No, it's not a even a joke (really!). Re-watching The Faculty recently, the first time I've seen it on DVD with all the advantages of that medium, I realized I'd been shortchanging Casey on what I thought of his physical abilities, and even of his courage. I was struck by what a physical role it is (the most of any in the movie), how much of Frodo I saw in him, and how, even though it's an ensemble cast, it really is Casey's story.