Martin Lawrence Interview, Welcome Home Roscoe

MoviesOnline sat down with Martin Lawrence at the Los Angeles press day for “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins.” Lawrence leads the cast as a talk-show sensation in the new film from writer/director Malcolm D. Lee (“The Best Man,” “Undercover Brother”). The cast also includes Academy Award nominee Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Louis C.K., Academy Award nominee Michael Clarke Duncan, comedian Mike Epps, comedienne Mo’Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, Cedric the Entertainer, and Academy Award nominee James Earl Jones.

From a hit television series to sold-out stand-up shows and a celebrated career on the big screen, Lawrence has spent the past two decades becoming one of America’s most recognizable voices in multiple comic genres. With box-office hits from the “Big Momma’s House” and “Bad Boys” series to “National Security” and “Wild Hogs” on his résumé, Lawrence is now ready to come home.

In his latest comedy, he stars as a talk-show phenomenon who has left behind his modest Southern upbringing and family name to transform into a self-help guru dispensing his “Team of Me” philosophy to millions of adoring fans. With a reality-TV-star fiancée and money to burn, there’s no piece of the Hollywood dream RJ hasn’t achieved.

After his parents request that he come home for their 50th wedding anniversary, the TV host packs up his 10-year-old son and diva bride-to-be and heads back to Georgia. It’s a chance to prove to his family that he’s no longer the awkward kid they relentlessly picked on. At least, that’s the plan…

When his crazy, lovable family calls RJ on his big-city attitude and challenges him at every turn, he is forced to take a hard look at the man he’s become. RJ may be a superstar in L.A., but he’s just one of the guys in Dry Springs as folks say Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins.

Martin Lawrence is a fabulous guy and we really appreciated his time. Here’s what he had to tell us about his new movie:

Q: The film is equally balanced with the family drama and the whole dynamic of sibling rivalry, and the comedy, can you talk about what you wanted the impact of this film to be?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Just what it is, for you to say that you enjoyed it and loved the film means a lot to me, because this was something I wanted to do with this ensemble cast, that I think is very funny as a family movie, and we know how important family is, you know what I mean, and it’s just what it is. For me, I love the heart that it has, I love it reminding us that we need to stay to what started us, which is family, so for me it was big, so thank you that you enjoyed the movie, but that’s why I wanted to do this movie.

Q: How do you go about deciding what movies you’re going to do?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Oh, the paycheck, the paycheck usually helps me know. No. [Laughs] If the script is good, but the paycheck helps though, I tell you. If the script is good, if it’s something I can read and I go, ‘You know what, if I do this film I could do justice to it,’ then I try to get into it, and it’s something I try to put out there for you guys to see, and hopefully enjoy.

Q: We’ve seen with people like Owen Wilson that people who make people laugh can have very dark private lives.

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Right, but people that don’t make people laugh, you all sitting here, all of us could have very dark lives and everything else.

Q: But do you think there is pressure coming up with trying to make people laugh?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Sometimes the pressure is all what you make it, you know what I mean? If it’s something that you really love what you do, you get into what you do and you work hard to do just what it is you’re trying to accomplish and make people laugh. I don’t think you have to have a dark side to make people laugh.

Q: We get to see a different side of you in this film, I saw a funny Martin and I also see a more dramatic side of you – can you talk about that range and also what it was like getting ready for the obstacle course?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Well, to be able to show a dramatic side in this movie was special for me because I don’t get an opportunity to do that very often and to be able to do it opposite James Earl Jones was just big. He showed me who the real vet was, because I thought I was doing something and he turned around with a tear in his eye saying, ‘Young man, can you do this?’ And I couldn’t do that. I said, ‘Oh my God, I’m dealing with a real veteran here.’ But it was a lot of fun, so I was glad I had the opportunity to do that, and try anyway. And the obstacle course I was just glad I was in shape for it, because I didn’t realize we were going to have to do so much physical stuff, and I just thank God I play a lot of basketball and exercise because we really had to put it to the test.

Q: What was the most challenging part of it?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: The most challenging? I don’t know, probably some of the sprints, some of the sprint stuff, yeah.

Q: How long did it take to shoot?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Oh we shot that about three, four days. It was probably a whole week.

Q: Was a lot of it shot in the rain?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Well, not all in the rain. You were there the day that it rained, but that was special though, the day of the rain, because how we all stood together and just supported each other, sang songs, laughed until the rain subsided. So that was a special day.

