The new romantic comedy “About Last Night,” starring Kevin Hart, Regina Hall, Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant, is hoping to make Valentine’s weekend 2014 one to remember. And the on-screen comedic duo of Hart and Hall are bringing the funny and putting a modern spin on the 1986 version that starred Rob Lowe and Demi Moore.
In an interview with the Michigan Chronicle during a promotional stop in Detroit, Hart and Hall were both very engaging and excited to talk about their new film. Their in-between-answers interaction made keeping a straight face impossible. But the experience gave me a newfound appreciation for Kevin Hart and a deeper knowledge of how multitalented Regina Hall is.
“About Last Night” is the story of four Los Angeles singles who go through the good, bad, ugly, and funny while trying to navigate through their relationships.
WATCH: The Detroit Premier Screening of ‘About Last Night’ with Q&A with Kevin Hart and Regina Hall
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef6neh6delM&w=320&h=215]
Is it always bad to sleep with someone on the first date? Can a one-night stand turn into a long-term relationship? Is raw chemistry enough to sustain a couple? Why is monogamy a bad word to some? All these questions are explored in a hilarious and real way in the Will Packard-produced film.
Loudmouth Bernie (Hart) and his bright-eyed best friend Danny (Ealy) are out one evening when Debbie (Bryant), a smart, beautiful but cautious about love woman catches Danny’s eye. An instant love match is made and they end up sleeping together on the first night…and many nights after that.
Much to the dislike of Debbie’s best friend Joan (Hall) and Bernie (who have their own thing going on that’s also complicated), Danny and Debbie try to make their relationship last outside of the bar and bedroom, and hilarious but real life situations ensue for the next 100 minutes.
“Bernie and Joan have a different take on relationships from the beginning, being that we weren’t looking for one,” said Hart about his and Regina Hall’s characters. “We just wanted to have a good time. And being that (having a good time) was all that we were doing, because we continued to do it, we grew feelings. Then my character got a little scared. When she (Regina’s character Joan) came at me on some girlfriend title stuff, I got nervous.
“But after leaving but still coming around each other, and going through that emotional roller coaster that was filled with so much passion and anger, we eventually get to a place of love, and the journey was so unique.”
There is no denying that Hart is a bankable TV and movie star. But what you may not know is how naturally personable and genuine he is. He’s just a nice guy who really loves his fans. Fans that have followed him from his stand-up comedy start in favorites like “Laugh at My Pain” to movies such as “Soul Plane” and finally in blockbusters like “Think Like a Man” to his most recent hit, “Ride Along.”
“I love the way we promoted these movies,” he said. “The way of promoting is so different now. People don’t understand why I embrace it. I love going out and physically allowing my fans to see me and show that I appreciate them. It goes along way.”
He also knows how to share the spotlight. His costar, Regina Hall, seen most recently in “The Best Man Holiday,” finally has her “coming out party” (Hart’s words) in this movie and Hart is the proud host.
Hall has been quietly working steadily since her breakout role as Candy in “The Best Man” (1999). She has been featured in the “Scary Movie” films, “Death at a Funeral” and “Think Like a Man.” Most recently she has experienced major box office success with “The Best Man Holiday.” In her current film, she actually steals quite a few scenes from her costar.
In discussing her character, Joan, she said, “People already know Kevin is going to be hilarious. So the expectation for me was different in this role. When you are playing opposite someone you know is hilarious and then together you are able to create another component of hilarious, it’s like wow! We just wanted to create a dynamic of male and female, like Redd Foxx and Aunt Esther, or George Jefferson and Florence.”
And to watch them interact with each other during the interview was like an old married couple who could finish each other’s sentences and lovingly roast each other, but still manage to answer every question. This is one of the main reasons “About Last Night” works as a movie women and men can enjoy.
The film is based on the David Mamet play “Sexual Perversity in Chicago,” produced by Will Packer (“This Christmas,” “Takers,” “Think Like a Man”) and directed by Steve Pink (“Hot Tub Time Machine”). And anyone who is thinking that “About Last Night” is like “Think Like a Man” since it features three actors from that film, they should think again. Hart and Hall agree that it’s a completely different type of movie.
“We earned our R-rating. This movie has a different type of edginess,” said Hall. “You may be seeing something that is visually similar, but when you get into the movie you don’t even think about it. It’s a different tone, it’s emotionally different.”
Hart says for the first time he got to play “a grown man” on film.
“It couldn’t be more far apart from ‘Think Like a Man,’” he said, giving credit to the producing and directing.
Hart and Hall are excited about the warm reception from moviegoers so far.
“Mark my words. People are going to be shocked,” said Hall. “The word of mouth from this film is going to be very strong. You can’t track what this will do for Valentine’s weekend. The way social media is right now and that word of mouth gets to spreading, it’s going to skyrocket!”
And just who is running the social media?
“Hall leans in and whispers, “His name is Kevin Hart. He’s a master at it.”
He is also a master at picking great movie roles.
“About Last Night” opens in theaters everywhere on Feb. 14.
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