Sigourney Weaver & Kevin Kline Talk Working Together Again—Plus an Exclusive Clip from Their New Movie 'The Good House'
Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline are back together onscreen in The Good House. The duo reunited in the new romantic drama, based on Ann Leary's novel of the same name, to play former flames Hildy Good and Frank Getchell. The story follows Hildy, a New England real estate agent with a drinking problem, who rekindles her romance with Frank.
"It was really fun for us because we have done other love stories, but this one was sort of the nicest," Weaver told Parade.com in a joint interview with Kline.
Weaver and Kline have previously starred in 1997's The Ice Storm and 1993's Dave. Discussing their new project The Good House—which opens in theaters Sept. 30—the Golden Globe-winning actress said, "This is the flip side of our relationship in Ice Storm, where we actually are very fond of each other and I think Frank, you know, kind of brings Hildy back and gives her something to live for besides a nice glass of pinot noir and her dogs."
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Continue reading to find out what Weaver and Kline had to say about working together again, plus watch an exclusive clip from their new movie The Good House below:
Aside from it, obviously being in the script, why do you think Hildy breaks that fourth wall?
Sigourney Weaver: Well, I think this is very much a story from Hildy's point of view. You know, she's an older woman. Her life is not in great shape, and she frankly has a lot to say about that. So she does break the fourth wall. I think what's interesting is you see a very together Hildy who's living her life and then she turns [to] the camera and she sort of lets her hair down and you almost feel like you're at the bar with her, with saying, "Can you believe what's going on with me? How ridiculous is this?" So you really get to know the real Hildy underneath this. And luckily she's very funny.
We love the two of you together. What was it like reuniting onscreen for The Good House?
Kevin Kline: Well, for me, it was déjà vu. It was nice. It was like nothing else! I'm trying to avoid the similes. Going back to work with Sigourney it was like going to a high school reunion, but not really knowing any of the people there. No. What was interesting is Frank and Hildy have a past. Sigourney and I have a past. That sounds kind of lurid, but it's not meant to be. I just mean we have worked together in the past. We've always gotten along and had an easy time. We sort of seem to be on the same page. We think alike. We're like-minded, and we like acting. We like having fun and Sigourney's always made me laugh from the first day I met her when we were gonna go, we were asked to co-host the Obie Awards in—
Sigourney Weaver: Thousands of years ago.
Kevin Kline: In 1981 or something.
Sigourney Weaver: [Laughs] I don't think it was that long ago, was it? God!
Kevin Kline: [We've] always made each other laugh.
Sigourney Weaver: Well I can tell you about working with Kevin. He's such a pro. And Hildy, I had to really kind of be out there as the character and go through a lot of different things because she's under the influence part of the time. With Kevin, I always felt like when I let go of that trapeze swing, he would be there to catch me. And that's such a wonderful feeling for an actor who's playing a role like this and has to kind of get out in unexpected territory. Kevin's just so present. His Frank is so solid and hunky and funny. I think they make a great pair. It was really fun for us because we have done other love stories, but this one was sort of the nicest. Don't you agree, Kevin? Sort of the sweetest certainly.
Kevin Kline: Yeah. The least frustrated ultimately. It's interruptive, certainly at moments, but yeah, the most benign. The one in Dave is just sort of unrequited for a long time.
Sigourney Weaver: Yes. That was very hard for me to act.
Kevin Kline: But it was sweet! I think The Ice Storm relationship is, well, there's some issues there... Dysfunction.
Sigourney Weaver: Yes, there's some issues!
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Michael Tompkins / Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions Download
There's one scene in particular in this movie that was hilarious—the bedroom scene, where the two of you are interrupted by Hildy's daughter. Is filming a scene like that more comfortable with someone you have that familiarity with?
Sigourney Weaver: Definitely, especially because it was like, full-on activity. There was no kissing and embracing. You cut to them. And a very funny scene. The dogs of course are sitting right there and so was the dog trainer, too. This is what happens when you're shooting a love scene, you're surrounded by people. And it's great that you are with a friend. And you can have fun while telling the story. Don't you think Kevin?
Kevin Kline: It's much easier with a friend although not necessarily. I think it depends on your relationship with the friend. I think some people might be very uptight, like someone who's been a friend for years and suddenly you're naked in bed together—
Sigourney Weaver: Well, we weren't naked.
Kevin Kline: We weren't?
Sigourney Weaver: Were we? Maybe you were! I had a little protective outfit on.
Kevin Kline: I wore a full-body condom. But you can't see it. No. We were pretty, pretty naked.
Sigourney Weaver: Okay, alright. I've blocked it, you see.
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Kevin Kline: Just from the shoulders up.
Sigourney Weaver: No, I think probably from the waist up. Anyway whatever it was, it was fine!
Kevin Kline: There are so many technical things. People think, "Oh, it's going to be hot and sexy." It tends to be, "Okay the camera's here now, we're moving here, can you bring your elbow up two more inches? Okay, now—whoa, you've just exposed something you shouldn't expose. Can you roll a little bit to your right? Twenty degrees to the left." So it's like having a life coach or intimacy coach—
Sigourney Weaver: Yes actually. It was before intimacy coaches. I don't think we had one, right? I think that was the last job where I did not have an intimacy coach.
Kevin Kline: I don't think they thought we needed one!
Sigourney Weaver: Oh, I think they did!
Kevin Kline: I think they thought, "They're past that."
Sigourney Weaver: We are past intimacy at this point].
Kevin Kline: We've transcended that.
Michael Tompkins / Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions
In the film, Hildy talks about how she and Peter were never taught to ask for help. I'm curious, is that something you guys were taught, or is that something you learned over time?
Sigourney Weaver: I think that's true of a lot of people. I think, perhaps I used to think that asking for help meant that I needed help. But it actually just means that you could use some help and there's nothing wrong with that. But I do think it's very, very hard for Hildy to ask for help. She's made a point of being as independent as possible and getting as far away from her childhood as possible. And she doesn't really trust anyone. She comes to trust Frank, which I think saves her.
How about you, Kevin? Is that something you learned over time, to ask for help like Hildy?
Sigourney Weaver: He doesn't ask for help.
Kevin Kline: Ask for help? I think people just offer their help to me. They look at me and they go, "This man needs help." And they just sort of volunteer. I don't have to ask. I've asked for help. Sure. I need help in certain areas, and I'll ask for it. But I think both Hildy and Frank have that, you know, Yankee "stiff upper lip, we can do it on our self" self-reliance—Thoreau and Emerson and all that kind of thing—in their blood and certainly in their lineage.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.