Garry Marshall's "Valentine’s Day" is a Big Hollywood Love-in - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 02-02-2010, 08:51 PM

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — If ever there was a movie showcasing a demographic dream team, it is Garry Marshall’s Valentine’s Day.

How sweet it is?

"It’s like high school and you’re with the most popular kids in the school," says the 75-year-old Marshall, holding court with some of his famous cast members at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Marshall has made a name for himself helming such big hits as The Princess Diaries and Pretty Woman. In fact, his new all-star ensemble includes Pretty Woman’s Julia Roberts, who still attracts a huge portion of the hopelessly romantic Baby Boomer crowd.

Valentine’s Day looks designed to attract a wide audience.

Queen Latifah has some moments, so hip hop lovers might give the film a try. George Lopez is camera ready for a few jokes, which helps from a Latin American point of view. Grey’s Anatomy loyalists should leave the comfort of their TV for glimpses of Eric Dane and Patrick Dempsey on the big screen. And even the farce-obsessed frat-folks may dare to catch the lovey-dovey action thanks to the presence of The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper. The caustic seniors sect will have Shirley MacLaine to root for, while the poster people can check out the two Jessicas — Alba and Biel.

And for the massive throngs of tweens and teens, Twilight’s Taylor Lautner and Grammy-winning singer Taylor Swift show up in Valentine’s Day.

As interweaving stories stitch together a yarn about one specific Valentine’s Day in L. A., the movie brings in a seemingly endless stream of headliners.

The multiple-plot mix goes something like this:

• Flying back to Los Angeles from Iraq, an army officer (Julia Roberts) gets friendly with her troubled seat mate (Bradley Cooper).

• A veteran NFL quarterback (Eric Dane) has a confession he’s not sure he should make.

• Against advice from his buddy, (Lopez) a florist shop owner (Ashton Kutcher) asks his girlfriend (Jessica Alba) to marry him just as he finds out his best friend (Jennifer Garner) is dating a married man (Patrick Dempsey).

• A talent agent’s (Queen Latifah) assistant (Anne Hathaway) connects with a mailroom dude (Topher Grace), and complications follow.

• A publicist (Jessica Biel) is dateless, but gets cozy with a TV reporter (Jamie Foxx) trying to impress his boss (Kathy Bates).

• A grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) admits to a past affair to her husband (Hector Elizondo).

• A virginal teen (Emma Roberts) decides to have sex just as her close high school friends (Taylors Lautner and Swift) fall for each other.

Complicated, for sure, but Marshall has a clutter-free light touch as a director and producer — something underscored by his work on Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries, and his TV past as co-creator of The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Mork & Mindy.

Roberts, 42, who previously teamed up with the director for both Pretty Woman (1990) and Runaway Bride (1999), says Marshall continues to be unique.

"Now, I do whatever Garry (Marshall) wants me to do," says Roberts. "I’m his comedy slave — every 10 years."

And MacLaine insists that Roberts was the main translator for on set “Marshall-speak”, which seems to be made up of Brooklyn slang with a lot of "things" thrown in the place of verbs and nouns.

Roberts smiles then tries to explain his directorial style as best she can.

"Well, if Garry were to say to you as an actor, ’Do the thing with thing and then go over there with the thing, and be funny. Action,’" she reports. "That would mean, ’Sit up straight. Smile. Look to your co-star. Say the lines, and be very funny.’"

Elizondo, who had previously appeared in 12 of Marshall’s films, says he "continues to be a good-luck charm at 13." The 73-year-old actor says he also helped fill in the blanks on Marshall-isms, but even he still gets baffled.

On the other hand, Foxx insists he understood Marshall’s language for getting laughs, and usually so did the rest of the cast.

Foxx said it was a relief for him to do a light romantic comedy after a string of heavy dramatic roles.

"We had a great time," Foxx confirms. "Being able to work with Garry (Marshall) was great and working with Jess (Biel) and Jen (Garner) in my scenes was great because they had this Laverne and Shirley type energy going on. I’m so upset I didn’t get a chance to work with everybody but I had a ball."

The formula for a happy set, and energetic performances, is simple, according to the director.

"The key is you hire every actress whose name starts with J," says a smiling Marshall, referring to Julia (Roberts), Jennifer (Garner) and the Jessicas (Alba and Biel).

More seriously, he suggests that casting decent people who can also act is always a priority.

"It’s always nice to hire nice guys," notes Marshall. "And they were all nice all the time on Valentine’s Day — big stars but a friendly group."

