Movies: Production Underway On New Line Cinema's “Isn't It Romantic?”

Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth Adam Devine and Priyanka Chopra provide topsy-turvy love and laughs under the direction of Todd Strauss-Schulson

BURBANK, CA – July 10, 2017 – Principal photography has begun on New Line Cinema’s romantic comedy “Isn’t It Romantic?” starring Rebel Wilson (“How to Be Single,” the “Pitch Perfect” films), Liam Hemsworth (the “Hunger Games” films), Adam Devine (“The Intern,” the “Pitch Perfect” films) and Priyanka Chopra (“Quantico,” “Baywatch”), under the direction of Todd Strauss-Schulson (“A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,” “The Final Girls”).

New York City architect Natalie works hard to get noticed at her job, but is more likely to be asked to deliver coffee and bagels than to design the city’s next skyscraper. And if things weren’t bad enough, Natalie, a lifelong cynic when it comes to love, has an encounter with a mugger that renders her unconscious, waking to discover that her life has suddenly become her worst nightmare—a romantic comedy—and she is the leading lady.

Wilson stars as Natalie, alongside Liam Hemsworth as Blake, a handsome client; Adam Devine, as her earnest best friend, Josh; and Priyanka Chopra as yoga ambassador Isabella.

Strauss-Schulson directs from a screenplay by Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox & Katie Silberman, and Paula Pell. Todd Garner (“Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Tag”), Gina Matthews & Grant Scharbo (“13 Going on 30,” “What Women Want”) are producing, with Marty Ewing (“The Accountant,” “It”) and Jeremy Stein (“Into the Storm”) executive producing. Filming is taking place in and around New York City.

Collaborating with Strauss-Schulson behind the scenes are director of photography Simon Duggan (“The Great Gatsby,” “Hacksaw Ridge”), production designer Sharon Seymour (“Argo,” “The Town”), editor Andrew Marcus (“Begin Again,” “Sing Street”), and costume designer Leah Katznelson (“How to Be Single,” “Sleeping with Other People”).

The film is set for release in the Philippines a day before Valentine’s Day, February 13, 2019, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Movies: WILD GIRLS MEET PARTY BOYS IN "MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES"

Anna Kendrick, Zac Efron, Adam DeVine and Aubrey Plaza star as the troublesome quartet in the upcoming adult romantic comedy, “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” where boys meet girls by accident (literally!).

                The R-rated movie “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,” where DeVine and Efron take on the titular roles, are warned by their family to smarten-up their hard-partying ways before their sister’s wedding in Hawaii, and to bring two respectable girls as dates. After posting an ad on Craigslist, they’re contacted by a cadre of prospective suitors, and they ultimately settle on Alice (Kendrick) and Tatiana (Plaza), whose interest in Adam and Dave extends to little more than the prospect of a free holiday on the islands.

                The film is based on a true story – though the real Mike and Dave sensibly decided not to bring dates from Craigslist in the end.  The motion picture takes the intriguing idea of two brothers finding dates for a wedding and runs with it, adding unexpected layers of heart and two outrageous new lead characters.  Mike and Dave have reassured their sister and parents that they’ve got the wedding wired.  There will be no craziness, stunts, mischief, trampolines (don’t ask!) or fireworks.   They’ve found the perfect dates to keep things under control.

                 “The dates, Tatiana and Alice, were fun to write because they’re balls-out,” says scribe Cohen.  “They’re pretty intense, crazy, down-on-their-luck, tough chicks who decide they need a break and, after hearing about Mike and Dave’s ad, they transform themselves into nice, sweet, respectable-looking women.  But as soon as they arrive in Hawaii, they go into extreme party-mode and start ruining things.”

                Mike and Dave certainly know how to rock a room, but they’re small-timers compared to their dates.  As background to Alice and Tatiana, Szymanski observes that they “have a history of misadventures that have taken them around the world.   They can travel around the globe with only a couple of backpacks, and have stories to tell for ages.”

