
Why Him? (2016)
Trivia
According to Megan Mullally, the cast was given free access to improvise as much as they wanted to and eventually 240 hours of films was shot on camera, which had to be trimmed to 90 minutes for the final film.
Many of the paintings in Laird's house were actually done by James Franco himself. He is acknowledged for them in the movie's closing credits. Franco is an avid painter and his artwork is featured in many of his films. Also see Trivia for This Is the End (2013).
The bedroom scene between Megan Mullally and Bryan Cranston was not in the original script, but suggested by Mullally during rehearsals.
This script was originally entitled Aloha, with Ben Stiller in the father role and Jonah Hill as the boyfriend, and was set in Hawaii. After significant rewrites, it became Why Him.
According to an interview on Today: Episode dated 16 December 2016 (2016), James Franco designed all of his character's tattoos.
Director John Hamburg was actor James Franco's professor at New York University.
The Flemings' house is situated on Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives (2004).
The headboard to the Alaskan King bed in Ned and Barb's room at Laird's house, was made by Nick Offerman's "Offerman Workshop". Barb is played by Megan Mullally, who is married to Nick Offerman.
Franco once mentioned in an interview that the idea for this film came when Jonah Hill was dating Dustin Hoffman's daughter. He planned to vacation with Hoffman and his family and he was terrified that Hoffman would not like him. Thus came the idea for the film
James Franco is 17 years older than Zoey Deutch.
One of Laird's tattoos on his right arm is the Nordic Viking rune for 'creation'. On his left arm near his wrist is the Viking rune for 'youth'.
The Christmas sweater that Lou Dunne wears at the end of the movie is the same sweater that Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character wore in The Night Before (2015), a Christmas movie in which James Franco had a small role.
As Ned Fleming scrolls through Laird's online photos, he mutters "Of course, Mr Playboy. Unbelievable! Who's that? She's a bit of a plain-Jane". It's a picture of Kristen Stewart.
When driving to Laird's house, the Fleming family pass a sign saying "Palo Alto". James Franco (Laird) was born and raised in Palo Alto.
In the scene where Laird gives Ned his Christmas stocking, there is a portrait on the wall behind Ned taken of him earlier that day with both Ned and Scottie visable.
Keegan-Michael Key and Zack Pearlman previously worked together on Key's show Key and Peele (2012) during the "Substitute Teacher" skit.
Steve Bannos, the tree lot owner, has starred alongside James Franco previously in Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000).
Laird Mayhew's (James Franco) surname could be a reference to the TV series Breaking Bad (2008) (which Bryan Cranston was the lead actor in) as he shares the same surname as the minor character Brandon "Badger" Mayhew. Also when Bryan Cranston's character, Ned Fleming, is asked by his family about how he knows what "vaporising" is, his reply is "I've been around". This could possibly be a reference to Cranston's time in Breaking Bad as he played the character Walter White (Heisenberg) a manufacturer of the drug Methamphetamine.
At one point James Franco's character wears a shirt with a picture of an ape holding a gun. Franco was in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Zack Pearlman, Adam Devine and Andrew Rannells all previously starred in The Intern (2015). Robert De Niro, who was the male lead in that film, is well-known for his role in Meet the Parents (2000). John Hamburg wrote the scripts for both Meet the Parents and Why Him? (2016).
Barb Fleming is stated to be a University of Michigan alum. It is also stated that Lou Dunne's son is a student at Ohio State, which is U of M's opponent in one of the biggest rivalries in college football.
The Gustav character, played by Keegan-Michael Key, could possibly be a reference to Gustavo Fring, who was Walter White's mortal enemy in the series Breaking Bad (2008) starring Bryan Cranston.
Cameo
Burnie Burns: Youtuber and co-founder of Rooster Teeth appears in the party scene.
Toby Turner: YouTube comedian "Tobuscus" appears as a guest at Laird's Christmas party.