Charlie Day has been dreaming of Fool’s Paradise for a long time. A passion project he’s been wanting to make since the early days of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the film is inspired by the classic Hollywood satires that used to be a regular staple, but have since gone by the wayside. Day loves those films, and set out to put his spin on it, but not just as an actor, but as the writer and director, too.
Making a movie is hard enough, but when there isn’t a ton of demand for the kind of movie you want to make, it’s even tougher. Fortunately, Day got all the help in the world from a collection of his celebrity friends, such as Kate Beckinsale, Adrien Brody, Edie Falco, and Day’s Horrible Bosses co-stars Jason Sudeikis and Jason Bateman. The wacky story follows an escaped mental patient who suddenly becomes an overnight sensation when he fills in for a problematic actor.
While Day takes center stage in a Charlie Chaplin-esque physical performance, the emotional heart of the film belongs to co-star Ken Jeong. Playing Lenny, a down-on-his-luck publicist who will do anything for his one client, Jeong delivers one of the best performances of his career in the rare role that allows him to show he’s more than just a funny supporting player. Of course, Jeong gets plenty of laughs, too.
I had the chance to talk with Jeong about Fool’s Paradise, and it’s clear that he takes a lot of pride in being part of Day’s film. It’s a fun chat, and you can check it out below!
Fool’s Paradise is open in theaters now!
