Looking supremely content, Marsden and Linde answered questions about romance and love, in keeping with the spirit of "The Notebook."
JAMES MARSDEN AND LISA LINDE INTERVIEW:
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for love?
JAMES MARSDEN: I’m going to prove I’m not a romantic because I can’t think of anything crazy (laughing). She would know better than me. I don’t think so.
Why don’t we see any good love stories on screen anymore?
JAMES MARSDEN: I don’t know. Ask Hollywood, don’t ask me. I love this type of movie but then again, I’m a big fan of those big blow-‘em-up special effects comic book movies – some of which I’m a part of. But I think there’s room for these. There should be more of these movies being made. It’s great to see New Line endorsing this type of film and putting it out there. And it’s really not pretending to be anything else other than just a great love story.
Are you a romantic?
JAMES MARSDEN: I think I am.
LISA LINDE: Yeah, without being mushy (laughing). He’s nice and consistent.
JAMES MARSDEN: I think the problem is that I always associate romanticism with guys who get romantic movies and light candles and red flower petals. To me, being romantic is being original.
LISA LINDE: Every morning he makes me coffee.
Do you ever get used to him doing love scenes?
LISA LINDE: It doesn’t bother me at all.
JAMES MARSDEN: No, because she’s an actress as well and she has done a few things so she knows when you’re doing it, you’re not getting ‘excited’ at all (laughing). Well, sometimes you do but most of the things I’ve worked on are so technical, it’s not like that. You just go, “I’m being immortalized on film kissing this person. Am I slobbering? Are my nostrils flaring?”
This isn’t really just a movie for women, is it?
JAMES MARSDEN: I’m sure there’s plenty of guys out there who are going to look at the poster and go [makes gagging motion], but what’s great about this is that this movie really relies on its performances to make it work. There’s some amazing performances from classic, legendary actors and new actors like Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. I think they really make it work.
It’s a good film. I try not to be… I always thought it was silly to go, “I’m not going to see a chick film.” To me, I like to see good movies. It doesn’t matter to me if it has a ‘chick’ premise. I’d rather go see that than a bad movie that’s supposed to be for guys.
This is a greater-than-life love story, yet it’s based loosely on real people.
JAMES MARSDEN: Yes, Nicholas Sparks’ wife’s family. That’s always nice. It adds another level of effectiveness.
Men get teary-eyed over this film, as well as women. How do you feel about the movie, Lisa?
JAMES MARSDEN: She hasn’t seen it yet but she read the script. She’s like, “Old people make me cry.”
LISA LINDE: I see us being them.
What's the status of "X-Men 3?"
JAMES MARSDEN: I have no idea. I know that Fox wants to make the movie. But I’ve learned, because I have a very big mouth and I just say too much sometimes, I don’t know too much about it. I have not seen a script, I don’t know who is going to be in it. I know that Fox is interested in bringing everyone back and my guess would be we’d be shooting it like sometime like this time next year.
And your character will return?
JAMES MARSDEN: Hmmm, I can’t even say that.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
More Interviews from the World Premiere of "The Notebook" - Ryan Gosling & James Garner / Rachel McAdams / Nicholas Sparks / Producer Mark Johnson
"The Notebook" Photos, Trailer, and Credits