                When we meet Alice, she is heartbroken, having been left at the altar.  “So a wedding is about the last place she should be,” says Anna Kendrick, “and her downward spiral continues.”  Alice’s coping mechanism:  alcohol.  At her core, Alice is somewhat innocent.   “It’s nice play such a naïve character,” adds Kendrick.  “And Zac’s character, Dave, is just as innocent.  A surprising kind of gentle comedy comes out of that double-naivety.”

                Aubrey Plaza describes Alice’s cohort Tatiana as a founding member of the Bad Girls Club.  She’s a tough bitch from Philadelphia who doesn’t take s*** from anyone.  Tatiana likes to party and go on adventures.  She is the Alpha in any group.”    Underneath that tough exterior, though, are some soft and chewy feelings about her pal Alice.  “Tatiana wants to help her best friend get her groove back after she’s gone through a really bad breakup,” offers Plaza.  “Mike and Dave’s ad for dates to their sister’s destination wedding is a chance for a free vacay, to party endlessly and get that groove back.”

                As for the brothers, whatever their differences, Mike and Dave are tight.  “They have a symbiotic relationship,” says Efron.  “They can’t exist without one another.  They’re as much best friends as they are brothers.”

                “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” opens September 14 in cinemas from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. 

Movies: VIRAL NEED-A-DATE AD TURNED MOVIE IN “MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES”

Based on the real story of brothers Mike and Dave Stangle, who posted the following ad on Craigslist stating their need for wedding dates for their cousin’s wedding:  TWO MEN NEED WEDDING DATES : My brother and I are looking for wedding dates.  We've been told by the bride that bringing dates is "mandatory" so we "won't harass all of my friends all night" and "stay under control.” Rather than ask some fringe women in our lives to go and face the inevitable 'does this mean he wants to take it to the next level!?' questions, we'd rather bring complete strangers and just figure it out. Still reading? In anticipation of your questions we've developed an FAQ section below. 

 The ad became a viral phenomenon in hours, and the story soon spread from the internet to media outlets the world over. It also displayed a remarkable prescience; the boys estimated an 85% chance of their story becoming a movie, though they said, “we refuse the right to let Ashton Kutcher play either one of us.”

 Well, as luck would have it, their story is now a movie – “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” and there isn’t a Kutcher in sight. In the movie, the titular Mike (Adam DeVine) and Dave (Zac Efron) are also brothers, warned by their family to smarten-up their hard-partying ways before their sister’s wedding, and to bring two respectable girls as dates. But the girls they end up choosing, played by Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza, aren’t quite as wholesome as they expect. And as the real Stangles explain, some artistic license has been taken to turn the film into this year’s hottest R-rated comedy.

 

The core of the film’s comedy and much of its heart is the brotherly bond between the two guys.  “Mike and Dave are close,” states director Jake Szymanski.  “They’ve grown up together, still live together, work together, party together, and ultimately learn some lessons together.”

"Mike and Dave adore their sister,” confirms Efron.  “Their mantra is: ‘We’re doin’ it for Jeanie!  Everything we do is for Jeanie!’  They protect and love her and have put her on a pedestal.  She forgives them for all the mischief they do.”

 To make this wedding go smoothly for Jeanie, Mike and Dave are told they must bring dates to the nuptials.  “So, Mike and Dave come up with a ‘foolproof’ plan to find respectable dates,” says Devine.  “They troll for them on Craigslist—where they can also find lawnmowers and stuff.”

While the filmmakers strove to capture specific aspects of the siblings’ personalities, the physical differences between the real and reel Stangles were striking.  “I want to say that Mike and Dave are around 11 feet tall,” Devine notes.  “They made me and Zac Efron [who plays Dave] feel like little elf people.”

And what did (real) Mike and Dave make of this whole “Hollywood” experience?  “They got guys to play us who are not as good looking as us, or as tall, but they are better actors,” says Dave. “I’ll give them that.  And Stephen Root, who plays our dad, seems to like us more than our real dad.”

This year’s hottest R-18 comedy date movie – “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” will open in cinemas nationwide on September 14 from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.