Dave And James: Two Francos Are Better Than One, But Which Brother Is For You?
James Franco, Dave Franco, mom Betsy Lou Franco
[Photo Credit: Splash News]
James Franco, Dave Franco, brother Tom Franco
[Photo Credit: @jamesfrancotv]
Seth Rogen and James Franco
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]
Neighbors stars Seth Rogen and Dave Franco
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]
James Franco by Terry Richardson
[Photo Credit: Terry Richardson]
Dave Franco by Terry Richardson
[Photo Credit: Terry Richardson]
James Franco by Terry Richardson
[Photo Credit: Terry Richardson]
Dave Franco by Terry Richardson
[Photo Credit: Terry Richardson]
James Franco by Terry Richardson
[Photo Credit: Terry Richardson]
Dave Franco promoting Neighbors
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]
James Franco takes photos with fans after Of Mice and Men
[Photo Credit: @jamesfrancotv]
Dave Franco takes phtoos with fans at the Neighbors premiere
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]
If you're confused about how James Franco has the time to promote a new film (Neighbors) while starring on Broadway in Of Mice and Men, fear not. Those thick eyebrows and that wry smile belong to none other younger brother, Dave Franco. Yes, there are two! (Well, technically three.) Luckily there's room for multiple Francos in our current pop culture universe. But which one deserves your undying love?
In Neighbors, Franco the Younger plays the VP to Zac Efron's fraternity president, flaunting a sculpted chest and a pretty strong Robert DeNiro impression. After roles in films like Warm Bodies, 21 Jump Street and Now You See Me, Dave is poised for his breakout moment this year, one that sets him even further apart from his older brother. The two share great hair genes, a toothy grin and admiration for Seth Rogen, but their respective bodies of work are much different. To help determine which Franco you prefer, here a few things about Dave that separate him from his older brother.
He's paid his dues on television.
While James got his start on the late Freaks and Geeks (RIP) and later guest starred on General Hospital as "performance art", Dave plugged away with arcs on prime-time series like 7th Heaven, Greek, Privileged and Scrubs. The latter would provide the much-needed springboard to feature films, as he played wealthy med student Cole Aaronson in the show's final season.
He knows how to play an asshole.
If James will forever be considered a "freak," the toughest role Dave will have to shake is that of a jerk. He was the environmentally-friendly drug dealer in 21 Jump Street, and the privileged doctor-in-training on Scrubs. Neighbors paints him as the more focused, career-conscious college student to Zac Efron's eternal party boy, but he still takes part in making Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne's life a living hell. So how does the guy voted Homecoming King and Best Looking in his class portray these unlikeable characters with such ease? "Once I was complaining about it to someone, and they said, 'It's because you have an asshole face.' I was like, 'Um, thank you. Thank you very much' " he told GQ.
He has balls of steel.
Literally. One of the biggest stories from the Neighbors set was Zac Efron injuring his hand during filming. And while his recent scuffle with a homeless man in downtown L.A. made headlines, his stand-off with Dave was kept quiet... until now. Dave revealed to Nick Lachey on Big Morning Buzz that he and his balls had a role in fracturing Zac's hand during a fight scene. You heard me.
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He's not interested in collecting degrees from a bevy of elite institutions (yet).
While James caused a stir by enrolling in multiple graduate programs and taught at UCLA, USC, NYU and Columbia, Dave has yet to receive his college degree. As a creative writing student at the University of Southern California, he left just three semesters shy of graduation to pursue his acting career full-time. An unlike his older brother, he thoroughly enjoys his downtime.
Watch Dave stump James with questions about how he relaxes and lets off steam. Here's a tip, James: Turn on Bar Rescue, and don't move from your spot on the couch for nine hours. Seamless lets the food come to you.
He has a dirty sense of humor.
A late bloomer to the performing world, Dave got his start in acting during college and rose to prominence with a series of videos for Funny or Die. They're mostly dirty and their all hilarious. His most popular to do? "Go F*ck Yourself," in which Franco does... just that.
He's dabbled in poetry.
OK so maybe he is more like James than we thought. Dave admitted to playing around with poetry as a high school student, describing it at "pretentious s--t." He revealed to GQ that his grandmother had a large inspiration on his work, which includes the poem "Grandma": "When I look into my grandma's eyes / I see the light of day / When she looks back at me / She sees herself, I hope." Swoon?
He keeps his personal life under wraps.
Dave has been dating Community star Alison Brie since 2012. I know! It surprised me as well. Save for a NSFW video, or occasional photos taken at the grocery store, these two are rarely seen together. The same cannot be said for James, whose attempt at picking up a 17-year-old fan on Instagram and rumored tryst with Lindsay Lohan have made headlines in recent weeks.
Neighbors is in theaters on Friday, May 9.
[Photo Credit: Splash News, Getty Images]