While promoting his supporting role in that body-swapping flick starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, Murray provided a little insight into his next big theatrical release - "A Cinderella Story" - starring teen sensation Hilary Duff.
Can you describe the plot to "A Cinderella Story?"
This is a real modern version of "Cinderella," a contemporary version of "Cinderella." Basically instead of a horse and carriage, I’ve got a G55 Mercedes – nice. It looks good (laughing).
Who do you play?
Prince Charming – Austin [also known as] Prince Charming.
Is there a fairy godmother?
No, there’s no fairy godmother. Maybe – hold on, let me think about that. I'll have to get back to you on that one.
How about any talking mice?
No talking mice [and] instead of a glass slipper we have a cell phone with text messaging.
What else is different?
Basically the premise is that [Hilary Duff's] character is kind of a nerd. Her father died when she was young. She’s got an evil stepmother who took over, and two stepsisters. She kind of has to do all the chores and she never gets an opportunity to be free. She wants to go to Princeton. My character also wants to go to Princeton but his father has set up his life. My father and all of my friends want me to go play USC football and want me to run the car wash when I’m done. [My father's] got it set up for me, but that’s not really what I want. So, finally, I meet this person on the Internet in a chat room, called 'Princeton Girl,' which is Hilary Duff’s character. She’s the only person who really understands me. She’s the only person I can open up and say, “Look, I want to go to Princeton. I want to have my own life.” And so we decide that we’re going to meet one night at the Halloween Ball. I get dressed up as Prince Charming and she dresses up as Cinderella, which is kind of funny how that happens, too.
How does that happen?
It’s weird how it happens. You have to see it because I can’t explain it. I wish I could. So we end up meeting at the Halloween Ball but she has a mask on. Before I get the opportunity to see who see really is, she has to go. She drops her cell phone and that’s the only way I know who she is. I have no idea who she is, so for the rest of the film I spend time trying to find out who Cinderella is.
And she doesn't want you to find out?
Well, she’s insecure for me to find out who she is because she’s a nerd and I’m the cool guy – the stereotypical jock. So basically that’s the premise of the story.
How is Hilary Duff to work with?
She’s great. She’s awesome. She’s a sweetheart, a nice girl, and a lot smarter than you think. Hell of a lot smarter than you think.
Have you heard her new album?
Yeah, it’s a great album. I just heard the whole thing last week. She’s a smart cookie.
Is it true you two went to a party together before shooting?
We didn’t have much time to hang out before the project. We’ve got these kissing scenes and a lot of romantic scenes, so we just kind of wanted to get to know each other a little bit better before we kind of jumped into it. We went and we hung out. She’s a lot of fun.
You're 22. Do you feel so much older when you hang out with Hilary Duff?
What’s really interesting is that she doesn’t act like she’s 15. She can have an intelligent conversation. She’s a lot more mature, she’s got a lot of stuff going on. She’s kind of had to grow up in the business so I haven’t felt like a dirty old man yet - thank God (laughing).
