In the new comedy Game Night, Jason Bateman's character is a guest at a murder mystery party that becomes an actual whodunit.
The actor talked to Evening’s Kim Holcomb about real-life dinner parties, competitive streaks, and being neighborly.
HOLCOMB: "In your life, if you have a free night with your wife and other couples, are you going to do a game night? Are you going to a karaoke bar? Are you going to a dance club?”
BATEMAN: “I've got to come over to your house. Most nights could start as, 'Hey come on over, we're going to have dinner and play such and such or we're going to watch such and such.' It just never happens. You say, 'Hey, should we go do such and such now?' And people would be like, 'No, we're talking.' That's my wife, that's my wife's impersonation, 'No, we're talking honey.'”
HOLCOMB: “Is she going to enjoy that impersonation?”
BATEMAN: “She's not going to see this. She doesn't spend a lot of time in Seattle. We'd like to, though. I went up there when I was a kid and loved it. Green. Moist.”
HOLCOMB: “One of my co-workers is not going to like that you just said (moist.)”
BATEMAN: “They love the word ‘moist!’ That's the greatest word in the world. Moist. Say it with me - moist.”
HOLCOMB: "Are you the neighbor who knows your neighbors?”
BATEMAN: "I’m not good about that. I just always assume they want to be left alone. They're not interested in talking to you, or the (neighbor) on the other side of them. Everybody's got friends. No one's shopping for friends, everyone's got enough."
HOLCOMB: "What are you weirdly competitive about? Like, maybe being the last one to merge in traffic?”
BATEMAN: “Oh yeah.”
HOLCOMB: “I'm not saying that's my thing – but it's totally my thing.”
BATEMAN: “You're that one. I do appreciate an aggressive driver. People who are defensive drivers cause a lot more accidents... I think you need to be aggressive and pro-active and assertive with the driving.”
HOLCOMB: “And that's your PSA for the Seattle Department of Transportation.”
Game Night is rated R and opens in theaters February 23.
Travel and accommodation provided by Warner Bros.
Evening is your guide to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Watch it weeknights at 7:30 on KING-TV Ch. 5 or streaming live on KING5.com. Connect with Evening via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Email.
