Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Kevin Hart and Josh Gad are a pair of ringers

Josh Gad and Kevin Hart - Image by Hannah Liddle
Josh Gad and Kevin Hart
Movie

Wedding Ringer

thumbnail

A so-white nerd in need of marriage counseling (Josh Gad) seeks the services of an undercover professional (Kevin Hart) to equip him with a paranymph and nine mentally-dwarfed groomsmen.

Find showtimes

The lobby of the Hard Rock Hotel was packed with press eager and curious to spend 15 minutes in the service of Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, and their new R-rated comedy The Wedding Ringer. The two were in town recently, and the turnout for this press day was the biggest in memory.

It’s the public relations answer to speed-dating, two men shuttling from space to space, journalist to journalist trying (with ease) to make good impressions all the while wadding each electronic recording device with gads of spirited repartee as reps sat off to the side minding the minute hand. Judging by the post-interview buzz on the way out, no one left disappointed.

The two scattered enough overlapping dialogue to make Howard Hawks’s head collapse. For once I had no recourse but to sit back, relax, and let these two funnymen do the heavy lifting. I suggest you do the same.

I ♡ Kevin Hart

Scott Marks: Before the screening, the dyslexic projectionist at the AMC put on the recorded segment where you tell the audience not to leave. You say, “My name is Josh Gad — G.A.D.” How many different ways are there to spell Gad? If anything, it should be Hart [spelling his name] because he’s missing the “e.”


Kevin Hart (Laughing): You did do that. You don’t remember?

Josh Gad: I did?

KH: I swear to you.

JG: A lot of people spell it with two “d’s” because of Steve Gadd, the drummer.

SM: Who do you two normally get mistaken for?

JG: People mistake me for Chris Tucker.

SM (Laughing): One face!

Sponsored
Sponsored

KH: I get D.L. Hughley, believe it or not. (Imitating fans) “Hey, D.L.! Man, I loved your show!” And I’ve gotten Tracy Morgan before.

JG: I get mistaken for anybody slightly overweight with black hair. Jonah Hill, Jack Black...

SM: They ever mistake you for me?

JG: I have. People came up to me today and were, like, “Scott! How’s your column going?”

SM: Does your agent have TMZ on speed-dial, Kevin? You’re on that show more than Harvey Levin.

KH: I love TMZ. I have a great relationship with those guys. If they want to talk to me, I always talk to them. I don’t want to be an enemy of TMZ.

JG: You got their back, they got yours.

KH: I don’t care how much of a rush I’m in, I stop. Whatever you need, guys!

SM: They asked if you would ever work for Sony again, and you never gave an answer.

KH: Never gave an answer. You stay PC. At the end of the day, I’m in the business. Opportunities come, opportunities go. So what opportunities are brought my way depends on the work that I’ll do. (To Gad.) You see that? I never really answered it.

SM: We share a mutual friend, Kevin. Alan Arkin, your Grudge Match co-star, lives in town. Do you have a message for him?

Video:

Interview with Kevin Hart and Josh Gad

KH: I am a friend and a huge fan. I can honestly say the chemistry you see with me and Josh, me and Alan had that same chemistry. I talked to him while we were off set, going to dinner, hearing his stories...I genuinely have nothing but love for Alan Arkin. He’s such a good guy. Funny! Naturally funny.

SM: You’re becoming quite the mover and shaker, Josh, when it comes to providing cartoon voices. How did that come about?

JG: I have what you would call a dulcet tone that puts people in a good mood. Frozen was such an unexpected surprise.

KH: It’s one of those good accidents that happen.

JG: Yeah. I had always had the dream of doing a voice in a Disney animated movie. It surpassed all of my wildest expectations.

SM: What brought the two of you together? Had you met before?

KH: No. I would never talk to Josh.

JG: If I saw Kevin, I’d run the other way.

SM: You’d call him D.L. Hugely and run.

JG: I was the guy yelling, “Hey, D.L. What happened to the show on CNN?"

SM: You hear a lot of talk about Los Angeles trying to bring filming back to the city. This was originally set to film in Chicago, and you received a $2.8 million California tax grant that brought you here.

