Interview: David Arquette Discusses Playing a Complicated Character in ‘The Good Half’

Supporting characters who have an antagonistic bent, at least in relation to the protagonist, can be hard to make at all sympathetic. It takes a specific type of actor, to be sure. In the case of The Good Half, which I saw last year out of the Tribeca Film Festival, David Arquette has what, in lesser hands, could have been a thankless part. Instead, he makes the role one of the funnier parts of the movie. You’ll be able to see a host of interviews about this flick all week here on the site, but today, it’s Arquette talking about it.

In my review of The Good Half (found here), I had this to say about the performances, including Arquette’s:

Nick Jonas leads a really strong cast. Jonas turns in his finest performance to date, mixing some great line deliveries for the jokes with a truly recognizable depiction of fresh grief. We certainly don’t look the same, but I definitely saw a lot of myself from back in January in this turn. He’s quite good here. In flashbacks, Elisabeth Shue creates a vivid portrait of a mom that certainly seemed fun and kooky to others, but was absolutely singular to you. Alexandra Shipp is funny and warm, displaying great chemistry with Jonas. Brittany Snow is the serious one, but lets some great little remarks slip out, showcasing the family dynamic. Snow has terrific chemistry with Jonas. The same goes for Matt Walsh. When Jonas, Snow, and Walsh share scenes, they’re among the funniest in the movie. Supporting players, aside from an appropriately jerky but never villainous David Arquette, who navigates some tricky territory, include Mason Cufari and Stephen Park, among others.

Below, you can see my chat with Arquette. We discuss how he approached the character, what makes the film work so well, and plenty more. He’s a lovely man who I’d previously interviewed several years before. It’s an enjoyable conversation, with plenty of laughs, even when it goes to some heavy places, given the subject matter and my relationship to it. I’m thrilled that this movie is finally hitting theaters this weekend. It’s really well done and a must-see, in my humble opinion.

Here now is my interview with The Good Half co-star David Arquette. Enjoy:

The Good Half is in theaters this weekend!