Smoove shows his moves

LOS ANGELES — Audiences who know J.B. Smoove only as Larry David’s mischievous houseguest Leon Black on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” will get an opportunity to see a lot more of the comic in coming weeks on the big screen. Smoove has roles in Friday’s new Jonah Hill movie “The Sitter” — as a drug dealer’s overzealous wingman — and in director Cameron Crowe’s “We Bought a Zoo,” as the empathetic Realtor for a recently widowed Matt Damon and family, which opens Dec. 23.

Smoove, 46, got on the phone recently to discuss expanding his range, planning the next season of “Curb” and bringing the ruckus.

Q. “The Sitter” is about the trials of an unlikely baby-sitter. Did you ever baby-sit?

A. I baby-sat my little brother, but that’s different than baby-sitting someone else’s kids. Someone else’s kids are hard. You’ve gotta deal with them. You can’t yell too much. It’s harder to go to someone else’s house too. You get too many instructions. You’ve gotta get a whole list. It’s like, watch my kids but also don’t burn my damn house down. … I say, always baby-sit in your own environment. Don’t baby-sit in someone else’s house.

Q. Your role in “We Bought a Zoo” is a little against type for you. You’re more toned down from your Leon bravado. How did that come about?

A. Cameron (Crowe) was a big fan of “Curb.” He’s so free and open. He allowed me to come in and have a take on the character. It’s not a slapstick comedy. There are funny moments to this movie, but this character had to come from a real place, as opposed to going over the top with him.

Q. On “Curb,” Larry David seems barely able to suppress his laughter in scenes with you. What’s your relationship like off-screen?

A. Once in a while I’ll just be driving down the highway and I’ll call him up and say, “What’s going on, Larry?” and we’ll talk smack and I’ll twist his arm and see if I can get something out of him about the new season.

Q. Well, what do you know about the new season? Is there definitely going to be one?

A. I tried to get it out of Larry. He’s still trying to lay it out. I think personally he should do an even 100 episodes. Right now he’s at 80.