JG: It’s important. It’s one of those things where it’s, like, you film more movies everywhere but Los Angeles. It’s about time that some of these films came home. It was really fun to shoot at home, to get in your car and go home and see your wife and kids.

KH: I could do without that part. Just being gone sometimes is okay.

SM: I’m a stickler for logic, and there is one point that escaped me while watching The Wedding Ringer. In real life you have a wife and two kids, but the character you play is a schlub. How is it that you can get Kaley Cuoco...what is it now, Sweeting? How long is that gonna last?

KH: She gets a hand-cramp signing autographs.

SM: So how can you wind up having her for your bride and not have a friend to act as best man?

JG: The conceit of that is this is a guy who provides her with a sense of protection. He’s an investment for her. He does well, he’s a caretaker, he desperately loves her, and she feels safe. As he says in the movie, he’s never had time to make friends. He’s always been going nonstop. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t really have...he’s never allowed himself to build a group of friends. With Kaley, it’s a happy accident, and the rest of his life wasn’t as lucky. I buy that completely. I’ve always bought that. The movie hinges on the fact that this girl fell in love with him...we really don’t know if she’s in love with him. But she settled for him because he’s a safe bet. And that’s not necessarily the way it goes with friendships.

KH: She also says that. There’s a moment where Kaley’s character says, “I’m tired of dating assholes. He’s a good guy, he’s safe, and this is what I need.”

JG: And here’s the other thing about it, Scott. It’s a movie.

SM: I need to suspend disbelief.

JG: No, I think you need to suspend belief.

SM: Has there already been a sequel announced?

KH: Yes, and it’s called Boat Trip.

JG: We’re really excited about it.

SM: Why not Soul Plane for the threequel?

JG: I’m hesitant because the first one is such an obvious fan favorite. I want to make sure we get the right energy.

KH: This time, instead of the plane being purple, we’re gonna make it gold.

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

In-n-Out alters iconic symbol to reflect “modern-day California”

Keep Palm and Carry On?
Next Article

Escondido planners nix office building switch to apartments

Not enough open space, not enough closets for Hickory Street plans
Josh Gad and Kevin Hart - Image by Hannah Liddle
Josh Gad and Kevin Hart
Movie

Wedding Ringer

thumbnail

A so-white nerd in need of marriage counseling (Josh Gad) seeks the services of an undercover professional (Kevin Hart) to equip him with a paranymph and nine mentally-dwarfed groomsmen.

Find showtimes

The lobby of the Hard Rock Hotel was packed with press eager and curious to spend 15 minutes in the service of Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, and their new R-rated comedy The Wedding Ringer. The two were in town recently, and the turnout for this press day was the biggest in memory.

It’s the public relations answer to speed-dating, two men shuttling from space to space, journalist to journalist trying (with ease) to make good impressions all the while wadding each electronic recording device with gads of spirited repartee as reps sat off to the side minding the minute hand. Judging by the post-interview buzz on the way out, no one left disappointed.

The two scattered enough overlapping dialogue to make Howard Hawks’s head collapse. For once I had no recourse but to sit back, relax, and let these two funnymen do the heavy lifting. I suggest you do the same.

I ♡ Kevin Hart

Scott Marks: Before the screening, the dyslexic projectionist at the AMC put on the recorded segment where you tell the audience not to leave. You say, “My name is Josh Gad — G.A.D.” How many different ways are there to spell Gad? If anything, it should be Hart [spelling his name] because he’s missing the “e.”


Kevin Hart (Laughing): You did do that. You don’t remember?

Josh Gad: I did?

KH: I swear to you.

JG: A lot of people spell it with two “d’s” because of Steve Gadd, the drummer.

SM: Who do you two normally get mistaken for?

JG: People mistake me for Chris Tucker.

SM (Laughing): One face!

Sponsored
Sponsored

KH: I get D.L. Hughley, believe it or not. (Imitating fans) “Hey, D.L.! Man, I loved your show!” And I’ve gotten Tracy Morgan before.

JG: I get mistaken for anybody slightly overweight with black hair. Jonah Hill, Jack Black...

SM: They ever mistake you for me?

JG: I have. People came up to me today and were, like, “Scott! How’s your column going?”

