Once Upon a Time, Jon Bernthal Put the Guns Down and Played the Coolest Teacher Ever

Jon Bernthal has found an interesting niche in which he has played tough, no-nonsense anti-heroes who are willing to take on the challenges that most people would avoid entirely; whether it was his memorable guest turn on The Bear, his fan-favorite performance on The Walking Dead, hit pitch-perfect depiction of Frank Castle in Daredevil, or his memorable appearances in action films like The Accountant, Fury, Those Who Wish Me Dead, and Inglorious Basterds, Bernthal has established a very endearing persona. While no one would complain about getting to see Bernthal play another ruthless character that takes down villains with extreme prejudice, he’s also a far more versatile actor than he is given credit for. Bernthal gave the most heartfelt performance of his career in the charming coming-of-age film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, in which he portrayed the type of high school teacher that every teenager dreamed of having.

Who Does Jon Bernthal Play in ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’?

Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Jesse Andrews, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl centers on the teenage loners Greg (Thomas Mann) and Earl (RJ Cyler), who spend the majority of their free time making low-budget movies. Bernthal appears as the history teacher Mr. McCarthy, a noted cinephile who takes pride in getting to show established classics to Greg and Earl; while he does seem to appreciate the fact that they share his passion for cinema, McCarthy treats cinephilia as something to be taken seriously, and conducts his screenings in a very professional manner. Although Greg and Earl’s independent films are renowned for being terrible, they become caught up in a community crisis when they learn that their classmate Rachel (Olivia Cooke) is diagnosed with cancer. Using the tools that McCarthy has passed on to them, Greg and Earl decide to make a movie in Rachel’s honor.

Bernthal has a blunt sense of humor that is very refreshing, especially since Greg does not take school very seriously, and often feels as if the other adults in his life are not capable of understanding what he is going through. While his parents, Marla (Connie Britton) and Victor (Nick Offerman), attempt to give him guidance about how to navigate his relationship with Rachel, Greg finds that he is more comfortable with McCarthy, who treats him with the same level of respect that he would give to a coworker. Although Greg is a very likable protagonist who goes through many situations that young audiences may find relatable, his negative, moody attitude does occasionally become obnoxious; this makes it more satisfying when McCarthy talks some sense into him, and reminds him to be thankful for all the privileges he has.

Mr. McCarthy Has an Important Perspective in ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’

McCarthy’s perspective is critical to the philosophy of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, as the film examines how truly personal works of art can last far longer than the people who created them. McCarthy understands that the students he teaches may only remember a fraction of the insight about world history that he has tried to teach them, but he takes pride in the fact that Greg and Earl have learned to appreciate films that were made many years before they were born. This mentorship has a strong effect on Greg, as he ends up using his film as a form of catharsis; in addition to giving something to Rachel that she can enjoy within the last moments of her life, he has also discovered the perfect venue to remember her by.

Bernthal’s depiction of common decency is very personal, as Me and Earl and the Dying Girl reflects on how life-altering an unconscious act of kindness can be. It is not ignored that as a public school teacher, McCarthy is not paid what he is worked, and is forced to deal with many annoyances from both the administration and students; nonetheless, the time he takes to help Greg and Earl learn about the greatest films ever made allows him to find a different form of satisfaction. It may be a brief performance, but Bernthal crafted a compelling depiction of an inspiring role model who is also a great mentor.