JOHN PASQUIN - Director
What was your experience like working on this film?
A lot of fun but very difficult. We were up on location in Minneapolis because we decided we didn't want to go to Canada. We wanted to keep the production here in this country so we went to Minneapolis where it's very cold. But it turned out really great and it was fun to work on. Working with Tim again is always a lot of fun.
What attracts you to a script?
Just the center of it. The emotional center of the story, what the story is all about. I look to see if it's funny, is it well written, do the characters have dimension, are there a lot of good characters in it. When I read it, I don't know who is going to be in it until I decide. Obviously, this one - like the other ones that we've done - has a lot of wonderful, wonderful peripheral characters. It's always a lot of fun to try and develop a lot of characters.
Jim Belushi and Tim Allen have some very funny scenes together in this film.
They were great; Jim Belushi is hysterical. There are so many memorable scenes in this movie. Jim plays this sort of washed-up, "B" movie star/action hero who teaches Tim how to fight. That was interesting to have them go at each other. They really did and there were a lot of bruises. Late in the film, you'll see that Tim has some thick pads on. His arms were totally black and blue underneath. The stuff looks real which is just what we wanted.
You seem to work with Tim Allen all the time. What's the attraction?
It's getting boring, isn't it (laughing)? The attraction is there is a familiarity that we have and we've done well by each other, so far. We've done three movies and a television show that have been fairly successful, so we like it. This movie, though, is a little different. It's not as high concept a movie; it's more of a character study. It's funny - but there are some darker things that appeal to Tim and to me and dramatic things that occur with Julie Bowen that I thought would be fun for him to try to do, and about time that he does it.
Are you two going to work together again?
I hope so. Not on “Santa Clause 2.” I've had enough of “Santa Claus” for now.
