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diversions
Kattan jumps
from 'SNL' to 'Corky'
By Alex Roman
On-line Forty-Niner
Prior to the moment
that Chris Kattan walks into the Palm Room of Los Angeles'
Four Seasons Hotel, you don't know quite what to expect.
After all, Kattan is the guy who, for the last five seasons
on "Saturday Night Live," has made characters like
Mr. Peepers, a monkey-boy who devours fruit and spits it out,
a household name.
But you are pleased, maybe even a little shocked that he is
so normal by the time he walks into the room to discuss his
new film "Corky Romano," which opens Friday Oct.
12. Dressed in a V-neck sweater and jeans, Kattan walks in
weary but smiling having just flown in from New York where
"SNL" is taped.
"I got in last night and I'm flying out tonight,"
says Kattan. "I stay up late Saturday nights, I'm one
of the ones that stay up late. We have fun."
Kattan is making his first solo jump into film with "Corky
Romano," his first vehicle since sharing the limelight
with fellow "SNL"-er Will Ferrell in 1998's "Night
at the Roxbury."
"A movie is a couple of months and you know you get a
chance to edit stuff and wipe stuff out and 'SNL' is kind
of a one shot kind of deal," says Kattan when asked to
explain the difference between making a film and working on
his show. "But also a movie is much more challenging
too, because like Corky, the lead character better be likeable.
He can't really be a sketch character because it won't last
and people will lose interest."
Kattan's crossover to film hasn't caused any ill feelings
between him and his fellow "SNL" cast mates.
"It depends on who you are, I think," says Kattan.
"I think in my situation they're very supportive and
happy because we all get along great. I've been there for
a while though so it's not like I got on the show and got
a movie."
In "Corky Romano" Kattan plays a goofy animal-loving
veterinarian, whose mafia father, played by Peter Falk, is
being investigated by the FBI. He is then enlisted by the
family to go undercover with the FBI to steal the evidence,
where hilarity inevitably ensues.
"Yeah I love animals, sure --I shoot deer but --"
jokes Kattan when asked how much like his character he really
is. "I'm told that I'm really a happy guy."
According to the film's director, Rob Pritts, Kattan is exactly
like Corky.
"He's so much like Corky, in that he's caring and he's
sweet, he's gentle, I mean he's all those things."
His co-star and love interest in the film, Vinessa Shaw, agrees
that Kattan is not only all those things, but also a gifted
comedic actor.
"He's somebody that I really admire because he's not
someone who has to take up all the limelight, he's really
about playing his character and being in the moment,"
says Shaw. "He's just a blast to work with and he has
that physicality that I know I'll never be able to get because
his body is like rubber. I don't know anyone that can bend
over backwards and hop onto cars and flop over a house."
Kattan is slowly adjusting to all the billboards around town
that are simply his face, crazy smile and all with the question;
Who is Corky? But the question that begs to be asked is who
is Chris Kattan?
"Chris Kattan is a comedian, who I guess is kind of like
a physical comedian. He is fearless and in order to be fearless,
he's vulnerable and will probably get in a horrible accident
really soon," responds Kattan.
Speaking of horrible accidents, the recent events in New York
have seemingly affected every one of its citizens in some
way.
Since "SNL" is a show that is made in New York City,
Kattan and his cast mates have been put into a situation where
they suddenly have to be a little more cautious than they
have been in the past.
"I don't know it's harder than usual because we have
to be cautious about things, you know we can't just do crazy
outrageous things because we feel like it," says Kattan.
"But I think it's good to have that. It's smart, it's
better to have some kind of rules for us to do, that way we
work a little bit harder."
As for the spirit of New York City residents, Kattan says
that the spirit is slowly coming back, although he left the
day that bombs were beginning to be dropped on Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, with all that is going on, Kattan feels that
"Corky Romano" is coming along at a good time.
"I think it's important, it's a funny movie and it's
a fun movie and a good feeling movie and with what's going
on out there I think it's great to have that out there for
people to see," says Kattan.
"You know it's not an explosion move and it's not about
war or fighting or anything like that it's a great escape.
I think it's great for families and kids and teenagers and
every age to see this, it's a perfect escape."
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Touchstone
Pictures
Chris Kattan stars as Corky in his first solo
jump into film with "Corky Romano."
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