Q&A: ‘Mother’s Day’ director Garry Marshall on ensemble films and Julia Roberts

TORONTO – In telling the stories of fictional families in the romantic comedy “Mother’s Day,” director Garry Marshall turned to his own relatives for help onscreen and behind the camera.

The Bronx-born screen legend enlisted his son, Scott, as a second unit director, while his granddaughter, Sienna, appears in the early moments of the film. His famed actor-producer-director sister Penny lends her distinctive voice as a narrator.

“When you start work at 5 o’clock in the morning, it’s nice to see people you know,” said Marshall, who credited his late mother Marjorie for passing on her sense of humour to himself and his siblings.

“Mother’s Day,” which opens in theatres on Friday, follows a similar template to Marshall’s previous ensemble vehicles “Valentine’s Day” and “New Year’s Eve” in telling the interwoven stories of a seemingly disconnected group of characters.

His latest star-studded cast includes Jennifer Aniston as a divorced mother of two, Jason Sudeikis as a recently widowed father and Kate Hudson and Ottawa’s Sarah Chalke (“Scrubs”) as married sisters with secrets.

“Mother’s Day” also served as a “Pretty Woman” reunion, with Julia Roberts acting as the queen of a home shopping network opposite Hector Elizondo as her agent. Roberts’s own kids, twins Hazel and Finn and son Henry, also appear in the film.

Reached in New York, Marshall spoke with The Canadian Press about why he enjoys ensemble films, his favourite holiday and his thoughts on Roberts from her breakout role to today.

The Canadian Press:What is the appeal of these ensemble films versus a conventional romantic comedy?

Garry Marshall: In the ensemble films, I can use more than one lead or two leads. I can get other people to do parts and they usually like to work on something where they don’t have to carry the whole picture. So I get in trouble when it doesn’t work — not them!

———

CP: Do you see this as the last in a trilogy of films? Or do you see more films centred around holidays?

Marshall: People send me a lot of scripts, and they send me all of the holidays, of course. But I don’t know. I have a softball picture I’m trying to do with Jamie Foxx who I worked with in “Valentine’s Day.” I don’t know, but you never say never in this business. I could do a holiday (movie) tomorrow.

———

CP: Do you have a favourite personal holiday?

Marshall: Myself? I guess truly I love Christmas. I have six grandchildren, three kids. I get to spend it all with them with Christmas, so that’s my favourite. But I don’t particularly want to do a movie about it.

———

CP: You helped launch Julia Roberts to superstardom with “Pretty Woman,” and then worked with her in “Runaway Bride” — and now with this film. What do you make of her progression as an actress?

Marshall: I’m very delighted with her progression as an actress, but even more proud of her growing up as a person. I never saw her coming out of rehab. Julia never went that route. She went a very, very nice way, married with kids and enjoying it. She used to hang out with an entourage of other young actors, and now, she hangs out with three or four ladies from the (parent-teacher association) from her school. They come on the set, and I’m always hugging moms. She’s quite grounded and I’m very proud.

———

CP: It will be such a treat for so many fans of “Pretty Woman” to see Hector Elizondo and Julia Roberts back together onscreen. Correct me if I’m wrong, apparently he’s been in every single one of your films. Is that right?

Marshall: I can’t correct you. I’ve done a lot of films. I’ve directed 18, and Hector Elizondo is in all 18.

He had a nice moment there (in “Mother’s Day”) with Julia. He blew his line. Hector never blows his lines. But in that one scene with Julia, he kind of choked up.

I said: “What’s the matter?” He said: “I got verklempt.” He truly got teary. He was looking at her, they were playing the scene, and he realized that we had worked together — the three of us — when she was 21 years old. She had her birthday on “Pretty Woman.” Then, to see her grow into a woman and everything, it was very touching.

The second take he did perfect. But it was a nice moment between all of us.

Note: This interview has been edited and condensed.

— Follow @lauren_larose on Twitter.