Typecast as a Southern goofball, Jack McBrayer gets the last laugh

“I’m getting phone calls from high school friends I haven’t heard from in years,” said McBrayer, who graduated Heritage High School in 1990, four years before Dad’s Garage was established. “It will be a high school reunion as well.”

He began his showbiz career at Chicago’s famed Second City comedy troupe where he met Tina Fey and was eventually cast in his breakout role as Kenneth in NBC’s “30 Rock” from 2006 to 2013.

Improv, he said, is his happy place: “I’m confident I’ll be able to jump in and clown around with them. I want to make sure I honor what structure they have or whatever their brand is. I want to respect that.”

With the made-in-Georgia “You’re Cordially Invited,” the type of light comedy that used to land in movie theaters but now goes straight to streaming, McBrayer reunites with Ferrell, who he had previously worked with in “Talladega Nights” and “The Campaign.” This go-round, he plays a hapless manager at a lakeside inn who accidentally double-booked two weddings at the same time.

This is the type of role that was written specifically for McBrayer, who spent time filming both at Lake Oconee and Shadowbox Studios in Atlanta.

McBrayer also previously worked with the film director Nicholas Stoller as an innocent resort guest in 2008′s “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” starring Jason Segel and Kristen Bell. He was able to use his improv skills during “You’re Cordially Invited.”

“We were able to thoroughly enjoy ourselves with Nick Stoller,” McBrayer said. “That weirdo is always down. His philosophy is funny trumps anything. It was an easy pool to splash around.”

During “You’re Cordially Invited,” McBrayer mentored fellow Southerner Leanne Morgan, who plays Witherspoon’s sister Gwyneth and recently broke it big as a stand-up comic in her late 50s. Morgan had never done a movie before and told McBrayer so. “I told her she was a natural,” he said. “She just had to learn things like what a ‘hitting your mark’ is.” (That means standing in the right spot for the cameras.)

McBrayer also got to hang with Nick Jonas, who plays the pastor, and is a longtime friend.

“The movie,” he said, “reminded me of a very funny, very weird summer camp.”

Credit: HGTV

Credit: HGTV

After promoting “You’re Cordially Invited,” McBrayer said he was going into production of Season Two as host of HGTV’s “Zillow Gone Wild” where he visits wacky homes such as a renovated missile silo, a converted Catholic church and a pirate-themed home. He may not always find these homes tasteful, but he keeps any negativity deep inside him.

“I don’t judge or tear people down,” McBrayer said. “These people are bringing me into their homes and I wanted to be respectful of that.”

At this juncture in his career, McBrayer said he harbors no grandiose plans or deep aspirations to win an Oscar.

He was amused that Netflix’s “Unfrosted,” the comedic fake origin story of Pop Tarts starring Jerry Seinfeld and featuring McBrayer in a small role, was nominated for a Razzie for worst movie. “Was I nominated?” he said, with faux hope. When told no, he joked, “There’s always next year!”

Credit: NETF

Credit: NETF

The last time he said he received any award was at Heritage High School ― as prom king.

Otherwise, he added, “I’ve never had to give an award speech ever. Which is probably for the best!”

IF YOU GO

Jack McBrayer & Friends, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 7-8. $52-$57, Dad’s Garage Theatre, 569 Ezzard St SE, Atlanta. www.dadsgarage.com

IF YOU WATCH

“You’re Cordially Invited,” available for Amazon Prime subscribers Jan. 30