Q&A: Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner

Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner (Credit: Warner Bros.)

At a recent, not-so-intimate, Los Angeles press conference, “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” stars Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner sat down to face the media about their new romantic comedy.

The movie, which opens May 1, features McConaughey as a playboy photographer visited by a series of spirits (a la Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”) who warn him to change his ways or risk losing the girl of his dreams (Garner).

Here are some of the best responses from the dynamic duo:

Matthew, what are your thoughts on a character who changes his ways because of ghosts?
Matthew McConaughey: They scare the hell out of me. In one night, ghosts visiting you can really change you a helluva lot better than one year of sitting down and going through therapy or something. If the shite’s scared out of you, you can really make a change.

Jennifer Garner: Something to think about…

MM: Yeah, right?

How did you enjoy working together for the first time?
MM: She wasn’t even there when I was doing half of my scenes.

JG: Yeah, I had them use green tape, I didn’t even want to look at him.

That’s going to be a really good quote for print.
JG: [laughs]

Did you worry about creating chemistry with someone you’ve never met?
JG: It’s just luck. You can spend a lot of time going over scenes and trying to make them organic. Just being together you start to build an actual relationship, which was necessary for this because these characters have been the most important people in each other’s lives for a [long time].

MM: One thing that I really liked and [made me think] ‘OK this is really going to work with you and I’ is that she doesn’t bring any riffraff fizzle fazzle extra B.S. drama from the outside. She’s honest, straight up.

JG: We kind of both work the same way, we have a good time but we show up to work.

MM: She’s not competitive in a non-creative way, and some people can be.

JG: Yeah, and it’s no fun. It just takes the fun out of it.

Care to name names?
JG and MM: [laughs]

Both of you are in relationships now with children. Was it fun or scary to revisit the time in your life when you’re trying to get it right?
JG: Oh, it’s always fun…the whole point of playing a role is that it’s not really you. Doing a romantic comedy, getting to fall in love, it’s great.

Do you think the lesson of this movie is aimed more at men or women? Should men try to redeem themselves or should women learn not to be drawn in by, with all due respect, kind of a d-bag.
MM: You thought I was a douchebag?

The bridesmaids all just wanted to sleep with [Connor], even though they know he doesn’t seem to have much respect for women.
MM: I think he has a lot of respect for women.

JG: Oh come on, I mean are we really gonna go down this road? Just answer the question Matthew.

MM: All they wanted was a wedding shag!

JG: Right, right. But, what does that say about them? It’s not just…

MM: That they were young and having fun, and just wanted a wedding shag, and…

JG: OK, alright. What was the question?

MM: Is [the movie] more for women because the lesson is ‘don’t go for the douchebag’?

JG: No, it’s more for men, to say you have to risk love and commitment otherwise you’re gonna end up alone, with old-age makeup, sad, and the beautiful woman will go off and marry someone else.

Find showtimes for "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past."