Will Nora Ephron's 2005 comic romance blockbuster involve two men who meet through a scat personal? The folks behind this month's All Over The Guy hope so ( well, nix the scat part ) , and to that end added a dash of pink to the mainstream, multiplex-friendly romantic comedy genre. " [ Sreenwriter and co-star ] Dan Bucatinsky said 'the next groundbreaking thing was to not be groundbreaking at all,'" recalls actor Richard Ruccolo. "I think he really pulled that off and if this is the film that hopefully crosses over a little bit then it's another step on what will hopefully be the road to having these films in the big theaters."
Directed with effervescence by Julie Davis ( Amy's Orgasm ) , All Over The Guy involves a pair of gay men...lovelorn neurotic Eli ( Bucatinsky ) and alcoholic slut Tom ( Ruccolo ) ...and their demented, haphazard courtship. Yep, there's chemistry between them, but is it the kind that produces an explosion? Or domestic-partnership bells? Meanwhile, their respective heterosexual best friends ( Adam Goldberg and Sasha Alexander ) go through their own screwy romantic motions.
Executive produced by The Opposite of Sex's Don Roos, director Davis was roped in after a mutual pal recommended her. And Ruccolo, of Two Guys and a Girl fame, was so hot for the role of Tom that he weaseled his way directly into callbacks. To get the scoop on the film's making we spoke with Ruccolo and Davis about guys, Goldberg, and, er, gay terminology.
So did either of you relate to Eli or Tom?
Julie Davis: "Well, the character of Eli I really relate to, he's very much like myself. Jewish, neurotic, tries really hard. In my late 20s it was always a search to find 'the one.' I spent a lot of time single and disillusioned, just hoping 'he' was out there but willing to wait forever. So the whole romantic version of finding the one person is something I really related to. If I was a gay man I would have written this script."
Richard Ruccolo: "My friend Joe was one of the guys I based [ my performance as Tom ] on. I watched him come out of the closet, and it was all about sex [ at first ] . A relationship was the last thing on his mind. 'Relationship? What? No, I'm gay, I'm attracted to men, it doesn't mean I want a relationship.' Tom had way different issues, but almost the same reaction. For him to commit meant he was absolutely gay and I don't think he was ready for that right away and he dealt with it by having one night stands."
Are gay men different than straight ones when it comes to relationships?
JD: "As a generality I believe we're all the same, we're looking for the same thing...the person who makes us happy and completes us. The search is the same, I think how we go about it's a little different. Gay men will go about it more sexually, but I really think it depends on the person. I have a lot more in common with a gay man than straight man or straight woman. I have more in common with the character of Eli than the characters on Sex and the City."
Who's hotter, Julie? Dan or Richard?
JD: "Actually, Adam Goldberg. There's something about him that's incredibly sexy. When I first met with him to play the part I thought he's not right for this, he's not sexy, he's too goofy, but by the end of the shoot I thought he was the sexiest man in the world."
You never improvised yourself? Like suddenly referring to your "asspussy?"
RR: "Never. No."
Isn't that one of the most horrifying terms you've ever heard?
RR: "That's the first time I've heard it!"
Have you had any gay experiences in your own life?
RR: "No."
How about feeling pressure because you were working with the esteemed director of Witchcraft 6?
JD: " ( appalled ) How did you find out about Witchcraft 6??? I directed that movie when I was 23, so for me it was like directing Lawrence of Arabia, I was so honored and thrilled, and I got $1,500. The funniest thing about Witchcraft 6 is that the cinematographer on that just shot The Contender last year. We've all moved up."