cameron diaz movies
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Chapter 2 - Justin Timberlake is ready to fall in love
After Elizabeth is dumped, she sets her sights on a rich, handsome substitute – the heir to a watch fortune – named Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake). But when Scott starts to fall for Elizabeth’s colleague, the self-described perfect teacher, Amy Squirrel (Lucy Punch), Elizabeth’s jealousy and vindictive nature go into overdrive.
Taking the role opposite Diaz is Justin Timberlake. “On paper, Scott is very, very nice,” says Timberlake. “He seems like your average, rich, blue-blooded guy, and very non-confrontational. That’s actually fun to play, because as Lucy’s and Cameron’s characters get more and more petty, he gets more and more awkward.”
Timberlake says that with the writers on set and a director who encourages collaboration, Bad Teacher was a fantastic experience. “The role, as it was written on the page, was really funny. Then, when we were in the middle of a scene, Jake would have great instincts, adding a layer each time we did it. The writers would have very funny alternate lines to build on. All of this helped make the character more and more specific, and, I think, funnier and funnier.”
“I like it best when the comedy is based around character, not gags,” he says. “In drama, if there’s an emotional moment in a movie, it’s because the viewer has followed the character through the journey and it means something to them. Comedy is the same way – if you’ve followed the characters, it makes it even funnier.”
Surrounded by such a funny cast, he says, was a blast. “I’m just a fan, I really am,” he says. “It’s great to play in the sandbox with these brilliant comedic minds.”
Jason Segel, who plays gym teacher Russell Gettis, returns the compliment: “You’re only supposed to be super-talented at one thing. But Justin is a super-talented singer, musician, and dancer, and he’s also really funny. This guy ruins it for everybody. However, he’s way shorter than me, so I have that going for me.”
Timberlake, of course, has achieved great heights as a recording artist and songwriter, and he gets to parody his persona in Bad Teacher. “Scott is asked to join the teachers’ band, Period 5,” he explains. “Scott is everyone’s favorite – sort of the guy that the teachers wish the students were like – so of course they ask him to join. Lee and Gene came to me – they thought it would be really funny if there was an actual song Scott had written for Amy. We wanted to see how simple, and bad, we could make it,” says Timberlake. .”
Inspired by his budding romance with Amy Squirrel, Scott pens a truly horrible love song: “Simpatico.” “We sat in Justin’s trailer and he played guitar and we started writing lyrics – it was an amazing experience,” says Eisenberg. “Of course, ‘Simpatico’ is the worst song ever. Justin sings the song in this weird falsetto and he’s looking down at his hands as he’s playing the chords – in the movie, Justin really looks like he just learned how to play the guitar.”
“It really made me laugh to watch Justin Timberlake try to sing badly,” says Kasdan.
Next Page: Character portraits from the school life
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