While Jennifer Coolidge knows how to knock a comedic performance out of the park, it’s the humanity of her characters that continues shine through.
Discussing her new movie Riff Raff, now available on demand, the Golden Globe winner told Deadline she could “really relate” to her heartbreaking and “self-destructive” character Ruth in the crime comedy from writer John Pollono and director Dito Montiel.
“I haven’t been able to play someone like her,” she explained. “I mean, I have played sort of girls that have been dumped by their boyfriends and not being able to recover and things like that, but this was such a juicy part, and I had so many things to to play.”
Coolidge also raved about the “added bonus” of working with a talented ensemble that includes Bill Murray, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Pete Davidson and Lewis Pullman, “all these incredible actors that I’ve been obsessed with for such a long time.”
“No one had to coax me into this job,” she added. “This was a dream, a dream.”
Jennifer Coolidge in ‘Riff Raff’ (Roadside Attractions/Courtesy Everett Collection)
In Riff Raff, Vincent (Harris) and wife Sandy’s (Union) New Year’s getaway with their son DJ (Miles J. Harvey) is interrupted by an unexpected visit from Vincent’s son Rocco (Pullman), accompanied by his pregnant girlfriend Marina (Emanuela Postacchini) and his incapacitated mother Ruth (Coolidge).
Although the family reunion should be reason to celebrate, something is clearly off with the visit, as mobsters Leftie (Murray) and Lonnie (Davidson) track them down.
Read on about Jennifer Coolidge’s Riff Raff character, finding humor in a dark family dynamic and the scene Ed Harris “really didn’t like.”
DEADLINE: I really loved your performance in Riff Raff. It was so funny as usual, but also heartbreaking. What was it like playing this complicated maternal role with no filter, a drinking problem and also a passionate fandom for Celine Dion?
JENNIFER COOLIDGE: I haven’t really gotten a role like that before. I’ve never been offered that. That’s really why I wanted it. I read the script, it was such a fast read, it was such a wild ride. And I was like, “Are you serious? You want me to have this killer part?” I was thinking someone was gonna talk them out of it, talk them into someone else or something. I didn’t really know if it was gonna be a permanent thing, but I thought, “God, if they really are gonna give me this part, I really want it.” Because I haven’t been able to play someone like her. I mean, I have played sort of girls that have been dumped by their boyfriends and not being able to recover and things like that, but this was such a juicy part, and I had so many things to to play. And then this sort of added bonus that all these incredible actors that I’ve been obsessed with for such a long time are actually gonna be in the movie, and I’m gonna be in scenes with them and interacting with them. No one had to coax me into this job. This was a dream, a dream. The only negative was just it was quite cold, freezing in the woods in New Jersey. That’s the only complaint I can make.
Ed Harris and Jennifer Coolidge in ‘Riff Raff’ (Roadside Attractions/Courtesy Everett Collection)
DEADLINE: Ruth has a “good for her” moment that I really appreciated. Can you tell me about that journey for her and getting closure?
COOLIDGE: I can sort of add my own personal experience to it, like I can really, really relate. It’s just really difficult in this lifetime when you’re into somebody and you’re just madly in love with them, and it goes so well for such a long time and then it’s just incredibly strange when they’re not into it anymore. It’s so painful when they’re not having any of the emotions that you’re feeling. When people move on and the other person has not moved on at all, I think it’s one of the most painful things that can happen in your lifetime. And I think it takes years to get over sometimes, just years and years, because a lot of the time, not only do you really love that person, but you don’t expect it all to end. And then of course, you know, he picks a younger woman, and that doesn’t feel very good. And he’s really into her and he’s moved on, and he feels nothing for her, for me. … You can spend a decade wondering what you did wrong and why they don’t like you anymore. Someone like Ruth really didn’t have anything else to fall back on. Sometimes, the pain is so deep that — she’s not gonna end up in a therapy group, she’s just gonna drink more, which is even worse. And it doesn’t help that she feels like her son is being neglected and suffering in sort of the same boat. I think it’s very sad. I remember when I first read it, I just felt very sad after I finished reading the script and then I was sort of attracted to just the opposite experience with some with the funny scenes that sort of keep you from completely going down the rabbit hole. I like that.
DEADLINE: I seriously cackled out loud when you like grabbed Ed Harris’s crotch and said, “I get horny when I’m scared.”
COOLIDGE: He didn’t like that, by the way. He really didn’t like that. It was in the script, I promise you, it was in the script that I was supposed to do that, but he was not enjoying that.
Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman in ‘Riff Raff’ (Roadside Attractions/Courtesy Everett Collection)
DEADLINE: Well, it was cool that you brought that kind of levity to the the film. The characters in this movie have like such a fucked-up dynamic, but it’s ultimately a movie about family. Can you tell me about like finding that balance with those characters and working with this ensemble to portray that?
COOLIDGE: I think that’s sort of the genius. Really, I owe it all to John Pollono, he really did sort of balance it outwards. I like that he made Ruth so self-destructive because it was sort of the only thing she knew how to survive, was just hiding in alcohol and drugs. And she really didn’t have other options at all. Ruth would never go get therapy, would never go get help. Especially if you’re hanging out with gangsters, no one’s doing that. … Except in The Sopranos, he’s the exception, of course. But there’s a lot of people like Ruth that are living on the edge, and there’s just not a lot of hope. People love to be in love, it’s the greatest thing in this lifetime. And then when someone’s not into you and they’re really over it and they moved on with some hot young chick, it’s really painful. I felt terrible for her. At the very end of filming, Dito said, “I want to add a scene to the movie. I want you to go into that bathroom and look at all of her nice makeup things, her fancy face stuff and all that.” And I don’t know, I thought that was a really good idea.
DEADLINE: The life she almost had.
COOLIDGE: Yes, exactly. And I think she sees her son is headed too, and he’s got a new son. And so in that way, he’s not worried enough. But it’s all painful stuff. That’s why I’m so glad there’s some funny stuff in that movie.