Q: The cast of this film is phenomenal, and you all seem to have such a genuinely good rapport with each other, did you find yourself having to restrain some of your comedy at times and was there anything that you had to cut out or delete that we’ll see in some bloopers?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: No, I’d be interested to see the bloopers they have because I don’t remember all of it, but I didn’t have to pull back on anything because I’ve been doing it long enough so I know when to press go and when to press stop, so I just enjoyed everybody else and what they had to deliver. Michael Epps is just so funny off-camera, his energy, his spirit; Cedric singing all the time when we weren’t doing anything, just his energy and spirit; and Mo’Nique is just hilarious. So the whole cast was just a joy and just wonderful to work with.

Q: Did you feel like the leader because you’re the biggest name and most bankable star in the movie?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: I’ll gladly take that role, you know meaning the Chicago Bulls had to have Michael Jordan, right? Lakers got to have Kobe, Miami got to have Shack, right? So I’ll take that, but you know what, I couldn’t have done it without my team mates, so we all support each other, we help each other, we’re one big cast, so we’re one, that’s it.

Q: This is the first time in a long time that I’ve laughed out loud at a movie, what makes you laugh out loud?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: What makes me laugh is when you guys laugh, to see you all laugh that makes me enjoy and laugh because I’m laughing with you, because I feel what you’re feeling, and if you think it’s funny and I’m right about it, it’s a good feeling. And the cast that’s in the movie, they make me laugh. We had so many fun moments filming it that I got to laugh off-camera and on-camera with this cast, so it was beautiful.

Q: As someone who started off by doing standup, how much did you work with Malcolm in terms of the script?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Before we did the movie I sat down with him and I just offered my suggestion of what I thought could help the movie work. Originally the script didn’t call for it to be a talk show host. I suggested that to him and he was sharp enough to put it in there and I was glad he did. There were a few things that we talked about that he put in the movie that we talked about, so I was very much involved in that process.

Q: The movie is coming out during Black History Month, can you tell us whether or not you think Black History Month is still relevant?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: It’s always going to be relevant. I know I had to cut you off because you said that. ‘Is it relevant?’ It’s always going to be. We as Black people, we deserve all wonderful things that put us in a good light, you know what I mean, and so if it was up to me it wouldn’t just be the month, it’d be year round, every day so that we get recognition for what we do and who we are.

Q: This movie has a very sweet aspect with finding romance with the one from 20 years back that maybe you were meant to be with, do you really believe that’s true for people that you can connect years later?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Yeah. I believe you can connect years later if you ain’t happy with the one you’re with. [Laughs] If you ain’t happy with the one you’re with, you can connect back with an old flame. Sure. Why not?! Yeah, yaaaaaaaaaay!!!

Q: Is there one film you might recommend people see for Black History month?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Just see whatever’s positive, you know?

Q: You don’t have a special film you watch every year?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: “Eye on the Prize.” See “Eye on the Prize.” How’s that answer? I would encourage everybody to watch that series, “Eye on the Prize.”

Q: This movie has a very positive focus on fatherhood and the importance of the relationship between a father and a son.

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Yes.

Q: Did you intentionally do that or did that just naturally come about?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: No I think Malcolm Lee intentionally did that I’m sure. He has a very close relationship with his father and things so yeah, that was meant to be there. I think that’s what makes the movie special because that’s a relationship we would…you know…if you had with your father to see that relationship mend together, come together, you know we would all want that.

Q: We asked Mo’Nique and Mike Epps if you ever get over those things that troubled you in your childhood. Can you ever get past them?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Yeah, if you got people around you that love you and support you and can help you to get past it. Yeah. First and foremost, God can help you get past anything.

Q: Black and white movie audiences don’t always respond the same way to the same things and there’s no reason they should. At the same time everybody’s got a family so I’m wondering do you think there’s a white audience for this? Do you ever think about things like that?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Oh, no question. This is not just a Black movie just for Black audiences. It’s for everybody. It’s a movie about family and the subject matter is not difficult. It’s about a young guy who hasn’t been home in 9 years and his relationship with his family and his relationship most importantly with his father that is kind of sour. So there’s no color on that. You know that can happen to anybody.

