Disclosure: I received an all expenses paid trip to Los Angeles for the coverage of several press events for Disney. All opinions are 100% my own. #VeryBadDayEvent
I knew in the very beginning of my #VeryBadDayEvent trip that I was going to get to interview Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner about the Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day movie but it still took me by surprise when they walked in. They both had huge smiles on their faces. Jennifer walked in and said, “These are my people! I brought him along but let’s chat.” I knew that Steve Carell was going to be funny but Jennifer Garner really took me by surprise. Not that she isn’t funny in the movie because she is hilarious but I thought Steve would be the funnier of the two in the interview.
It turns out that Jennifer was the joker of the two as well. We asked a question about if any pranks were pulled on set and I think everyone expected Steve to say that he did something. He turned around and smiled and said that he didn’t pull any pranks but that someone at the table did. Jennifer told us about how her and Steve went to the same college at different times and that she would keep sneaking stuff on set from the college gift shop. She said it started out small like Denison College cookbooks on the set and coffee mugs but that it escalated and she had every member of the crew wearing Denison College sweatshirts and Steve DIDN’T NOTICE! She finally had to phone his wife and ask to store a chair in his house just to see how long it took for him to notice. It took him two weeks and Steve said his wife could hear him laughing from downstairs when he figured it out. He texted Jennifer and told her good job on the prank. I would like to start a slow clap for Jennifer Garner for this. Not many people have the patience for the long haul jokes and it looks like she did fabulously.
Since Jennifer is a mom and she plays Kelly, a mom who works long hours outside the home but is still nervous about leaving the kids, my favorite question was “Were there any days on set that were really bad days, just like in the film?” I knew it would be something to do with the kids and I was sort of right.
Jennifer Garner – Go ahead, Steve.
Steve Carell– Um. There was one that we kind of point to. There was that scene where we were outside, around the car, talking after the big accident and after the driving test. And it must have been — well, like it’s been the last week here. Like, 105 or something. And so that was probably the most arduous day, physically.
Jennifer Garner – You know, I think it was tough because the baby got upset.
Steve Carell – Well, yeah.
Jennifer Garner – you know what that does, I mean, that practically made me lactate. It’s like, “Whaa –!” And there’s nothing you can do.
Steve Carell – You know what? We can set her off just by going “Wahh!”
That scene had me rolling in the floor. Being a breastfeeding mom and just knowing what she meant, it was hilarious. It was fun that Steve could laugh along with that as well since I know it makes some men uncomfortable. Jennifer was just like any other mom at the table talking to us and Steve reminded me a lot of my dad with his jokes.
Steve plays Ben, the optimist parent. He is constantly talking everyone else down from hysteria and giving them good life lessons. Steve did the fire stunt in the movie by himself. Jennifer Garner said he got “unfunny and focused” during that scene and she was really worried about it. She was worried about her ‘onscreen’ kids seeing something like that. My heart melted when she said that. Steve said he wasnt nervous. I would have been. He is pretty awesome for doing that stunt himself.
There was also a scene in the movie where Steve Carell is showing his skill of catching…shrimp with his mouth. In the movie he catches 10 shrimp that the hibatchi chef tosses at him.
Steve Carell – I did catch the shrimp. I didn’t know that I had that eye-shrimp coordination.
Jennifer Garner – He caught the shrimp. I mean, they were saying “We’ll CG” and Steve said, “I’ll give it a go.” He did it. We were very excited.
We actually got to go to Tokyo Wako where the shrimp and fire scenes were filmed and we got to eat the deliciousness. It was wonderful. I love hibatchi steak houses and this one was one of the best. I actually sat at the same table that Jennifer Garner and the kids sit at in the movie.
To say that I had a great time interviewing Jennifer Garner and Steve Carell is just silly. I had a FABULOUS time. They were both fun and they are so funny in the Alexander #VeryBadDay movie.
Alexander And the Terrible, Horrible, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY Opens October 10, 2014, in theaters everywhere!
Here is our group pic with Jennifer Garner and Steve Carell!
You can also check out the interviews from the other bloggers who were with me on the trip by following the hashtag #VeryBadDayEvent!
WOW! You got to interview Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner! How awesome. They really work well together and are both so funny. This movie looks like a lot of fun. And I want to see how they work together as a family with their horrible day!
What an awesome experience that must have been. I’m so happy for you!
That’s so cool! Would have been so fun i bet!
I like both actors Jennifer Garner and Steve Carrell, I’m curious to see how they interact on screen. How awesome that you got to meet them!