becomes infatuated with Ramona Flowers, he tries his best to fight her ex-boyfriends in this video-game-like film. Scott does not fight the League of Ramona’s Evil Exes for Ramona’s sake, but so he can date her; he only puts in the effort to further his interests.
3 Janis Doesn’t Care About School, But Cares About Getting Even (Mean Girls)
Fan-favorite Janis Ian (Lizzy Caplan) shows fans that slackers can be smart too in Mean Girls. Most of the time, it seems that Janis has no goals in life and is just trying to get through high school. Despite her rough exterior, she is very caring and is the first person to befriend Cady. She cuts class and makes Cady miss her class on the first day they meet.
Janis might be lazy, but she was the movie’s mastermind. Along with Damian, the two friends use Cady to spy on the school’s mean girls, the ‘Plastics.” Slowly, Janis begins to help Cady mess with Regina, the group’s leader.
2 Saul Zones Out Even When His Life Is In Danger (Pineapple Express)
Once again, Seth Rogen appears in a movie focused on lazy stoner characters. Alongside Rogen, James Franco stars as Saul Silver in Pineapple Express. Saul is Dale Denton’s (Rogen) drug dealer who tries to help Dale retrieve the unique cannabis that he left at a crime scene.
Despite being in danger and wanting to help Dale, Saul is always high and unaware of his surroundings. Saul embodies the stereotypes accompanying the stereotype; not only is he lazy, but he lacks intelligence, has outrageous ideas, and is overly friendly.
1 The Dude Is The Staple Of Slacker Characters (The Big Lebowski)
When discussing lazy characters, it is imperative to mention Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski. The Big Lebowski, like other 1990s comedy classics, followed a slacker protagonist who is thrust into a wild adventure. As with many of these character roles, he is unemployed, avoids conflict, and has many traits associated with the hippie stereotype.
When a millionaire with the same name hires The Dude to deliver the ransom to get his wife back safely, however, when the plan goes sideways, The Dude encounters many conflicts before getting back on track.