Segel played it cool at the Bad Teacher junket too. In a Four Seasons hotel suite, he kicked back with his feet up, because he didn’t have to do the heavy lifting. He could just hang out with the journalists he’s known since Forgetting Sarah Marshall, “How I Met Your Mother” and some as far back as “Freaks and Geeks.” He even asked how my summer was going, but I got into the interview as quickly as I could.

Cameron Diaz Leaves No Child Behind In ‘Bad Teacher’ Red Band

Jason Segel: Oh, interesting. No, I think as you get older you learn that that’s just a recipe for disaster. It’s very intriguing when you’re young. There’s some air of mystery about it but it always just ends in heartbreak.

Q: But it seems like your character still goes for it.

JS: Yeah, my character does. He sees I think in Cameron Diaz’s character sort of a glimmer every now and again that if this woman would just drop her façade and the superficiality, she would really be an awesome woman. So he’s determined to break down that wall.

Q: Can you maintain that aloof sarcasm in the face of a hot babe?

6 photosCameron Diaz

Q: Are you hoping to make gym teachers cool again?

JS: Were they ever not cool?

Q: I think they might not usually be.

JS: No, I’ve always liked the gym teacher. What a great life.  Play sports all day, hang out and then go drink at the end of the night. It’s perfect.

Q: I guess if you’re good at sports, that’s ideal.

6 photosLucy Punch

Q: You’re really a huge star now. Has that hit you?

JS: No, I never think of it that way at all. I’m very lucky but I still write most of my material. So that takes away any element of feeling like a big star because you’re working so hard for these movies. I still haven’t lost the idea that unless I write it, I’m not going to get cast in it, which is a great motivator to keep writing.

Q: What about Bad Teacher then?

JS: Well, this I’ve known Jake for about 15 years and for as much as I’m in the film, this was a surprisingly easy gig. I think I worked for 9 days total. Not that the part was an afterthought or anything like that, but it was a small supporting role, which I think it still is.

Q: Do you get a lot more friend requests since I Love You, Man?

JS: I do not engage in any of the internet stuff. I’m not on Twitter or on Facebook or any of that stuff.

Q: Even in real life, are guys more eager to buddy up with you?

JS: I think maybe so. A lot of the characters I play are just inherently accessible by virtue of the way they’re written. So I think people feel a lot more comfortable coming up to me and sitting down and starting to open up about their real lives than they would be someone who they were intimidated by.

'The Muppets' Trailer, For Real This Time

JS: Yeah, it’s all happening. A couple teaser trailers are out now.

Q: For as long as we’ve been talking about it, isn’t that a milestone?

JS: It is. You know, it’s been five years in the making, something like that. To have it all finally come to fruition and be so close to release is just unbelievably exciting.

Q: What is it actually like to be on set with Kermit?

JS: It’s one of the coolest things ever and the real magic of it is no matter how old you are, you can see it from little kids to adults visiting the set to studio heads, within 10 minutes of being around those puppets, the puppeteer disappears and you’re having a conversation with the puppet. It’s a very strange phenomenon but it’s totally real.

Q: Since they actually have to execute the things in the script, were you writing with the Muppeteers?

JS: We didn’t write with them but we got a lot of really sound advice from them. First of all, in terms of what the actual characters would and wouldn’t do because they know these characters better than anyone. Some of them have been doing these same characters for 25 years. Longer, 30 years. What we did learn a lot about from them was what was actually possible and what wasn’t. It’s very easy to conceive of an idea of 50 full figure Muppets running away from a building but then you have them come in and say, “I don’t know how you plan on us doing that. That’s impossible.” So we learned a lot about stuff like that.

3 photosAw Man, The Muppet Movie Has Hipsters

JS: You fake it. You make fun of the fact that you can’t do it. We have a line at the end of the preview where a building explodes. It’s the exact scene I was talking about. You never see the explosion. You just hear it. You just cut to the Muppets and then Fozzie says, “Wow, that was an expensive looking explosion. I can’t believe we have that in the budget.” That’s because we didn’t have it in the budget.

Q: As a Muppets fan, were you also a fan of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal?

JS: Absolutely, yeah. Labyrinth was one of my favorites growing up, as was Dark Crystal, but I remember David Bowie in Labyrinth freaked me out in just the greatest way. Even as a little kid you knew David Bowie was cool.

Q: What’s coming up on How I Met Your Mother next season?

JS: We have no idea. We come back in August.

Q: Well, we saw a hologram last season. Are they getting close to the apocalyptic ending idea?

JS: Did I tell you about that? No, we always joke about that idea. I still think it would be hilarious just to reveal that all the narration is going on from a post-apocalyptic wasteland. I have no idea how they plan on ending the show or who the mother is. I’m as excited to find out as you are.

Q: At this point, the joke is how many different ways you won’t find out. If someone is still waiting to find out who the mother is, aren’t they missing the point?

JS: Absolutely. That concept was a great hook for when the show started, but I think as the series has progressed, that artifice has dropped away and it’s become more like Friends. It’s just about watching these people.

Q: What is Five Year Engagement?

