Friendship, laughs with 'Little Nicky' stars

By Michael Watanabe
Daily Forty-Niner

The cast of "Little Nicky" was put in the hot seat by Southland college reporters.

Stars Adam Sandler, Kevin Nealon, Patricia Arquette, Allen Covert and director Steve Brill answered questions and dispensed advice at a press conference after an advance screening of the new film, part of which was filmed at Cal State Long Beach, scheduled to be released Friday.

While topics ranged from the comedic to the serious, Sandler, who plays the main character Nicky, and his co-stars focused on their friendships while interacting with the audience in a jovial, down-to-earth tone.

Although "Little Nicky," which is rated PG-13, includes a few scenes that might be deemed too strong for children, Covert, who plays Nicky's quirky roommate, said that he had "no problem with kids seeing this movie."

The cast brushed aside concerns of Hollywood accountability that has been brewing in the U.S. Senate.

"Yes, maybe people should monitor violence for their children," said Arquette, who plays Valerie, Nicky's love interest. But, Arquette said, she does not trust the politicians that were spewing Hollywood accountability.

Sandler said that his goal is getting his audience to laugh.   "I just want them to have a good time," he said.

While the primary purpose of the film may be to draw laughs, the film also takes a moral tone, as Nicky learns to overcome numerous obstacles and is respectful to his parents.

Nicky's dad (Harvy Keitel), who also happens to be Satan, is "strict, but loves his kids," Sandler said. The character was molded from Sandler's own father, who Sandler described as "a loving guy."

"His family comes first. That's what we're trying to portray in Keitel's character," Sandler said.

When asked about tips for those starting off in the business, Sandler turned to friend Paul Thomas Anderson, who happened to be standing in the back of the room. Anderson, the writer and director of "Magnolia," gave two insightful tips.

The first was to be damn good "so good they can't ignore you," he said.

The second was to stay close with friends.

Sandler agreed. He hangs out with many of his friends, as evidenced by the presence of Anderson and Nealon, a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member.

Many of Sandler's films include former co-workers and friends and "Little Nicky" is no different. Former "SNL" players Jon Lovitz, Dana Carvey and Rob Schneider, as well as Carl Weathers, who played Chubbs in "Happy Gilmore," all have parts in the film.

Having friends involved in a project helps make a movie funnier, Brill said.
 
"(Sandler) wants everybody to be funny or the movie's not funny," he said.

Sandler said he loves working with his friends because they have similar tastes.

"I just hang out with the same people I've been with all my life," Sandler said.

New Line Cinema
Adam Sandler talks to his canine confidant Beefy, above, in the new movie "Little Nicky," which opens Friday. Harvey Keitel stars as Satan, below.