The final installment of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy will come to a close when it hits theaters on Dec. 17. So after three movies and, of course, J.R.R. Tolkien's classic book, we're well aware that protagonist Bilbo Baggins goes on an epic adventure full of battles, magic and elves.
However, heroic journeys like this eventually have to come to an end, and if you thought Bilbo just retired to the Shire after his quest was complete, think again. Once he did the noble thing by not accepting all of that treasure, the hobbit had to make money somehow. Believe it or not, he took up a job as a paper salesman.
At least that's what the Dec. 13 episode of Saturday Night Live imagined with its crossover of The Hobbit and The Office. When you have the likes of British actor Martin Freeman hosting, who famously played Bilbo in The Hobbit films and Tim Canterbury in the U.K. version of The Office, you pretty much have to do something like this.
But, oh, am I glad they did. The Office: Middle Earth was a spot-on send-up of both famous franchises. Freeman molded his Bilbo and Tim characters into one, playing an apathetic and mischievous yet lovable paper salesman, who just happens to be tiny with large, hairy feet.
Bobby Moynihan did a brilliant Gandalf and David Brent hybrid, the latter of which had been perfected in the series by the seemingly inimitable Ricky Gervais. For anyone who has watched The Office pilot, you'll see that Moynihan recreates David's hand movements and overall attitude perfectly.
And then there was Taran Killam as Gollum, the Gareth character, who wore a collar and tie because he had to keep it professional, but there was no shirt, because of Gollum. His voice rivals that of Andy Serkis' original Gollum, and he goes ballistic when his ring, yeah that ring, gets put in a Jello mold by Tim. There are so many Office and Hobbit Easter eggs in this parody, multiple viewings are basically a requirement.
Other than this sketch, I have to say that Freeman's hosting of SNL was unremarkable. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Although I was impressed that he put on a near-perfect American accent in several of the sketches, which is difficult to do well in a movie or TV show, let alone on live TV. Good job, Marty!
But overall, it seemed like the show didn't really know what to do with him and didn't play to his strengths. And that's a shame, because, as this short and his past work suggests, Freeman obviously has comedic chops.
Check out the full video below.