JS: Five Year Engagement is what I’m shooting now in Michigan. It’s a movie that Nick Stoller and I wrote together and Nick is directing it, we’re producing it together with Judd. It’s about a couple that gets engaged probably too early in their relationship and it follows them over five years of engagement without being married. Emily Blunt is my lovely costar.

Q: The concept itself suggests something is wrong.

JS: And Nick and I have both known people like this who are together for such a long time but never quite pull the trigger because they’re waiting for the perfect circumstance, the perfect moment, the perfect venue. Ultimately that shouldn’t be what it’s about.

Q: Well, it’s one thing to be dating someone a while before you propose. It’s another to be engaged but never follow through.

JS: Absolutely. At one point one of the characters says, “Is there a time limit on engagement when you’re no longer engaged if you haven’t gotten married?” I think some element of that theme plays into it.

Q: Will it be R-rated?

JS: Yes, it’s the same team from Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Q: Are there any painfully honest moments like the naked breakup scene?

JS: There are. We really dug deep on this one. I think as Nick and I grow up, get older and are getting to different phases in our lives, he’s married with a kid now and I’m getting older. I think we’re wanting to explore that kind of stuff as deeply as we did getting broken up with in your early ‘20s. At the time, that’s the most painful thing but we’ve had a lot of life experiences since.

Bad Teacher hits theaters Friday.

7 photosAmy Adams

The Muppets run wildly into theaters November 23, 2011.

I’m not even close to getting through all the films 2010 had to offer, but that won’t stop 2011 from vomiting dozens of new options into the toilet that is my life. With so many films to choose from, I’m going to have to make some difficult decisions over the next 12 months. That’s why I’m planning ahead. While I’m sure this list will be altered as the year progresses and new information comes to light, I’ve made a preliminary rundown of 11 films I refuse to miss in 2011, all others be damned. Sure, a lot of great movies probably didn’t make the cut, but this is the real world. Not everything works out the way you want. Deal with it.

The Hangover 2

Before The Hangover, I wasn’t a huge fan of Todd Phillips. It’s not that his films weren’t funny, I just didn’t see what all the fuss was about. But I finally saw the light, and I’m hoping to see it again with The Hangover 2.

The Good: Setting the film in Bangkok opens the door for all sorts of demented behavior, since the city makes Vegas look like Branson, MO.

The Bad: Unfortunately, expectations are extremely high going in, which never helps. Unless Philips pulls off The Godfather II of comedy, many people will be let down.

The Ugly: From Mel Gibson to Bill Clinton, this film has been subject to a ton of cameo rumors, which really defeats the purpose of a surprise cameo. Hopefully the film still has some tricks up its sleeve without coming across as too gimmicky.

Sucker Punch

Sucker punch, the latest outing from director Zack Snyder, tells the story of a young girl in the 1950s who is about to be lobotomized. The girl retreats to a fantasy world as she and her friends attempt to make their escape from the asylum.

The Good: Hot girls and violence; This film has lots of both.

The Bad: Way too much slow motion. We get it! It looks cool. Speed it up! I’ve got to piss!

The Ugly: If there’s nothing more than implied lesbianism, things are going to get really ugly in my theater.

Hobo with a Shotgun

Hobo with a Shotgun has been a long time coming. Based on the winner of a Grindhouse-style trailer contest at South by Southwest, the film stars Rutger Hauer as the titular shotgun wielding hobo.

The Good: The fact that this film is even being made restores some of my faith in humanity.

The Bad: Thus far, trailers I’ve seen haven’t been that impressive, which makes me think it will have a hard time living up to the nearly perfect source material. That being said, even if it sucks, I’ll probably see it at least twice.

The Ugly: Decapitations caused by chains tied to moving vehicles tend to get ugly.

Horrible Bosses

This film chronicles the adventures of three friends who decided to kill their…wait for it…horrible bosses. If all goes well, we might be dealing with a modern-day Office Space. Hey, it already has Jennifer Aniston.

The Good: The film has a funny premise and an all-star cast (Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Jason Batemen). But despite the big names, I’m most excited about seeing Charlie Day from “Always Sunny” on the big screen…in a film besides Going the Distance.

The Bad: Jamie Foxx’s character is named “Motherfuker Jones.” That’s not bad, so much as it is badass!

The Ugly: If the film is successful, I suspect we’ll see a rash of boss killings, beginning right here at Screenjunkies.com.

Super 8

Written and directed by J. J. Abrams, and produced by Steven Spielberg, Super 8 tells the story of an alien that escapes from a train while being transported by the government. At least that’s what most people are speculating. The filmmakers have been very tight-lipped.

The Good: Abrams, Spielberg, aliens: need we say more?

The Bad: Abrams, Spielberg, aliens: again with the extraterrestrials?

The Ugly: If this alien enjoys Reese’s Pieces, I’m walking out.

The Beaver

Directed by Jodi Foster and starring Mel Gibson, The Beaver is about a business man who loses his mind and begins using a beaver puppet to communicate with the people around him.

The Good: If the film does well, it will be a hell of a comeback story for old Mel. Plus, everybody loves beaver. Am I right?

