Farrelly Bros. on Reuniting With Jack Black for ‘Dear Santa’, ‘Dumb and Dumber’ Sequel Dreams and Why They’ll Always Defend ‘Shallow Hal’

As a die-hard fan of comedy duos, I must say that Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly have truly mastered the art of making us laugh with their unique brand of humor. Their journey from flunking school to creating some of the most iconic comedies is nothing short of inspiring.

As a cinephile, I’ve always admired the Farrelly brothers for their impressive filmography spanning collaborative projects like “Dumb and Dumber” and “There’s Something About Mary,” as well as their individual ventures such as Peter’s “Green Book” and Bobby’s “Champions.” Now, they’re teaming up once more to bring holiday cheer with the upcoming Paramount+ film, “Dear Santa.” In this delightful Christmas tale, Jack Black takes on the role of none other than Satan, who inadvertently gets summoned by a young lad named Liam (Robert Timothy Smith), who, much like myself when I was younger, struggles with spelling.

Peter and Bobby Farrelly had a conversation with EbMaster about their preferred holiday films, the strength of tales featuring underdogs, and which of their works deserve another look.

Where did the idea for “Dear Santa” come from?

Peter: Peter Jones and Kevin Barnett, our frequent collaborators, presented us with an interesting concept: a child’s letter to Santa becomes a misspelled plea to Satan instead. We immediately agreed to the idea, saying something like “We’re in! Let’s go for it.” This proposal reminded us of the infamous “Snakes on a Plane” pitch. However, we didn’t anticipate that this would be a complex project. It took us a decade to perfect, as we had to strike a delicate balance. We needed the right portrayal of Satan (in our case, Jack Black), the appropriate tone, and a PG-13 rating. Overall, it proved to be quite a challenge.

As a Follower: I understood that since it’s a Christmas tale, we aimed to steer clear from horror genres and similar themes. Instead, we wanted to infuse it with plenty of humor, warmth, and a heartwarming message that leaves audiences feeling inspired.

Your movies are often focused on an underdog character. What keeps drawing you to these stories?

Peter: A common question we receive is, “How do you come up with your writing? Is it by brainstorming jokes and humor first?” I respond, “Not quite. It’s actually the opposite. Initially, we focus on creating a character that is endearing and familiar, which allows us to place our jokes effectively. If a character is well-liked, you can get away with a lot, and if not, you cannot.

Bobby: We give a lot of thought to our stories, especially when it comes to featuring the ‘underdog’ narrative. It’s crucial for us that our readers empathize with the characters we create. In this particular tale, Liam is a character who evokes sympathy and embodies the underdog role, so we hope you’ll join him on his journey.

You both work together, but you also go do your own projects in between, and it seems like it’s always good vibes between you two. When you approach an interesting project, how do you decide if you’re going to work on it together or if you’re going to do your own thing?

Bobby: For the majority of our professional journey, we’ve collaborated on numerous tasks for over two decades. We eventually felt it was appropriate to explore separate ventures. This decision led Pete to create “Green Book” and win a couple of Oscars, which was quite rewarding. However, there’s a chance we might reunite for future projects. In this instance, Peter and Ricky Blitt wrote the script, I took on the director role, and the two of us produced the film. So it was a blend of our collective skills.

Peter: We plan to engage in more activities together, as our tastes and perspectives are incredibly aligned due to growing up together and being only a year apart. We shared the same bedroom with twin beds for what seemed like forever, and the same circle of friends too. Consequently, when we work on directing projects, it feels as if we’re thinking with a single mind. Therefore, I wonder why it’s necessary for both of us to be present all the time, since one person could handle the task effectively.

Jack Black has mentioned that your last project together, 2001’s “Shallow Hal,” “didn’t turn out as I’d hoped.” Have you all talked about the movie together in the years since?

Peter: This is news to us, isn’t it? (chuckles) It seems like I picked it up from my colleague, Gwyneth…

Bobby: I believe the film had a noble intention all along. Instead of basing your opinions on appearances, focus on the essence within them – that’s where true beauty lies. That was the message of the movie, and even today, if you rewatch it, it continues to convey the same sentiment.

What are some of your all-time favorite Christmas movies?

