Vince fathers 533(!) kids in Delivery Man

MANILA, Philippines - Vince Vaughn has starred in some of the biggest box-office comedies of the past decade, winning over audiences with his characteristic deadpan delivery and scathing sense of humor. Having played the lovable Everyman many times before, DreamWorks Pictures’ new heart-warming comedy Delivery Man serves as a departure for him as an actor. A touching story filled with honesty and hope — in addition to humor — the film gives audiences a glimpse of a more mature Vince.

Delivery Man tells the story of affable underachiever David Wozniak (Vaughn) whose anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. David must now embark on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but also the father that he could become.

Now married and the father to two children of his own, Vaughn was drawn to the role of David Wozniak as he wanted to address the issues of balancing life and family from a fresh perspective.

“It’s a great premise that is a little bit crazy,” says Vaughn, “but underneath it all the movie is about family, about connection and about finding your way, so it has a lot of heart to it. The movie deals with real issues that families go through, what people go through in life trying to find their way and be successful, in a very authentic way. But there’s also an underlying optimism, warmth and love to the film that’s very powerful and funny.”

David is the eldest of three sons in the Wozniak family. He works for the family’s Brooklyn-based meat business with his father and brothers, but is a constant foul-up, albeit a loveable and likeable one. “David is a strange character,” explains producer André Rouleau. “Maybe he is not the best man in the world, but he’s got a big heart, and that’s why people love him.”

David’s past comes back to haunt him when he learns that the anonymous donations he made to a fertility clinic years ago under the pseudonym “Starbuck” have produced 533 Wozniak descendants, resulting in a paternity nightmare.

Adds Vaughn, “David is a guy who hasn’t grown up. He’s still very childlike in a lot of ways. He doesn’t have a lot of adult responsibility and he realizes that his girlfriend is pregnant. He owes money to some mobsters who are getting impatient and are giving him some pretty rough coaxing, and he’s constantly late on his bills.”

Writer/director Ken Scott was thrilled to give Vaughn the chance to tackle the role of David Wozniak. “Vince was very passionate about this story, he loved the story, he loved the character, obviously, and he has the talent to carry this movie. I felt he was perfect for this role.”

Opening in theaters on Dec. 4, Delivery Man is a DreamWorks Picture distributed by Walt Disney Studios International.