The Bad: Gibson’s personal problems could derail the film and take away from his actual performance. In case you hadn’t heard, Mel’s been having some P.R. problems as of late.

The Ugly: If you pay to see it, you’re giving money to a racist, anti-Semite who (allegedly) beats his girlfriend. I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first time, but still.

The Muppet Movie

The Muppets are back, and they’re in a movie. Need I say more? Awesome!

The Good: Jason Segel is in charge of the script. His stuff can be a little melodramatic for my tastes, but it should be a good fit for a Muppet movie.

The Bad: You’ll have to watch a lot of hipsters enjoying the Muppets “ironically.”

The Ugly: Lady Gaga will probably have a cameo. F*ck that!

Rampart

Based on the L.A.P.D. Rampart scandal of the early 1990’s, Rampart tells the fictional story of a police officer, played by Woody Harrelson, who is caught in the crossfire. If it sounds a lot like an updated version of L.A. Confidential, it basically is. James Ellroy even worked on the script.

The Good: A great cast featuring Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi and Sigourney Weaver.

The Bad: You probably don’t want to see this movie at the ghetto theater, even if it is half-priced.

The Ugly: What’s uglier than racial tensions and police corruption? Make your own Steve Buscemi joke. Sorry. I’m uglier than he is, so it’s OK.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Based on the Swedish book of the same name and directed by David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a tale of murder, intrigue, and sexual assault.

The Good: David Fincher and serial killings, together at last.

The Bad: Sexual assaults are a real drag. If you don’t agree with that statement, seek help immediately.

The Ugly: I’m going with sexual assault for this one too. I can’t stress that enough. Sexual assaults are bad. And that’s not just my court-mandated meds talking.

Hugo Cabret

Based on the book by Brian Selznick Hugo Cabret is about an Orphan who lives in the walls of a Paris train station. It’s not nearly as depressing as it sounds.

The Good: Martin Scorsese is set to direct a cast that includes Jude Law, Ray Winstone and Christopher Lee.

The Bad: The French are involved.

The Ugly: Have you ever smelled a Parisian train station? If so, the 3D images are sure to conjure up some disgusting nasal memories.

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

No, not the James Bond movie. I’m talking about the 3D film depicting the “true story” of Justin Bieber. Why is it on this list? Because these days, the only time I feel alive is when I’m engulfed in hatred. Besides, it’s a chance to ruin the film for those who actually want to see it. I recommend sneaking in a bag of your own feces and tossing it into the air half-way through the first song.

The Good: Nothing.

The Bad: Everything.

The Ugly: If you go to this movie, you will look like a pedophile. I recommend bringing a kid with you, unless you are an actual pedophile, in which case you should wait for the DVD.

He's busy doing...other stuff.

It has been rumored that Paul Rudd would voice the new (dork) muppet Walter in his friend Jason Segel’s The Muppets. Well the actor just called bullsh*t on that idea. Rudd told MTV, “I wish that I was [in it]. It’s all rumor… I wanted to be in it, and I talked to Jason, but I think there was some things that happened and I don’t know if I’m gonna get to do it.”

Things that happened? What are these things?! That’s the juicy stuff right there. Did Segel accidentally stab Paul’s wife in the cheek with a pen knife? Or was it something even more scandalous, like a scheduling conflict. Paul’s addition to the plush cast would have been a major win. It’s a shame he ran over Segel’s dog and ruined the possibility. I’m speculating. (/Film)

It’s time to play the music, you sons of bitches! It’s time to light the damn lights! It’s time to meet the mother-loving Muppets!

Behold, the first behind-the-scenes look at the new Jason Segel film, The Muppets (or at least the first look that wasn’t scanned straight out of a magazine). Based on this picture alone, I feel confident in saying that this will be the greatest Muppet movie of all time. Maybe that’s because the film was formerly titled The Greatest Muppet Movie Of All Time. I don’t know why it was shortened the title, but what I do know is they could call it “The Cancer Causing Anti-American Puppet Crapstravaganza,” and I’d still go see it twice. To quote Film School Rejects, “A Muppet Movie by any other name…”

George ‘El Guapo’ Roush of Latino Review says that "if you hate The Muppets, you hate life."

I’ll take it one step further. If you hate The Muppets, I hate you. By that logic, I don’t hate Nick Stoller, the director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Stoller is at the helm of the latest outing from Kermit and the gang, The Greatest Muppet Movie of All Time.

I always call The Muppets, the ‘gateway drug for comedy nerds.’ It’s the first comedy we’re introduced to, at least people our age. That’s what we’re going for with that. It will be for the whole family I guess, and for anyone who likes Muppets."

Unlike my other childhood favorites (Star Wars Indiana Jones, Eraserhead), The Muppets are perfect for a remake/reboot since the characters don’t age. Well, neither does that "baby" from Eraserhead, but that’s pretty much a Muppet when you think about it.

At any rate, until Shia Labeouf signs on as the villain who pretends to be interested in porking Miss Piggy so he can kidnap The Muppets and sell them off to "Furries," I’m going to remain optimistic. Waka, Waka, Waka!