Danny De Vito, Deck The Halls, Interview - Trailer

Danny De Vito
Deck The Halls
Interview

In the new comedy Deck The Halls, Danny De Vito and Matthew Broderick are neighbors with dramatically different personalities and contrasting approaches to celebrating the holidays. When they clash over Christmas decorations - the season of goodwill evaporates and all out war is declared. De Vito's gaudy, flamboyant lights drive the rigidly controlling and highly traditional Matthew Broderick into a frenzy. The two men come to blows with hilarious consequences.

The following interview was conducted in Los Angeles where a relaxed and enthusiastic Danny De Vito discussed Deck The Halls and his extraordinary film career - as well as his love of the holiday season.

Q: What was the attraction of playing Buddy Hall in Deck The Halls?
A: "I really love this guy and he has a definite character arc. Buddy is a man who works hard to make a living but he has never stuck at one job, he's done all kinds of sales jobs, he can sell anything and now he's selling cars. He is happy with his wife and kids and loves his family, they are all doing well. But he's never had that 15 minutes of fame that Andy Warhol talked about - that little bit of self esteem that he thinks will give him something to be proud of."

Q: What leads to the conflict with Matthew Broderick's character Steve Finch?
A: "Matthew Broderick and his wife (Kristin Davis) and their family are very well positioned in society. They have a really nice home and the guy is a smart optometrist. He does Christmas 'by the book'; according to the rules and everything is done in exactly the right way. One day my kids are looking at a computer satellite image of our neighborhood and they can see everyone's house but ours. Then I go outside and suddenly get an idea that it would be really great to see our house from space. I think it would be a fantastic achievement. So I decide to decorate my house with tons and tons of lights. It is very annoying to Steve Finch who has a neat and subtle approach to Christmas. My house looks dazzling and crowds of people come to see it, because it has the brightest and biggest lights display in the area, which is fun for people, and they clog the cul-de-sac, nobody can move. Unfortunately I have to invade Matthew's space, which I also enjoy by the way and he gets very angry."

Q: What are your criteria for making films?
A: "I make whatever appeals to me. I love Deck The Halls because it is a pure family film, great entertainment for everyone, adults too. It is enjoyable to see the conflict and the comedy. If you're out shopping with kids and you all need an hour and a half break, you can go and see Deck The Halls, the kids will be happy and you'll have a very enjoyable time."

Q: What was it like working with Matthew?
A:"I only knew him from afar and always admired his work. We really had synergy and a great rapport; we play an odd couple and immediately liked each other from the first moment we met. We worked together really well in terms of improvisation, we fell into it the very first day we were on the set; he is such a nice guy, a really great guy. I think we have the same rhythms although I am a little bit more extreme."

Q: Have you ever had an annoying neighbor like Buddy?
A: ""The worst was when we were having a birthday party for my daughter Gracie, years ago in our back yard and the woman next door called the cops. I said: 'wait a minute what's wrong with this picture, this is a little kids' party?' The Beverly Hills cops arrived at the front gate and said they had a complaint from the neighbors because there was a wild party going on. 'I said: ' oh really - I'm sorry it's my daughter and her friends, would you help me control them?' We walked all the way through the house into the garden and there were seven and eight year-olds playing by the pool with moms and dads chatting and two lifeguards. The cops shook their heads in disbelief and laughed and said 'oh God sorry lets go'.
Every once in a while you get a neighbor who is ridiculous and irritating. Years ago, Rhea and I had a house with a little swimming pool at the back, with beautiful trees bordering the property. They were big and lush and one day I came home and the neighbor bought a chain saw, he just went crazy and hacked the trees, he just chopped them down. I said 'what possessed you to do that? They were healthy and beautiful?' But he did not have an answer and the result was that we lost the privacy and the barrier between our house and his. Most of our neighbors have been great though."

Q: Do you enjoy Christmas?
A:"I love the holidays, you look forward to this time of year. I don't love the commercial aspect, but I love the fact that it signals a time when families get together and have a nice dinner. A lot of it revolves around food with me because a lot of my life does in a way. Christmas is a good excuse to eat everything. In my house we always have Italian food but also traditional Christmas cookies and some kind of meat, turkey or whatever. I've always decorated the tree but we don't go overboard. My wife is Jewish so we celebrate all the holidays. We're working a lot and so it is great to relax for a few days and be together."

Q: How much do enjoy going to movies yourself?
A: "I love going to all kind of movies, I screen DVDS in my house, but I go to the theater a lot in the afternoon, I don't get bugged because there aren't many people around. I often go to a one o clock show, get myself some popcorn and watch a good movie. It is great entertainment. I think the best film of the year is Little Miss Sunshine."

Q: Do you have any favorite films of your own?
A: "I've been very fortunate working with people I really care about. I've enjoyed most of the films I have made. The experience of One Flew Over The Cuckoo''s Nest was unique, a once in a lifetime project, to be a part of a movie that's so moving and so much fun. I can't call it my favorite but I love it. All the movies you do are such a part of you, I loved Matilda and I loved Hoffa and L.A. Confidential."