Michael Angarano and Michael Cera Rekindle Their Youth in ‘Sacramento’ Buddy Comedy

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For much of their lives, Michael Angarano and Michael Cera have graced screens large and small. Originally child actors, they matured before our eyes during the 2000s – for Angarano, as the son of Sean Hayes on “Will and Grace,” or as the Disney-backed superhero in “Sky High”; for Cera, through his roles in the more cynical comedies of “Arrested Development” and “Superbad.” However, the intense glare of that particular limelight – serving as visual embodiments for a generation just awakening to their millennial identity – seems less daunting now, well into their mid-thirties.

20 years ago, I used to feel quite uneasy passing by a high school as the students would recognize me and generate an overwhelming energy that was difficult to handle. However, these days I feel completely at ease walking past a high school because they have no clue who I am,” Cera says with a chuckle.

In the hilarious new buddy comedy “Sacramento,” I find myself reliving my youth alongside an old friend. We’re childhood pals who’ve grown apart, but fate has a funny way of bringing us back together – this time during a wild road trip to the quiet heartland of California’s Central Valley, Sacramento. Directed by the talented Angarano and co-written with Christopher Smith, a fellow former child star, this movie is more than just laughter; it’s a poignant exploration of growing up, played out by two men grappling with mature responsibilities while occasionally slipping back into our youthful antics.

Angarano suggests that if people already recognize you, it offers a chance to surprise them. This could be straightforward as many people might not truly understand who we are; they merely have an established notion of us.

However, it’s not just for older crowds; there are also people who don’t recognize us at all,” Cera notes. “I find the concept intriguing – this could be the first impression for anyone encountering us, perhaps a young traveler on a Delta Airlines flight in two years. They might then casually search us online and discover, ‘Wow, they’ve been around for quite some time!’

Cera, you composed the score for Angarano’s first feature in 2017, “Avenues.” But when did the two of you first connect and how did that transform into this collaborative partnership? You two both emerged in the industry in parallel.

As a cinephile, I found myself immersed in a film project alongside my friend Max Winkler, titled “Ceremony”. It was during this venture that our bond truly took shape. Initially, I was drawn by the thrill of Max’s directorial debut. However, musical contributions weren’t part of my eventual role. Yet, this shared experience sparked a newfound camaraderie between us. In Los Angeles, during our twenties, we formed an inseparable circle, spending most of our time together.

MICHAEL ANGARANO: We were all kid actors. It was our version of a college group.

In your early twenties, if you’re employed professionally, most of your peers are likely still in education, with the exception being other jobless actors.

I’M CONFUSED BECAUSE: We became quite close there, but it’s puzzling since I too tried out for the role of “Scott Pilgrim.

CERA: Oh, yeah, we read together.

ANGARANO: But that was after “Ceremony,” or was that before “Ceremony”?

CERA: Well, it was like 2009, it would have been. When was “Ceremony” made?

ANGARANO: I don’t know.

CERA: I don’t either.

ANGARANO: Anyway.

When you and Chris Smith were writing the film, were you open to playing either role, Angarano?

ANGARANO: Initially, we envisioned the possibility of either of us performing it, or neither of us. Informally seeking funds, then later more seriously, it became apparent that this would be a challenging endeavor. Consequently, if Cera could take on the role, that’s what we aimed for. However, if Mike declined playing Glenn, I was prepared to withdraw from the project entirely. Mike was essentially the only other person I considered suitable for the part, someone who would fit organically. Yet, there was another scenario where this might have been a $25 million production, and we wouldn’t play these roles at all, instead letting someone else direct it.

Why was Cera the “only person right for it”?

ANGARANO: I truly admire him as an actor; he’s one of the few who excels at both great performances and comedy. Mike consistently makes choices that resonate with him personally. When I reached out to him, I was careful not to intrude on our friendship, but also confident that he wouldn’t feel obligated. It’s easy for a request to seem like an imposition, especially when it comes from someone you know well. However, I wouldn’t lend myself for a favor; I prefer to contribute with genuine intention. Even though the ask appears straightforward, it can sometimes feel like a significant request due to our relationship. This is something I always keep in mind to some extent.

Speaking of those meaningful choices, Cera, you’ve made a point of bringing a higher profile name to indies like this and “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” and “The Adults” over the past few years. You’re sitting next to a fellow actor turned director — is that a path you’re interested in too?

As a film enthusiast, I’m persistently rolling the stone forward. I’ve got a few cinematic dreams I’m striving to materialize. Here’s hoping they come to life! It’s all about steady determination until everything aligns perfectly, and then, magic happens on set.

Both of you became fathers in the years since the film was announced. It’s an intriguing real-life parallel to the concerns of the story. Cera, your character is fraught with anxiety over the incoming responsibilties of parenting. Is that something you were conscious of as the project gained steam?

As a Movie Reviewer: This film brought the protagonist’s struggles to the forefront in an immediate and impactful way. I find it hard to imagine the movie taking a different shape because these struggles essentially defined its core. Initially, the story didn’t seem to be heading this direction, but it skillfully transformed into a poignant tale about a life-altering transition. The film was incredibly enlightening in capturing and portraying that journey.

I’m unsure of the specific ways it affected me, but I’m certain that it did. I can’t explain how exactly, but my perspective shifted dramatically from theoretical to tangible. If we had made the movie five years ago, before having children, I would have been eager to watch it.

“Sacramento” is now in theaters from Vertical Entertainment.

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2025-04-12 20:17