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It takes away what I find so thrilling about action, which is that youre really immersed in this.
You have the adrenaline rush, the cortisol spike of actually being imperiled.
Its the width of exactly when something happens.
So it felt like more of a cousin of a deadpan comedy than its been given credit for.
I dont like the word authentic, but you wanted to make it authentic?Yeah.
They would actually just die within five seconds.
Which I think creates a bit of distance for the viewer between themselves and the violence.
We have a lot of softened narratives that I just dont connect with.
So I just felt like, Lets just go for it.
I just had faith that people will be able to hang with it.
So for you, its about finding an organic reaction from Kunis and McKinnon thats funny?
Like a movie likeClueless.
Watching Kate in that car scene, the expression on her face you cant write it!
It was partly that.
It was hard for the actors to even get there on the day with those types of quips.
You were mentioning Kate.
You bring Kate McKinnon into a movie to be Kate McKinnon.
Theres some reallygreatKate McKinnon in this movie, too.
Did you often improvise, if that was the case?
Maybe there isnt a version of Mila Kunis walking out of a dramatic situation and saying any joke.
Maybe theres no way to get her there, and its not because shes not a good actress.
Its because it just doesnt feel right.
But yeah, there was a lot of improv within certain parameters.
I feel like a nursery-school teacher saying this, but kids want limits!
The movies success is not just about how many jokes there are.
Its not like thats the one goal we have.
And a lot of them did end up in the movie.
Between the heightened level of violence and the humor is a lot of truth.
Particularly the scenes between Mila and Kate.Definitely.
Almost every movie with two women cant just let them be supportive of each other.
I dont want to watch bickering.
I want to watch them being each others partner.
Its not going to happen.
Why do you think that is such a common trope?
So fighting with their friends is just another button they can press.
Women are a thing now.
Lets put a woman in this one!
Otherwise its not a canon!
Its just a pair of movies.
I dont think the way to be feminist is just to assume that women are exactly like men.
That doesnt mean they have to be soft, passive-aggressive, bitchy, bickery, and obsessed with babies.
Ahhh, we broke a thing!, thats fine.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
