Andy Goldenberg stars in the new romantic comedy Love, Weddings & Other Disasters as bachelor Jimmy Barton. The romantic comedy explores the quest for love from a “colorful” group of individuals while they are simultaneously creating the dream wedding for a loving couple. The Knockturnal spoke with Goldenberg to discuss the film, working with Dennis Dugan, and awkward moments.
The Knockturnal: If you can be chained to any member of the cast, who would it be and why?
Andy Goldenberg: This is a tough question! Who do you go with? How do you not say Diane Keaton? I’ll tell you how: She’s a fashion icon and I am most comfortable in basketball shorts and a tshirt. And Jeremy Irons? I’m content spending all day gaming and I somehow don’t imagine that’s his thing. There were so many funny people on this film and, on off days, I’d actually hang out with my co-stars, but I have to go with Billy Concha, who plays Pedicab Guy. I worked with Billy on another film that Dugan directed and he’s just about one of the nicest guys I’ve met in Hollywood. On our first day of shooting, he snuck up behind me and wrapped me up in a big bear hug and we were so excited to see each other. The guy can not only fly planes and sail boats, he spent a month getting his license to drive a pedicab around Boston just so he could look natural in the movie! Anyone that’s worked with him in the industry will tell you the same thing: he’s a good dude.
The Knockturnal: Other than your relationship, which unlikely couple was your favorite?
Andy: I must confess that I loved watching Dennis Staroselsky and Caroline Portu on set. It felt like they had known each other for years and had such an amazing connection, but they are the most likely couple of the film. I think Diane Keaton and Jeremy Irons definitely have the sweetest storyline. Here’s this guy whose life is all about spectacle who ends up falling in love with a woman who can’t experience his visual art form. It’s touching and sweet.
The Knockturnal: How was it to play alongside the director, Dennis Dugan?
Andy: Dennis has done it all. He’s been there, he’s done that. They call him “the great Dennis Dugan.” The day we shot the game show, he was acting and directing in front of a live studio audience with a script that he had also written. It was so cool to watch him command the stage. He kept the atmosphere light and always had the crowd laughing. The way I remember it he also had no line readings. Every take was different and exciting, based on whatever the other actor was giving him. You can’t ask for more.
The Knockturnal: Your character had some pretty awkward moments with the Russian stripper he was paired with so what is one of the strangest dates you have had?
Andy: Back in the stone ages before you used phone apps and websites for online dating, AOL had a Personals chat room where the single could mingle. After talking for a few hours online, a girl invited me over to her place to swim in her pool. It was now midnight and she lived 30 minutes away. It was right after college and I was back home, living with my mom, preparing to make the move to LA. I woke her up to let her know that I was going out for the night with my friend Brian to work on our buddy’s bachelor party. It was a terrible lie. She was so confused by why we had to meet up so late and why we couldn’t just talk it over on the phone or meet earlier the next day. It was really that I felt the need to let her know I was going out, “just in case.” Indeed, I got progressively more nervous the closer I got to the girl’s place and was coming up with escape scenarios for any eventual catfishing, but it wound up being super fun and she didn’t murder me. You’d think it was a total booty call, but we didn’t actually hook up. We just went swimming. I slept over, in her bed, but I don’t think anything happened. I was a pretty innocent guy, back then.
The Knockturnal: What is one of your favorite romantic comedies?
Andy: It doesn’t get much better than When Harry Met Sally. My mom didn’t let me watch it when I was a kid. It was rated R. I still look at the poster and can only think of it as some kind of adult film. It is so natural and so real and conversational. I’ve seen the movie a number of times, but I’ve seen the ending even more. I only have to watch Billy Crystal’s declaration of love for Meg Ryan. It gets me every time. I love it and it’s the standard upon which I judge every other romantic comedy. That being said, I also actually LOVE Love, Actually a nd this movie felt very much like that structure, so I was excited to be a part of it.
The Knockturnal: You’re a self proclaimed king of dad jokes, what is your most cheesy dad joke?
Andy: I LOVE Dad Jokes. I’m excited that I now have my very own child to annoy. My favorite joke is lame. But, I guess that’s what makes it a dad joke. I say it every year. And it makes me laugh. Every time. And my wife smiles and rolls her eyes. It’s simple. “I can’t believe it’s already January 2nd.” That’s it. On January 1st, my wife knows it’s coming. But she can’t run from it. Unless she doesn’t talk to me that day. And, even then, I don’t have to say it. She just knows I’m thinking it. I own that joke. Runner up: What is a pirate’s favorite letter of the alphabet? Aye. You think it’d be Arrr, but it’d be the sea.
The Knockturnal: Do you have any upcoming projects to share?
Andy: I released a children’s book called Peter, the Paranoid Pumpkin about a pumpkin who doesn’t want to be alone outside during Halloween and I have written other holiday books that just need to be illustrated. Also, the pandemic gave me some time and some inspiration to start writing the third season of my popular zombie romantic comedy, Bad Timing, so hopefully we’ll all be seeing that soon.
