In The Other Woman, Carly (Cameron Diaz) is a woman who knows what she wants. She’s got the job, she’s got the man and she’s on top of the world. Only, unbeknownst to her, that perfect man is married to Kate (Leslie Mann). Once she and Carly meet, they join forces to teach him a lesson.
The Other Woman’s producer, Julie Yorn, had been looking for a comedic script for a strong female duo or ensemble when she discovered an idea by screenwriter Melissa K. Stack. “Melissa had such a dry perspective and such intelligence, and we all fell in love with her. When we got the first 30 pages of Melissa’s script I said, “We’re making this movie.” She adds, “I had been watching a lot of French comedies, in which everybody is sleeping with somebody who is not their spouse. In America, we have a more Puritanical view of adultery and it was interesting to see a variety of French comedies in which the characters were dealing with relationships as the complicated subjects they are. It’s messy, but real, and not just about the ‘bad guys’ and the ‘good guys.’
Director Nick Cassavetes adds, “As soon as I read the script, I thought that this is a relationship I rarely see, and I wanted to make sure that if I had the opportunity to make the film, that we made it right.
Diaz was immediately attracted to the story and its fresh look at how women relate to one another in the face of unusual circumstances: “I thought is was such an interesting concept. When Carly realizes that Mark is married, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with him or the wife. But here’s this other woman, Kate, who is asking for her help and there’s no way she cannot help her.” She continues, “I just thought that is a beautiful thing. It’s about friendship and about women … the script wasn’t man-bashing and it wasn’t about revenge. It’s about a journey these women take with one another to learn about themselves. The women’s lives are so different that their paths would have never crossed under normal circumstances. And because they have this thing in common, they come together and become a team. I thought all of these things were unique, and fun to bring to life.”
The Other Woman is available this month on Video On Demand. Check your cable system for availability.
™ and © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Credit: Barry Wetcher
