Exclusive: Craig Robinson Talks ‘An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn’Posted by Wilson Morales
October 19, 2018
Currently in theaters and on VOD and Digital HD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Content Group is the genre-bending romantic comedy An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn by co-writer/director Jim Hosking and starring Aubrey Plaza, Emile Hirsch, Jemaine Clement, Matt Berry, and Craig Robinson.
Plaza stars as Lulu Danger, who is trapped in a dissatisfying marriage with her scheming husband Shane (Hirsch). After getting fired by Shane from his cappuccino shop, Lulu is stunned when a TV commercial for “An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn For One Magical Night Only” reveals a mysterious man from her past (Craig Robinson). When Shane and his bumbling cohorts steal the cashbox from Lulu’s adopted vegan brother, a specialist (Jemaine Clement) enters the fray to retrieve the stolen funds. Lulu seizes the opportunity to run off in search of her mystery man — and events only become stranger from there.
Blackfilm.com recently spoke with Craig Robinson regarding his role in the film.
Can you talk about what attracted you to the film?
Craig Robinson: I had a script and by the time that I got the script of An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn, this other movie by the Director Jim Hosking was playing at the Sundance Next Fest called The Greasy Strangler. I went to check out The Greasy Strangler to see what this guy was talking about. It was so weird. It was so out there. It was so crazy that I had to see what this Beverly Luff Linn was about. It was just as weird as delightful as I had hoped in and my character was just a giant departure from whatever you have seen me in. All the stuff was made it palpable to me.
How would you describe your character?
Craig Robinson: Beverly Luff Linn is an entertainer, singer, hustler. He sings wherever he can get a gig. He is influenced by Scottish culture. He dresses Scottish. He sings Scottish folklore, folk songs and he is codependent with another man. They travel all the time. He needs him. They need each other.
Can you describe playing a mute? Is this a new experience for you?
Craig Robinson: He wasn’t mute. He didn’t speak for a while during the movie. The challenge of that was two fold. It was beautiful because that I didn’t have to remember lines but the challenge was grunting with emotions and conviction to where that I couldn’t say what the character is saying even to just moaning, groaning and grunting.
How was working with the rest of the cast?
Craig Robinson: Aubrey Plaza I have known for a while. We have come from the same circle. We have never worked together. We have come from Greg Daniel’s Office and Parks and Recreation family. It was great working with her. Jemaine Clement who I have been on stage with a couple of times. Matt Berry who I am fan of from Toast of London. It goes on and on. It was an absolute blast and pleasure from start to finish even just from realizing who was in the movie.
When doing comedy, is there room for you to ad-lib? Did Jim allow the cast to ad-lib here?
Craig Robinson: I ad-libbed some groans. I guess you can say yes. I am not sure how much ad-libs the other actors did. I did threw in some extra “hrmmphs.”
You have Dolemite Is My Name coming up. How much fun did you have working with a group of well-known comedians.
Craig Robinson: I could not have dreamt that situation. Hanging out with Eddie Murphy. Giving us some stories and making us laugh. It was Godsent. It made me happy to be an actor. It made me happy of all the choices that that I made in life. It all led to that role.
What’s a good reason to see An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn?
Craig Robinson: It inspire you to see that true love never dies.
