Zac Efron Plays the Part of an Actor

Oh, it's magic time. A second non-Disney Zac Efron film in 2009? My heart is just aflutter. And doesn't this one look good? A critical darling when it made its film festival debut, Me and Orson Welles will have a limited release starting November 25th (and a wider release in December) and I just could not be more excited. Opening night? Forget homework, I will be there to take in every quivering lip, every piercing stare from those big watery blue eyes, and every moment of stillness as we wonder if our Boy Wonder might burst into song. 

This could be the very film to launch Efron into adult drama -- if his character in the trailer doesn't give you little chills recalling Jack Dawson, you're lying to yourself. Titanic was the last of Leonardo DiCaprio's romantic roles, so before Zefron too quickly transforms into a cussing, bearded hunter of African diamonds, let's take look at some of his lesser-known dramatic roles that you may (or may not, frankly) want catch up on before you step into the theater to see Claire Danes snog another handsome leading man (seriously, between Leo, Jared Leto, and Hugh Dancy some girls just have all the luck!) 

We'll start with Lifetime's Miracle Run where he played the mentally challenged, marathon-running son of Mary Louise Parker (before she was hashing out hash). His Gilbert Grape! 

Then there was his cameo in Heist where he played a pizza boy that gets blown up.

There was his guest spot on CSI: Miami where his little brother murders an IRS agent. 

His spot on NCIS where he accidentally purchases a murdered lieutenant's cell phone.

And, of course, his starring role on the WB's Summerland, where he played a victim of domestic abuse. Seriously? Can this kid catch a break? 

I've saved the best for last though: a seminal classic, the direct-to-DVD film, The Derby Stallion. Truly the Rocky of horse movies. Efron is just an unlikely American with a big dream, riding to victory with help from Houston Jones, his "mystical negro" coach. "The heart of a boy, the soul of a champion." This film has it all: animal humor, sepia-tone flashbacks, Southern racism, comical trombone inserts, a porny jazz soundtrack, a tip-frosted obviously gay antagonist, the touching death of a mentor (one guess), and -- of course -- the gap between Zac's two front teeth. But really, you should just watch The Derby Stallion so you can hear my prince among twinks say things like "he's tied up and ready to go," and "OK, boy, show me what you got."

...and now I owe Zac Efron an apology. 

-- ALEX WILBURN

Previously > 17 Again -- worth it just for Zac Efron's blue eyes and biceps