“Date Movie” actor Adam Campbell’s idea of a good romantic movie isn’t what you would expect.
“The best film I’ve taken a girl to was ‘Lethal Weapon 2,’ because I got some action with that,” says the British newcomer with a laugh.
When pressed, he finally names “Four Weddings and a Funeral” as a tolerably good romantic comedy, which is appropriate since his “Date Movie” character, Grant Funkyerdoder, is a tribute to Hugh Grant’s charming romantic roles.
“On the same lot where we were filming ‘Date Movie’ was a movie that Hugh Grant was filming,” says Campbell. “I think he knew that we were doing it and maybe his driver had told him I was doing a character similar to the sort of thing he was doing, but we never spoke.
“I may still write a letter of apology to him. I think the guy is brilliant.”
In “Date Movie,” Grant Funkyerdoder is the fulfillment of lonesome Julia Jones’ (Alyson Hannigan) starry-eyed dreams. Their whirlwind courtship has its spoof-inspired ups and downs, including “Meet the Fockers” tensions, “My Best Friend’s Wedding” rivalries and a “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” couples counseling session.
“The spoof I enjoyed the most was the ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ scene. It was the same set that they used,” Campbell enthuses. “I was sitting in the same flippin’ seat as Angelina Jolie.”
Campbell is still a little star-struck since this is his first feature film role, which he landed only a few months after relocating to Los Angeles from the U.K. Living his dream also includes fulfilling one fantasy: getting under Julia Roberts’ skirt. Sort of.
In a bizarre sequence, Campbell dresses in drag to parody the “Pretty Woman” scene in which Roberts walks down Rodeo Drive. The “Date Movie” filmmakers got their hands on Roberts’ hooker costume – and, to Campbell’s mixed delight and chagrin, it fit him perfectly.
“It was hanging up and I was saying, ‘I can’t believe this is what she wore,”‘ says the actor. “It was a little bit grubby as well, so I’m thinking maybe it hadn’t been washed, so I just slipped into it.
“They basically dropped me off at the top of Rodeo Drive. I was assuming they are going to shut the road down, but no,” he adds. “I’m literally a man in a ladies’ outfit with flippin’ high- heel boots walking down the road. Meanwhile, cars are driving past, stopping, honking. I was right in the public eye. Secretly, I loved it.”
Campbell’s brief flirtation with women’s attire hasn’t emasculated him, though, as evidenced by his latest hobby.
“I wanted to do something sort of quintessentially American, so in the first couple of weeks when I came over I went to a shooting range,” he says. “This was something I wouldn’t be able to do in England, so I let off a few rounds and I flippin’ loved it.”
