Meanwhile, plenty of other celebrity talking heads (Judd Apatow, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, and whiskered ZZ Top musicians Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons among them) happily contribute to the conversation's inherent humor.

WSJ: Men's Grooming With Will Arnett and Jason Bateman: Hello, 'Mansome'

"Prairie Lullaby" is the work of Billy Hill, whose career straddled the old West as well as Broadway.

WSJ: The Jazz Scene: Easy Keys, Bass Instincts

Thanks to the elegant understatement of Mr. Hill's portrayal, the unworldly Pete provides a wonderful foil to Mr. Pitt's eccentric, flamboyant Billy in just about every scene they share.

WSJ: Moneyball | Machine Gun Preacher | Stars, Stats and Perfect Pitch | Film Review by Joe Morgenstern