His lineage aside, though, Rob easily sustains interest because his warmth and openess–like his fondness for lumpia, adobo, halo-halo and bibingka –are as Pinoy as Pinoy can be. Whether you are chatting face to face with Rob (as this writer experienced three years ago when Rob came to promote Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo) or whether he’s talking to you on the phone (which he did one morning last week when he was as cheerful and upbeat as ever), it’s plain to see why we Pinoys would love to cheer Rob Schneider on. That’s because one of Hollywood’s hot dudes is a genuinely likeable guy. And now, in his latest movie The Hot Chick, this hot dude lives up to the challenge of being a genuinely likeable chick.
Well, as he well deserves it, life has been pretty good to Rob Schneider, career-wise or otherwise. Touchstone Pictures’ comedy The Hot Chick (which Rob also co-wrote with director Tom Brady and which good friend Adam Sandler co-executive produced) centers on a popular high schooler, Jessica (played by Rachel MacAdams) who one day wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old lowlife criminal (played by Rob Schneider).
Rob playing a chick? And a high school campus star at that? One can just imagine the riotous possibilities–and complications–that can arise from such a scenario. But as Rob proved in Deuce Bigalow where he played a bumbling but big-hearted gigolo and in The Animal where he played a multi-organ (of animals at that!) transplant recipient, playing characters far removed from what he is comes as a breeze for Rob Schneider.
Maybe it’s because his live performances in clubs–Rob started early at 15– and four seasons as a regular of that training ground of comedy greats, Saturday Night Live, fine-tuned his knack for portraying varied personas. A steady stream of supporting roles like those in the films The Waterboy, Big Daddy and Down Periscope also helped expand his range.
Asked about his love life, Rob, who generally likes to keep his private life private, shared in our phone interview that he married his Brazilian girlfriend Helena four months ago. He added that he hopes to have another girl (he already has a 13-year-old daughter) and two boys. "I hope to teach the kids Tagalog words!" Rob said.
Though Rob ruefully said he can’t come to the Philippines to personally promote The Hot Chick as he did Deuce Bigalow ("I had a great time there, the Pinoys really treated me well! I enjoyed the great seafood and crabs!") he assures Filipinos he’ll come over for the showing of the Deuce sequel.
"Tell the Pinoys I hope they’re doing well!" Rob said.
Here’s more of hot dude Rob and The Hot Chick (now showing in local theaters) in excerpts from our phone interview:
We Filipinos are happy you’ve featured your mom Pilar again in this movie as you did in Deuce Bigalow and The Animal, this time as the head judge during the cheer-leading competition–you know how we love our moms! Do we foresee a tradition in the making here?
Mom brought me into this world so it’s (letting her appear in my movies) the least I can do. I have a sneaky feeling she enjoys it!
She got mad at me, though, because her shooting was supposed to start at 6 a.m. but it didn’t begin until 8 p.m. She hated waiting!
How were you in high school? Were you more of the popular kind like Jessica or were you more low-profile?
I was laid-back; I’d wait before I’d say something but when I did say something it was sure to catch attention. My grades were okay at the start but from 15 years old I started performing in clubs so my grades suffered. I did finish high school but my mom never forgave me for not finishing college. Since she had a Master’s Degree–she’s a reading specialist–she was hoping I’d be a lawyer or a professor or something like that. She thought that my performing in clubs was just an until-life-gets-better phase. Even now, she thinks I’m still in that phase!
You said when I interviewed you three years ago during your local promo for Deuce Bigalow that "Comedy is the toughest act of all. The difficulty is higher for comedy." Do you still think so?
If a drama works, that’s okay but if a comedy doesn’t, that stinks. The difficulty is the higher challenge. You can fall flat on your face if things don’t work out in comedy. So I have to trust my instincts.
The difficulty was greater for this film because it all hinged on my playing a woman. I had to maintain a balance between being respectful of women and at the same time not being afraid to be funny.
You also told me then, "I want a movie where you care about people." Is this also true of The Hot Chick?
Yes. I personally like this movie among all the movies I’ve done so far. In it we’ve tried to show values like love of family, love of friends, self-acceptance and love of brothers. That’s why I’m very proud of it. I think it will be a big hit.
How was it working with Rachel McAdams?
The nice thing about working with her and with the other young actors was their high energy level which was exciting. They all gave good performances and I’m proud of all of them.
As one of the veterans in the movie, they helped me think of myself as young.
When I’d get stuck in performing my role as a woman it was good to have real live women to help me.
What do you like most about Filipinos?
Filipinos are not afraid to laugh. They are a people who love to laugh and to enjoy life, unlike in the States where people can be uptight at times.
Are you as funny in real life as you are in your movies?
Well, I am serious about work and that work (involves) making people laugh!
Any other plans besides the Deuce... sequel?
I will produce a movie based on my mom’s childhood in the Philippines. I’m planning to get stars of Filipino lineage–like Tia Carrere–to star in it.
I’m also planning to write a comedy book of short stories.
What was the most difficult thing about playing a woman?
The hardest aspect was portraying a woman’s emotional availability or emotional vulnerability.
Getting out of my own way to play an emotional personality, I had to jump back and forth emotions quickly. The difference between women and men is that women are invigorated by expressing their emotions–it’s like an espresso drip to them–while men seem to get tired (doing so).
What do you like most about women?
Their sense of humor. Their energy is also very soothing; it’s like a warm bath. Being with a woman is a natural place to be.
And what do you think women like most about Rob Schneider?
That I like to laugh. I’m a good listener. I also have a nice butt!