Talking Poop, Nudity and Twitter With Robin Williams and Bobcat Goldthwait

Are dark comedies more fun to make than regular comedies for you guys?

Bobcat: With the movie, you have to concentrate more on the tone, and are these people identifiable instead of ... I always cringe when I watch a movie and you don't relate with anyone and you're just waiting for a punchline. That's not reality at all to me.
Robin: Also, obviously Bob's made a movie where a girl fellates a dog, and already you're going 'Oh, you're an interesting character.' And then you're going from there ... I call it the comedy of the awkward, and Bob's becoming the master of that. Putting people in these painful situations, then that's kind of the comedy where it's not like 'I got a joke!' It's more like 'How are they going to get out of this?'

Bobcat, when you're writing, are you searching for a way to shock people, or does it just kind of come out naturally?

Bobcat: When I'm writing, I don't think of it in terms of it being shocking. To me the challenge has been, 'Can I write characters that are approachable and believable?' I don't go out of my way to freak out people because that's not really what I'm interested in. I'm a big fan of shows like 'The Office' ... both of them. And no, I'm not that douche who says 'I only like the British 'Office!'' And I like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and Woody Allen movies. That's what I'm going for. I'm only interested in those moments when you laugh and it's uncomfortable.
Robin: And his characters aren't exactly what you'd call redeemable. What do you redeem them for? That's why in this movie, the boy, he's so nasty, and without that this wouldn't work.
Bobcat: Part of the movie too is just a satire on our culture ... about how having the hot girlfriend and all that and being successful ... I've had that and I found it very shallow.

You've both had incredibly long, successful careers in Hollywood? What advice would you give today's young stars on longevity, and could you survive as young actors in today's tabloid-obsessed world?

Robin: I had all the tabloids, but it's also the idea that everyone has a camera now. TMZ didn't exist up until a couple of years ago. Everywhere you go, everyone has a camera. It's not Big Brother anymore, it's little snitch.
Bobcat: We are a nation of finks. I think what's funny is when they say 'No, I'm not a stalker, I'm just recording you.' If you didn't have a camera, you'd be a weird stalker. If you're recording yourself harassing someone, you're not a stalker, apparently.
Robin: I remember when Woody Harrelson snapped at someone, the guy was going 'Woody! Woody! Woody! What are you doing?' He's beating the s--- out of you, I think.
Bob: And one time this guy said 'Hey Bobcat, what's it like being a has-been?' I said 'I don't know, what's worse, being a has-been or harassing and filming a has-been?'

Cell phone photos, which have been in the news lately, also play a part in the movie.

Robin: Yeah, it's the idea of, 'When do you have an experience that you don't have to share with everyone?' It's like if you want to recreate a movie theater audience, there has to be 15-year-olds Twittering about it for it to be authentic.

Robin, this is your first movie post-health scare. Was there a point when you thought maybe you'd never act again?

Robin: That happened after 'Popeye.' I remember walking out at the premiere on the red carpet and there was a 40-foot can of spinach, and I thought 'What happens next?' The fact that I've been able to keep working is enough for me."

You're both very funny people. Is there something that's just never funny?

Robin: Rectal ventriliquism. Talking asses always scare me.
Bobcat: For me, it would be 'Two and a Half Men.' It's never funny. I'm sure they're really nice guys, but it's just not funny. When I've been involved in things that aren't really good, you start conning yourself into it.
Robin: Yea, when you're working on 'Ball Dusters' you say to yourself 'At least it's not 'Ass Lickers.'

Is there something that's always funny?

Bobcat: I'd like to tell you I'm highly evolved, but poop is always funny.
Robin: Throwing it makes it even funnier.
Bobcat: And dogs wearing clothes.
Robin: Yes! Dogs wearing clothes, because you get into this moment of what is it about them wearing clothes, and then when they talk, it's like 'Oh yeah.'
Bobcat: It's the holy trinity.

Any parting words for people who might be a little faint of heart about seeing 'World's Greatest Dad'?

Robin: Don't be faint of heart, my friends. Enjoy this strange movie, because you get to see Robin Williams' junk at the end.

There's full frontal?

Robin: More than full. I think whole nudity.
Bob: If he hadn't shaved, we wouldn't have known he was nude.
Robin: It might be another Bigfoot sighting.

Filed under:
• Movie News
-
• Interviews
-
• Exclusives