At this point in your career, did you think you’d be starring in a romantic comedy like Solo Mio again?
Kevin James: At 60 years old? I couldn’t have imagined that in my life. But I love the RomCom genre, so I’m incredibly happy about this opportunity. My very first movie, “Hitch – The Date Doctor,” was also a romantic comedy, and I’m a fan of movies like “Pretty Woman.” Unfortunately, stories like this don’t get to be seen in cinemas that often anymore, which is why I was even more thrilled that “Solo Mio” did well in the USA.
Was the project your idea?
Let’s put it this way: My colleagues asked me where I wanted to shoot my next film. And because I had just spent a wonderful vacation in Rome with my family, it occurred to me that filming in Italy could be something nice. Based on this, we then developed an idea for a story about love that was fun and that the audience would follow. So we came up with the fact that our hero wants to say yes to his girlfriend in Rome, but is then left at the altar.
What did you like so much about the Eternal City?
Where should I start? The food, the culture, the churches! Seeing the Vatican was very special for me. But in general, this juxtaposition of old and new, the Colosseum here and the chic fashion shops there. Drinking wine every evening and listening to Italian songs – that could have gone on forever for me. Not to mention, the people there are just amazing. We shot with an Italian crew, which was a blessing. And the fact that we found Nicole Grimaudo for the female lead turned out to be a real stroke of luck.
Of course, the chemistry between the two of you is crucial to a romantic comedy. What else does the genre mean to you?
Stories that are essentially about whether two people get together or not have, of course, been told hundreds of times. That’s why such films ideally need a somewhat new approach and a certain amount of drama that makes them more than just a comedy. In the end, everything probably depends on the characters. If the audience also falls in love with these two, then you are on the safe side.
Two famous singers, Andrea Bocelli and Ed Sheeran, appear in “Solo Mio”. How did this come about?
Bocelli is simply the greatest! I couldn’t imagine a film that was set in Italy, and not somehow with it Andrea Bocelli has to do. We had met once at a charity event for one of his foundations, so I knew him a little. I had wanted to work with him for a long time, but Andrea exceeded all my expectations. He even let us shoot in his childhood home. Although I still have to apologize to him: I shouldn’t have done that to him to sing with him.
And Ed Sheeran? Do you like listening to it or do your children like it?
As well as! We’ve all been to a Sheeran concert together. In my opinion, “Photograph” and “Perfect” are iconic pop songs and made for a romantic comedy. We really constructed the ending of the film around these songs. Ed is just a cool guy, I really like him.
Speaking of iconic: Her most legendary creation to date is the sitcom “King of Queens”, which was hardly as popular anywhere as in Germany. How difficult is it to still be associated with it almost 20 years after it ended?
I’m already dreading the day when no one will talk to me about “King of Queens” anymore. To this day I can’t believe how successful this series was. And I am endlessly grateful to the German fans in particular for their love. At least as much as the man who was my German voice, because he did a great job.
But if you also want to play other roles, being stuck in a box like that can be a curse, right?
Sure, it’s tricky sometimes. You’re happy that the audience loves a character so much, but as an actor you also want to play roles that have nothing to do with that. Overall, I think I managed it quite well. That’s why I never let anything happen on “King of Queens.”
Many successful series from the 90s are currently being brought back to life. Could you also imagine that for “King of Queens”?
In fact, I would love nothing more than to bring the series back to the screen again. And we would have done it a long time ago if Jerry Stiller, who played my father-in-law in it, hadn’t died. Jerry was unique and irreplaceable. I just can’t imagine “King of Queens” without him.
Do you have the impression that our understanding of humor has changed a lot in the 35 years that you have been working as a comedian?
Oh, I think a good joke is still a good joke. The surroundings are always changing, there are new topics and new conventions emerge. The way jokes are told is also always in flux. But if a joke works, if it hits us suddenly and perhaps broadens our horizons or breaks down old ideas, then it does so today just as it did in the past. It’s not like people suddenly don’t have a sense of humor these days.
Finally, a personal question. You and your wife Steffiana are currently celebrating your 22nd wedding anniversary and have four children together. What is the secret to a long, happy relationship?
Phew, good question. In every relationship there are ups and downs, and every couple is different. But my answer is simply: God. At least we as a married couple wouldn’t be as happy as we are today if we didn’t have God in our lives.
Profile
Kevin James was born in New York in 1965. He is an actor, screenwriter, comedian and voice actor. He became known in the 1990s with the series “King of Queens”, in which he played the role of Doug Heffernan.
He can be seen in numerous films such as “Hitch – The Date Doctor”, “The Department Store Cop”, “The Biggest Friends”, “The Zookeeper” and in television series.
He can currently be seen in the film “Solo Mio”, in which he also worked as a co-author and co-producer.