Peter: I’m quite fond of the film “Bad Santa,” but if I were to watch it with my family, I’d likely opt for “Elf.” It’s another timeless classic. During our shoot for “Green Book,” we worked in December and Viggo Mortensen arranged a movie theater screening of “Elf” for us all. The entire cast and crew attended. It’s the kind of film that will never fade away. I really appreciate that.

Bobby: I’m not sure if Rankin/Bass shows like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “The Little Drummer Boy” are classified as films, but I certainly found them enjoyable then and still do. When it comes to a full-length movie, I believe nothing can surpass “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart. It carried such a powerful message about a man who felt his life was pointless, how despairing he became. But his guardian angel showed him what would have happened if he hadn’t existed, revealing the significant impact he had on the world. I found it beautifully executed, and while making “Dear Santa,” I was inspired by its unique twist. In contrast to George Bailey, Liam doesn’t have a guardian angel, but instead, an unwanted visitor appears on his shoulder. Eventually, he embraces the Christmas spirit. Although the connections might not be immediately apparent, there are many parallels between “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Dear Santa.

Are there any more movies in your catalog you could envision an interesting sequel to?

Peter: I jot down ideas for potential “Dumb and Dumber” jokes whenever they come to mind, as I believe there’s a chance we might make another film in that series one day. I maintain a list of these ideas just in case.

Bobby: We completed our project ten years ago during our 20th anniversary celebration, and now here we are at our 30th anniversary. In another decade… Those individuals are a blast to collaborate with. If we’re all still active in the next few years, I would be thrilled to work on something similar. Any of the films that we have created together… Let me tell you, “There’s Something About Mary” is one of our favorites because we adore those characters so much. If an opportunity ever arises for us to revisit these characters and spin a new tale using them again, we would be eager to take it because of our affection for the characters. If we didn’t genuinely care about those characters, we wouldn’t consider making a sequel.

Are there any genres you haven’t tackled yet that you would want to try someday?

Peter: Definitely: I’m aiming for terror! My dream is to create a horror film that sends shivers down spines someday, but we don’t make plans. We’re not great at organizing things. That’s why we were less than stellar students in school. Instead, we tend to go with the flow, letting life guide us. I often bring up Rob Reiner as an example, who made his first four movies: “This is Spinal Tap,” then “The Sure Thing,” “Stand by Me,” and “The Princess Bride.” Each of these films was unique, showcasing his versatility and saying, “Challenge accepted! I can handle anything you throw at me.” We started with comedy, followed by more comedy, until we began dabbling in dramas, but only because we don’t have complete control over the process.

Bobby: It’s not about making a horror film merely for the sake of it. We’d only create one if it strikes us as something intriguing and worthy of being told.

What kind of horror movie would you be interested in making?

Peter: I want to scare people.

Bobby: I’m more drawn to the style of a film by M. Night Shyamalan, with unexpected plot twists and psychological elements. That genre – psychological thrillers – is what really excites me.

Peter: “The Sixth Sense” might be one of the best non-gory horror films out there. It’s more about an unsettling vibe that gives you chills in a different manner than traditional horror.

Peter, what can you share about your upcoming film about Sylvester Stallone and the making of “Rocky,” “I Play Rocky“?

Peter: I found one of the most impressive screenplays I’ve ever encountered. The writer, Peter Gamble, came unexpectedly into my radar. He’s a professor at USC. Toby Emmerich handed it to me, he’s associated with its production, and he recommended, “Give this script a read. I think it’s unique.” It centers around the creation of “Rocky,” and there are many aspects I was previously unaware of. Stallone was homeless when he penned that screenplay, living in Penn Station, and engaged in softcore films to make ends meet. He was penniless. He had to part ways with his beloved pet. He wrote this script and offered it to the studio, where they responded, “This is extraordinary! Here: we’ll give you $20,000 and step aside. Since Burt Reynolds portrays Rocky, you won’t be playing Rocky.

In my perspective, this is an incredible tale about resilience and determination. Originally, a man declares, “I’m not Rocky; I am Rocky.” They offer him $50,000 for the part, and he refuses, aiming higher. This individual was initially homeless, but when they proposed 350 grand, he hesitated, wanting the role in the movie. They granted him his wish, but included a clause: if he fell behind on filming even one day, he would be dismissed – a risk he accepted.

“Dear Santa” is now available on Paramount+ and on digital.

2024-11-26 03:17