Chris Tucker Video Interview On ‘Silver Linings Playbook’

A longtime veteran of the silver screen, Chris Tucker relished the opportunity to work with a talented director in David O. Russell in his latest project, Silver Linings Playbook, which also stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro. “David O. Russell, who directed The Fighter, he was really good at [helping me get into character],” Tucker told Uinterview exclusively. “He knew a lot about it so it was really helpful to talk to him.”

Tucker, 41, who was born in Atlanta, rose to prominence on the stand-up comedy circuit, in particular with Def Comedy Jam, and soon parlayed his comedy skills into film work, appearing in House Party 3 in 1994, and, one year later, as “Smokey” in the 1995 hit Friday alongside Ice Cube. After appearing in Money Talks, The Fifth Element and Jackie Brown, Tucker landed perhaps his most iconic role, as Detective James Carter, in the Rush Hour films, opposite Jackie Chan. Rush Hour, and its sequels, Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3, boosted Tucker into movie superstardom.

Silver Linings Playbook marks Tucker’s first film since 2007’s Rush Hour 3. In addition, Tucker has had a stand-up comedy resurgence and will release a new stand-up special in 2013. “I went back to the comedy clubs because I started doing stand-up comedy, and worked for the comedy clubs and worked myself back up to theaters, and I’ve been touring the last two years,” Tucker told Uinterview.

For now, though, fans can see Tucker in Silver Linings Playbook, in theaters now.

Transcript:

Q: How long did it take you to prepare to play a character with a mental illness?

A: You know, I talked to the director a lot about it and we actually filmed some of the scenes in a mental institution in Baltimore, so I sort of got the feel of the character, going there, just reading up on the script. So it was not too hard to do. The director, David O. Russell, who directed ‘The Fighter’ he was really good at it, he knew a lot about it so it was really helpful to talk to him.

Q: What was the most memorable scene working with Bradley Cooper?

A: Well I loved the in-between scenes, talking in the car. We had a car scene and we’d just be riding around and just talking about regular stuff. He’s a great guy and a hard worker too. It was great learning from him, seeing how he acted and worked in the moment. He’™s legendary, he’™s just good. So it was a lot of fun working with him.

Q: Did director David O. Russell let you do any comedic ad-libbing?

A: Oh yeah, there were some moments where he was like, ‘Less of that’ and ‘We don’t need that.’ It’s a good thing working with a good director. He can really hone you in on what you need to be. Maybe [in one scene] on the couch it might have been too much of what he wanted and he told me to calm it down.

Q: Do you miss having a live audience at a comedy club?

A: Oh yeah, timing is everything. Timing and being able to relate to your audience. I just finished filming my stand-up comedy movie that’s coming out early next year. And you have to stay on stage too. I went back to the comedy clubs because I started doing stand-up comedy, and worked the comedy clubs and worked myself back up to theaters, and I’™ve been touring the last two years.