SM: Does your agent have TMZ on speed-dial, Kevin? You’re on that show more than Harvey Levin.

KH: I love TMZ. I have a great relationship with those guys. If they want to talk to me, I always talk to them. I don’t want to be an enemy of TMZ.

JG: You got their back, they got yours.

KH: I don’t care how much of a rush I’m in, I stop. Whatever you need, guys!

SM: They asked if you would ever work for Sony again, and you never gave an answer.

KH: Never gave an answer. You stay PC. At the end of the day, I’m in the business. Opportunities come, opportunities go. So what opportunities are brought my way depends on the work that I’ll do. (To Gad.) You see that? I never really answered it.

SM: We share a mutual friend, Kevin. Alan Arkin, your Grudge Match co-star, lives in town. Do you have a message for him?

Video:

Interview with Kevin Hart and Josh Gad

KH: I am a friend and a huge fan. I can honestly say the chemistry you see with me and Josh, me and Alan had that same chemistry. I talked to him while we were off set, going to dinner, hearing his stories...I genuinely have nothing but love for Alan Arkin. He’s such a good guy. Funny! Naturally funny.

SM: You’re becoming quite the mover and shaker, Josh, when it comes to providing cartoon voices. How did that come about?

JG: I have what you would call a dulcet tone that puts people in a good mood. Frozen was such an unexpected surprise.

KH: It’s one of those good accidents that happen.

JG: Yeah. I had always had the dream of doing a voice in a Disney animated movie. It surpassed all of my wildest expectations.

SM: What brought the two of you together? Had you met before?

KH: No. I would never talk to Josh.

JG: If I saw Kevin, I’d run the other way.

SM: You’d call him D.L. Hugely and run.

JG: I was the guy yelling, “Hey, D.L. What happened to the show on CNN?"

SM: You hear a lot of talk about Los Angeles trying to bring filming back to the city. This was originally set to film in Chicago, and you received a $2.8 million California tax grant that brought you here.

JG: It’s important. It’s one of those things where it’s, like, you film more movies everywhere but Los Angeles. It’s about time that some of these films came home. It was really fun to shoot at home, to get in your car and go home and see your wife and kids.

KH: I could do without that part. Just being gone sometimes is okay.

SM: I’m a stickler for logic, and there is one point that escaped me while watching The Wedding Ringer. In real life you have a wife and two kids, but the character you play is a schlub. How is it that you can get Kaley Cuoco...what is it now, Sweeting? How long is that gonna last?

KH: She gets a hand-cramp signing autographs.

SM: So how can you wind up having her for your bride and not have a friend to act as best man?

JG: The conceit of that is this is a guy who provides her with a sense of protection. He’s an investment for her. He does well, he’s a caretaker, he desperately loves her, and she feels safe. As he says in the movie, he’s never had time to make friends. He’s always been going nonstop. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t really have...he’s never allowed himself to build a group of friends. With Kaley, it’s a happy accident, and the rest of his life wasn’t as lucky. I buy that completely. I’ve always bought that. The movie hinges on the fact that this girl fell in love with him...we really don’t know if she’s in love with him. But she settled for him because he’s a safe bet. And that’s not necessarily the way it goes with friendships.

KH: She also says that. There’s a moment where Kaley’s character says, “I’m tired of dating assholes. He’s a good guy, he’s safe, and this is what I need.”

JG: And here’s the other thing about it, Scott. It’s a movie.

SM: I need to suspend disbelief.

JG: No, I think you need to suspend belief.

SM: Has there already been a sequel announced?

KH: Yes, and it’s called Boat Trip.

JG: We’re really excited about it.

SM: Why not Soul Plane for the threequel?

JG: I’m hesitant because the first one is such an obvious fan favorite. I want to make sure we get the right energy.

KH: This time, instead of the plane being purple, we’re gonna make it gold.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Live Five: Sitting On Stacy, Matte Blvck, Think X, Hendrix Celebration, Coriander

Alt-ska, dark electro-pop, tributes, and coastal rock in Solana Beach, Little Italy, Pacific Beach
Next Article

Now what can they do with Encinitas unstable cliffs?

Make the cliffs fall, put up more warnings, fine beachgoers?
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader