Hugh Grant is detailing just how com-plicated comedy films can be to make.
The iconic star told Variety that while he has led more than a few classic rom-coms, the comedy genre itself is “difficult” to capture — and usually has a “miserable process” during production.
“I just think ‘com’ is difficult. I don’t know about ‘rom,’” Grant said. “Rom is not easy — and you need to mean it — but com is certainly very difficult.”
The “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” actor continued of making comedies, “It’s a miserable process. You’ve probably been on comedy film sets and there’s no laughter. You’re doing it in a vacuum and if you’re very lucky, you might hear a stifled snort from someone sitting near the monitor. That’s gold to you.”
As for rom-coms as a whole, Grant reflected on his filmography ranging from the “Bridget Jones” franchise to “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Notting Hill.”
“They’re hard,” Grant said of the genre. “And with the benefit of time, I really appreciate the good ones I did. The Richard Curtis ones are really about pain. It’s something my wife spotted. She’s Swedish; they’re good on pain. She was watching ‘Love Actually,’ and she said, ‘Everyone’s in pain, and the humor is all a means for dealing with pain.’ That’s what makes them sustain and not float away like a piece of fluff.”
He added, “The Marc Lawrence ones I did are also great because he genuinely loves people and there’s a warmth that I find enchanting. Because I’ve seen the romantic comedies that are slightly put together by committee, and they don’t work as well.”
Grant emphasized that he believes the latest “Bridget Jones” film will be one of the better rom-coms.
“I had this discussion with Michael Morris, who directed the new ‘Bridget Jones’ movie,” Grant said. “I was doing ADR for it yesterday and the bits I’ve seen are marvelous. Because he’s gone down the route that Mike Newell went with ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ and having everybody play it absolutely real. And if the jokes are good enough — which they are — they take care of themselves.”