02-02-2010, 08:51 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,392	Garry Marshall's "Valentine’s Day" is a Big Hollywood Love-in Link BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — If ever there was a movie showcasing a demographic dream team, it is Garry Marshall’s Valentine’s Day. How sweet it is? "It’s like high school and you’re with the most popular kids in the school," says the 75-year-old Marshall, holding court with some of his famous cast members at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Marshall has made a name for himself helming such big hits as The Princess Diaries and Pretty Woman. In fact, his new all-star ensemble includes Pretty Woman’s Julia Roberts, who still attracts a huge portion of the hopelessly romantic Baby Boomer crowd. Valentine’s Day looks designed to attract a wide audience. Queen Latifah has some moments, so hip hop lovers might give the film a try. George Lopez is camera ready for a few jokes, which helps from a Latin American point of view. Grey’s Anatomy loyalists should leave the comfort of their TV for glimpses of Eric Dane and Patrick Dempsey on the big screen. And even the farce-obsessed frat-folks may dare to catch the lovey-dovey action thanks to the presence of The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper. The caustic seniors sect will have Shirley MacLaine to root for, while the poster people can check out the two Jessicas — Alba and Biel. And for the massive throngs of tweens and teens, Twilight’s Taylor Lautner and Grammy-winning singer Taylor Swift show up in Valentine’s Day. As interweaving stories stitch together a yarn about one specific Valentine’s Day in L. A., the movie brings in a seemingly endless stream of headliners. The multiple-plot mix goes something like this: • Flying back to Los Angeles from Iraq, an army officer (Julia Roberts) gets friendly with her troubled seat mate (Bradley Cooper). • A veteran NFL quarterback (Eric Dane) has a confession he’s not sure he should make. • Against advice from his buddy, (Lopez) a florist shop owner (Ashton Kutcher) asks his girlfriend (Jessica Alba) to marry him just as he finds out his best friend (Jennifer Garner) is dating a married man (Patrick Dempsey). • A talent agent’s (Queen Latifah) assistant (Anne Hathaway) connects with a mailroom dude (Topher Grace), and complications follow. • A publicist (Jessica Biel) is dateless, but gets cozy with a TV reporter (Jamie Foxx) trying to impress his boss (Kathy Bates). • A grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) admits to a past affair to her husband (Hector Elizondo). • A virginal teen (Emma Roberts) decides to have sex just as her close high school friends (Taylors Lautner and Swift) fall for each other. Complicated, for sure, but Marshall has a clutter-free light touch as a director and producer — something underscored by his work on Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries, and his TV past as co-creator of The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Mork & Mindy. Roberts, 42, who previously teamed up with the director for both Pretty Woman (1990) and Runaway Bride (1999), says Marshall continues to be unique. "Now, I do whatever Garry (Marshall) wants me to do," says Roberts. "I’m his comedy slave — every 10 years." And MacLaine insists that Roberts was the main translator for on set “Marshall-speak”, which seems to be made up of Brooklyn slang with a lot of "things" thrown in the place of verbs and nouns. Roberts smiles then tries to explain his directorial style as best she can. "Well, if Garry were to say to you as an actor, ’Do the thing with thing and then go over there with the thing, and be funny. Action,’" she reports. "That would mean, ’Sit up straight. Smile. Look to your co-star. Say the lines, and be very funny.’" Elizondo, who had previously appeared in 12 of Marshall’s films, says he "continues to be a good-luck charm at 13." The 73-year-old actor says he also helped fill in the blanks on Marshall-isms, but even he still gets baffled. On the other hand, Foxx insists he understood Marshall’s language for getting laughs, and usually so did the rest of the cast. Foxx said it was a relief for him to do a light romantic comedy after a string of heavy dramatic roles. "We had a great time," Foxx confirms. "Being able to work with Garry (Marshall) was great and working with Jess (Biel) and Jen (Garner) in my scenes was great because they had this Laverne and Shirley type energy going on. I’m so upset I didn’t get a chance to work with everybody but I had a ball." The formula for a happy set, and energetic performances, is simple, according to the director. "The key is you hire every actress whose name starts with J," says a smiling Marshall, referring to Julia (Roberts), Jennifer (Garner) and the Jessicas (Alba and Biel). More seriously, he suggests that casting decent people who can also act is always a priority. "It’s always nice to hire nice guys," notes Marshall. "And they were all nice all the time on Valentine’s Day — big stars but a friendly group."
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.