Martin
Lawrence: The Rebound Interview
By
Kam Williams
Martin Lawrence
may be best known mostly for the brash brand of humor we've
witnessed in his stand-up routines (You So Crazy, Runteldat
and Def Comedy Jam), on his TV show (Martin), and in his hit
movies (Big Momma's House, Bad Boys 1 & 2 and Nothing
to Lose), but he's now tamed down his outrageousness to make
Rebound, a PG-rated film designed with tykes in mind. Perhaps
taking a page out of Eddie Murphy's playbook, Martin appears
to be going after the next generation with a squeaky clean
flick which can be fun for the whole family.
KW:
Is there any truth to the rumor that you were inspired
to venture into the family flick genre by Eddie Murphy, who
found franchises in Dr. Dolittle, The Nutty Professor and
Shrek? Plus he's done some other kid-oriented adventures like
The Haunted House and Daddy Day Care.
ML: "He suggested it in a way. He said,
'Hey man, I think you and kids together would be a funny concept.'
Then Rebound came along and I was able to do that."
KW: How often do you talk to Eddie or other
comedians about what you might do next?
ML: "Like I said, it was just us having
a conversation, him saying, 'You should do a movie with kids,
and it'd be a lot of fun. But there's nothing to elaborate
on other than that."
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KW:
How much did you tweak the script after you decided
to do the movie?
ML: "Well, because I produced
it, I was able to have input from casting to scenes
to story points I didn't think worked. Things like that.
Or suggesting maybe we ought to try some things I did
think would work."
KW: Do you enjoy that part of the process?
ML: "It's always fun to be able
to have a voice, because it helps me to stay in tune
with the project and the people that I'm working with.
There's nothing worse than being on a project and not
being able to have a voice. I don't like that."
KW: So, you didn't consult him for
career advice.
ML: "Nah, it's just that friends
talk. We happened to talk, and I thought it was a smart
idea. Then Rebound came across my desk. I thought it
was very funny and an opportunity, so that's why I did
it."
KW: How hard was it working with a
cast containing so many children?
ML: "They were cool. A lot of
them were professional. They knew they were there to
work. And that's what they did. They came there to work,
so it wasn't hard at all."
KW: Were you at all concerned about
the possibility of being upstaged by cute kids?
ML: "I don't even worry about
that. My days of being upstaged I never have to worry
about. I just let them do what they do, be kids, and
have fun. I just sat back and enjoyed it."
KW: Do you think you'll work with kids
again?
ML: "I think I will. What impressed
me about this group of kids is how professional they
were and how much fun they were able to have. That kind
of energy gives you energy, and reminds you of when
you were young."
KW: What do you see as the message
of Rebound?
ML: "The message of the story
is that it's not about winning at all costs. It's about
teamwork and building character, and especially about
building your own character?".
KW: Did you ever have a coach that
helped build your character?
ML: "Honestly? My boxing coach.
He was always encouraging and trying to keep us focused
on the gym, so we wouldn't be out on the streets doing
things we weren't supposed to be doing."
KW: What did boxing do for you??
ML: "It kept me out of the streets,
by giving me something to do. And it gave me a father
figure in the coach who was there for me. It just reiterated
what my mother was trying to teach me about focusing
and getting my life together."
KW: And who inspired you to become
an actor and comedian?
ML: God inspired me, because I was
blessed with the knowledge that I wanted to do this.
And my mother supported it. She said, 'Whatever it is
you want to do. If you believe acting or comedy is what
you really want to do, I can only tell you it's not
easy, it's very hard, but I'll support you.' Her supporting
me enabled me to move forward."
KW: Speaking of boxing, what do you
think of Mike Tyson's going out the way he did, in such
a humiliating fashion?
ML: "I just wish Mike Tyson nothing
but the best. He deserves to be able to walk away and
find some happiness in his life, so things aren't so
confusing. God bless him.
KW: What does fatherhood mean to you?
ML: "It means a great deal to
me. I love it. To me, there ain't nothing better, because
your kids keep it real with you. When you think things
are bad, you look at them and they show you how things
could be all right. And it's all worth it."
KW: How important is the spiritual
dimension of your life to you?
ML: "It IS my life, my reason
for being."
KW: You have Big Momma's House 2 coming
up. Does that sequel pick up where the original left
off?
ML: "It's a whole different scenario.
I wind up becoming a nanny in a home because the father's
under investigation, and we gotta catch him. I don't
want to give too much away, because we're right in the
middle of filming, and I'm still putting the pieces
together."
KW: The producer of the Dukes of Hazzard
recently said that he’s doing a movie version
of The Jeffersons, and that he wanted you to play George,
and Queen Latifah to play Wheezie. Is that gonna happen?
ML: "Tell him to call me." |
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