Q: Two things. Just a follow-up to that question, I was just talking to a white man about the movie “Coming to America.” Everything he said was funny wasn’t funny to me and everything I said was funny wasn’t funny to him but we’re watching the same movie. You know we can find humor in the same movie even though it may be a little different. I’m wondering if you could just talk about your body of work because you might sometimes still be Bilal (his “House Party 2” character).

MARTIN LAWRENCE: But I can guarantee you my breath don’t stink. You know why my breath don’t stink? Because I can afford some mints now.

Q: I think the beauty of that is you’re still a young man and in your life you have a body of work. Can you just talk about that and how it feels to you?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: It feels great. I’ve been doing it probably 20 years or more. I thank God to be in this position in this business after everything I’ve been through in my life and have seen and done. I’m truly blessed. I’m truly fortunate. I thank all my fans for supporting me through my tough times but supporting me through my good times and continue to go see my movies and hear me do stand-up and things. I couldn’t be here if it weren’t for God first and foremost and if it weren’t for them, so I’m really, really proud of my opportunity and things that I’ve got to do and see. You know, hey, having a movie come out darn near every year and having to sit with you guys. Ain’t that something? Look how long we’ve been seeing each other. You know what I mean? [Opens arms to embrace the audience] This is one big hug. Everybody hug. Huuuuggggg!! Let it go! [Laughs]

Q: A lot of comedic actors are always looking for that big dramatic role where they can kind of stretch themselves, where they can do something different. Do you have any aspirations along those lines?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: If the right script came along, I would love to try it. I haven’t had an opportunity because I never get sent those kinds of scripts. They don’t think of me for them for whatever reason and I never get them. So, that’s why when you have something like “Roscoe Jenkins” that allows me in to have that kind of moment with James Earl Jones in the movie, I’m proud of that moment. But if I ever get the opportunity, I don’t even think it’ll be about the money. It’ll be about something that I feel that I could honestly bring to you guys to show you that side.

Q: Is there a real person or a true story that means a lot to you?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: I just think it has to be something that’s meaningful that I can honestly portray.

Q: Have you ever had an instance where a family member had a misperception of you?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Probably, you know, but if they did, they didn’t tell me [laughs] because they would’ve heard my opinion on it. So yeah.

Q: Any chance we’ll see you doing any other concert films?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: I hope so. I really do. I want to do one more concert film. I want to get out there and see you all again. I love coming on stage and seeing that audience and getting that rush and all that but I don’t want to force it. “Runteldat” and “You So Crazy” were very special to me. I worked hard on them. I really worked hard to give you something and I want the third one to be just as good as those were. So I want to have something to say.

Q: Do you know what you’re doing next?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: “College Road Trip” is coming up and there’s “Wild Hogs II.”

Q: You’re going to do another “Wild Hogs”?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Yes.

Q: Are you surprised your TV show is the number one show on TV1? Are you aware that show is doing so well?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: I’m very happy that it’s doing very well and it’s also finding a new audience so I’m really happy about it.

Q: The jokes still hold up. All of that still works.

MARTIN LAWRENCE: It means I did something right. You know, Will, myself, it’s beautiful that we can leave TV and come and still have some success in the movies. That’s big.

Q: What’s your favorite Oscar movie this year?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: I haven’t caught up on all of them. I haven’t seen all of them yet.

Q: Would you tell us your ultimate party song?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: My ultimate party song? Let me see. [Starts singing] ‘My girl wants to fight all the time, party all the time.’ [Normal voice] Nah, I don’t know. I don’t know which one it is. [Laughs] How do you pull that one off? I don’t know what my party…might be a Michael Jackson song ‘cause Michael got a few of them. So it might be a Michael Jackson ‘Billy Jean,’ ‘Beat It’ or something. It might be something like that.

Q: I know you’re a sports fan, so who are your picks for the Super Bowl and do you have any plans for watching the game?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: I got to go with New England, Brady and them real smooth and I would like to see somebody have that perfect season, I’ve never seen that done before, so I’d have to go with those guys.

Q: Any special plans for a Super Bowl party?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: Well I’ll probably go to the Super Bowl, it will be my first Super Bowl that I ever went to, and then I’m off to New York for promotion, Regis and Kathy – Kelly – sorry Kelly.

Q: What do you think is the greatest city in the world?

MARTIN LAWRENCE: The greatest city? Well I gotta go with my home town of Landover, Maryland.

“Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” opens in theaters on February 8^th.