'Wild Hogs' fueled with Ocala connections
Instead of calling his new movie, "Wild Hogs," John Travolta might have named it "Biker Brothers."
Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy did some heavy Hollywood bonding while dressing in leather and sitting on Harleys. The movie plot is about four guys who leave their suburban lives behind and take to the road on their motorcycles.
The quartet of stars put away their egos and pumped up their bikes.
"We're all very different personalities, but we really hit if off," Travolta told the Star-Banner. "We had more of a brotherly thing going on than a friend thing. We skipped friendship and went right to being brothers, and that goes with all the love and antagonisms it implies.
"It was a blast. I had to rise to the occasion. I haven't felt this way since I was a kid, fighting with my brothers (laughs)."
Such bonding adds to the ensemble comedy and gives this film, which is filled with broad, physical humor, its power. The movie, written by former Ocala resident Brad Copeland, opens nationally on Friday and Travolta will be in Ocala, near his home in Anthony, for an opening party and community fundraiser.
Compared to the other actors, when it came to Harleys, Travolta was sort of the big brother.
"I had to teach them some things, especially Martin Lawrence," Travolta said. "He skipped some things, like learning how to downshift and putting on the brakes. The first time I looked at him on a bike I thought, 'Wow, this guy needs to learn some important lessons.'
"But he was the gentleman of the group. He was like our middle brother. He was a lot of fun."
"Wild Hogs" breaks the movie-mold when it comes to motorcycle flicks.
"There's never been a comedy movie about bikers," said Travolta, 53, who plays a middle-aged businessman named Woody Stevens. "People have been interested in motorcycle movies since Marlon Brando did 'The Wild One' back in the '50s. Most of these have been serious films but bikers have such spirit, there should be more fun than just drama."
Copeland, 31, is the writer who made it happen.
"We just thought it would be funny to do a movie about old guys on bikes," said Copeland, a Forest High School graduate who attended Central Florida Community College.
It took a couple of years to bring the concept to the screen for Disney's Touchstone Pictures. Copeland's original casting ideas underwent major changes.
"I pitched this as a Disney comedy with Tim Allen," Copeland told the Star-Banner. "We thought the role of Woody (Travolta's part) would be Michael Keaton. But once John Travolta got interested, I thought, 'Oh wow.'Ê"
The part of Dudley Frank was aimed at Rick Moranis but went to Macy. Copeland contends Macy isn't known for comedy, but he's funny in this movie. In addition to the four stars, the film also features a strong supporting cast, including Marisa Tomei and Ray Liotta.
"I never expected a cast like this, and I'm thrilled about it," added Copeland, who produced and wrote the critically adored-but-now-defunct TV comedy "Arrested Development." He currently does the same for "My Name is Earl."
Some of the cast talked about weaknessess of the initial script and the need for improvisation.
"Actors always talk that way; that's a lot of crap," Copeland said. "There was some improvisation, and the director allowed the actors to have some freedom. But the reason this movie was made was because of the script."
Copeland hopes that audiences will enjoy the movie for what it is - a boisterous, physical comedy about middle-aged men on motorcycles.
"There are two things I want people to get out of this movie," Copeland said. "The first is that riding bikes is fun. The other thing is that you are only as old as you feel ... If getting on a bike makes you feel young, do it."
Copeland, like Travolta, has been riding motorcycles since his teen years.
"I used to drive all over Ocala on my Honda," he said.
Now he has graduated to riding Harleys in Hollywood.
Anthony Violanti can be reached at 867-4154 or anthony.violanti@starbanner.com.