LOS ANGELES — Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis had made four films together — “The Bounty Hunter, “We’re the Millers” and the two “Horrible Bosses” films — by the time they teamed up again for “Mother’s Day,” their fifth time sharing a big-screen billing.
While the two actors clearly love working together — “My goal is simply to make Jason laugh, then I know a scene is working,” said Aniston — the real hook for “Mother’s Day” (opening Friday) was the duo’s first shot at working for director Garry Marshall.
“Garry was absolutely on my bucket list professionally,” said the former “Friends” star. “Ever since I saw ‘Pretty Woman’ and so many of his other films and TV projects, that’s been a goal of mine. When the call came from him, before he even said anything specific, I immediately said, ‘Yes!’
“It’s been a dream to work with him. He’s just sort of what I’d call a dream date director.”
Sudeikis felt similar emotions. “Anybody our age was sort of raised by him and his work. I mean look at ‘Happy Days,’ ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ ‘Pretty Woman,’ as Jennifer mentioned. … Plus, my favorite movie of his was [the 1986 film] ‘Nothing in Common’ [starring Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason]. Working on this film, ‘Mother’s Day,’ was such a great chance for me to talk to him about making that movie and all that went on during the filming.”
Smiling, Sudeikis added, “You know, you’ll only wear pink pants for so many people, and Garry is one of them,” mentioning a key wardrobe feature he showcases in “Mother’s Day.”
In this film, Aniston portrays a single mother, with two sons, who faces a situation to which many women in America could relate: learning how to cope with joint custody after a divorce, plus learning to deal with her ex-husband’s new, younger wife.
Sudeikis plays a widower, fumbling around as he tries to maneuver through life with two young daughters.
Given the topic of the film, it seemed fair to ask both actors about Mother’s Day gifts they had presented their own moms — back in the day.
“For me, it was always something crafty,” said Aniston. “I liked making things in shop class and things like that. I was quite the whittler. I remember whittling her a few things. … One year, I believe it was a dolphin. I was really proud of that.”
She was less proud of another gift. “It was this kind of granny apple thing. I carved a face in the apple and then when it got all wrinkled up and brown and dried out, I glued yarn on it for hair.
“That was probably the cheesiest Mother’s Day gift I ever came up with.”
Clearly scanning back through his memory bank for an answer, Sudeikis admitted he had few gifts that came to mind. “I’ve never been the crafty type. … But wait! I do remember a picture I made for her in school, really early on. For some reason, I believe dried macaroni was a key ingredient — combined with lots of Elmer’s glue!”
As for Marshall, he understands that people might think he’s on a course to honor all major holidays — considering “Mother’s Day” follows his “New Year’s Eve” and “Valentine’s Day” films.
“No, doing this had nothing to do with a desire to make another holiday film — or keep making them, just because they were about a specific holiday. … No, my real reason was to try to show what it’s like to work at the hardest job on the planet — being a mother. Plus I wanted to do it in a way that shows some humor about that challenge.
“Listen, today, kids barely look up from those devices of theirs — even at the dinner table. Maybe if there’s ice cream they’ll look up, but then it’s only for a few seconds.
“No, being a mother today is one heck of a challenge.”
