'' (
2001 ) is a
Romantic Comedy Film , directed by
Joe Roth , starring
Julia Roberts ,
Billy Crystal ,
John Cusack and
Catherine Zeta-Jones .
Lee Philips (
Crystal ) is a movie publicist with a major problem. The latest movie his studio has made stars "America's Sweethearts", Gwen Harrison (
Zeta-Jones ) and Eddie Thomas (
Cusack ). However, the couple have recently split, with Gwen running off with a Latin actor, Hector (
Hank Azaria ). Not only that, but their latest film is being held hostage by the eccentric director, Hal Weidmann (
Christopher Walken ), who demands that the film first be shown at a
Press Junket . Needing to keep up the illusion that Gwen and Eddie are still a couple, Lee needs to somehow work his magic to get them back together long enough until the press junket for the movie. However, complicating matters, is the fact that Eddie is starting to fall for Gwen's personal assistant, Kiki (
Roberts ) - who happens to also be Gwen's sister. When the movie is finally shown at the press junket, the actors and others involved with film, and the press, discover that director Hal Weidmann has created a film unlike anything that anyone else who'd been involved in the movie's production intended or expected, including footage filmed when individuals thought they were talking privately with one another.
- ''A comedy about celebrity, family and other forms of insanity.''
- The character of Hal Weidmann is based on Hal Ashby .
- Robert Downey Jr. was originally slated to play Eddie. John Cusack was cast instead when Downey's legal problems raised doubts as to whether he would be available for filming.
- Julia Roberts turned down the lead role of Gwen because she was afraid that people would think that the character was really her and lose her image. Thus, the public would lose interest and she would lose her enormous box-office pull.
- This was Joe Roth's first picture as director in 11 years. Initially Billy Crystal was slated to direct the picture. When Roth read the script, he was totally immersed and liked the script so much that he wanted to direct. Crystal granted Roth's request to direct the picture and stayed on as producer.
- When Hal is talking to the press at the press junket his microphone shorts. As he says the line "...this is the most honest movie I have ever made" after the word "made" you hear a click and can see the flash in the microphone headpiece as it shorts.
- Gwen uses "Holly Golightly" as an alias for the hotel register, something Catherine Zeta-Jones has wanted to do for real for years.
- Billy Crystal had written the part of Eddie for himself years ago, but director Joe Roth persuaded Crystal to take on the role of Lee the publicist, as he felt Crystal was too old to play the part by then.
