Best known for playing the heartthrob in romantic comedies (Life As We Know It, Safe Haven) and the captain in the uber successful sci-fi thriller Transformers franchise, Josh Duhamel's new film Scenic Route is a box office road less traveled. And a literal one for the film as Scenic Route finds its two (and pretty much only) main characters stranded on the side of a deserted road partway into a roadtrip. A trip, which was intended to be a reconnection between two old friends that had drifted apart (Dan Fogler starring opposite JD), evolves into a violent struggle of survival against the elements and each other.
Marie Claire: This movie is such a diversion from the roles we've seen you play in the past. What made you want to do this?
Josh Duhamel: "It was a chance to do something that I'd always wanted to do. It's the reason why I got into this business, to make a movie like this. I'm very proud with the way it turned out — nobody would expect it. They expect me to be playing with the baby or trying to gain the love of a girl. This [Scenic Route] was not that."
MC: Any spoilers you can share?
JD: "At one point the film witnesses Mitchell confessing how he no longer found his wife attractive, how pregnancy had changed her body – I wished that scene had been cut. I was like, 'do we really need to say this?' But they [the directors, Kevin and Michael Goetz] wanted to keep it in there because it felt like it was the brutal truth. And these guys were being totally honest with each other and I guess that's just the way he [Mitchell] felt."
MC: Speaking of kids — you're about to become a first time dad! (Josh is married to Black Eyed Peas' frontwoman Fergie!). What's been your experience through it all?
JD: "I didn't know if it'd be 9 months of misery or if she was going to be okay with it all but she's handled it so well. It's been really, really fun to watch."
MC: That's so great!
JD: "Ya, she's been in great spirits throughout the whole thing. It's the best. It's only made us that much closer."
MC: You've still managed a weekend or two away with the boys though. We've been hearing about these infamous weekends of games and debauchery. In fact you just had one (a last pre-baby hoorah perhaps?) What's the story behind these?
JD: "We call it the "Buddy Games," my friend does them every year. It involves go-cart racing, golf, darts, shuffleboard, basketball, all kinds of different games. And there are prizes! I've had a very close group of friends for a long time; it's just nice to keep everybody connected.
MC: Do you think the laws on these weekends will change once your son is in the picture?
JD: I would imagine these kinds of things happen less frequently when kids are involved. I actually can't believe my friend's wife let him do it. He just built the place too. I was like 'you're really going to let twenty stinky dudes inhabit your home for four days?'"
Well perhaps Fergie will be just as cool about it once you're a dad too (something tells us she will be!).
Make sure to catch the film this Friday, August 23rd at theaters or see it on Video on Demand.
You'd Be Smiling Too If You Made As Much Money As Beyoncé Did This Weekend
