(Youknowwe had to ask aboutthe play onDirty Dancing, and the heart-meltingdialog-heavy scene that followed.)
Read on for how Gosling and Stone came to be our favorite rom-com couple, and much more.
GLENN FICARRA:It was very evident very early.
Credit: Ben Glass/ Warner Bros.
We had narrowed down to a few incredibly talented candidates for Emmas part.
She continued that, and they just got along really well.
They have a very similar sense of humor… they riff off each other really well.
What was it about Ryan that made him right for the role of Jacob?
Why wouldnt you work with Ryan?
We had heard that he was interested.
We were surprised because at that point he really hadnt done any substantial comedy.
We were all like, Of course, no brainer.
Hes a really funny guy naturally.
No one had seen that side of him before.
It felt inevitable that she was going to hit.
That all played into Emma and the way she really is.
She comes across as much older, and definitely wasnt technically the right age.
I was sitting next to her in between takes when we were shooting one of the bar scenes.
She got the news that she got her first magazine cover and she was over the moon.
I was like Oh, wow, whats going on?
She goes Oh, I got this movie coming out,Easy A.
The rest is history.
A big moment for the two of them in the film is when Jacob lifts Hannah,Dirty Dancingstyle.
Its super charming, but also sort of sexy.
How did that scene come together, and what do you remember about shooting it?
That was not in the script.
That was Ryans idea.
He mentioned he knew that move, and he wanted to do it.
He took ballet as a kid and is a musical guy, so he was very confident doing that.
That came out of a lot of conversations with Ryan and [writer] Dan Fogelman.
Dan took the ball and ran with it and its fantastic.
Emma was really nervous he was going to drop her.
She played into it all.
It was really great.
Theyre also so great together in the dialog-heavy scenes.
Right after theDirty Dancingbit, they go to the bedroom and talk all night.
What did the two of them bring to those quieter moments?
That was all improv.
They did a couple scripted lines interspersed.
We were going to stick them in a bed together and keep shooting.
We shot for a really long time.
They really amuse each other in real life.
I was like, No, no, its going to be great.
They were making each other laugh and wed throw lines at them, throw scenarios at them.
Originally in the script, it was a montage over several weeks of them falling in love.
It feels very real, the love they show on screen.
They love each other in real life, and they get on like a house on fire.
It wasnt a lot of heavy lifting on our part.
Its making a move to hire the right chemistry.
What else stands out to you about their performances in the film?
Theyre so much fun to work with, willing to try anything.
I remember working with Emma on one of the scenes with Josh Groban.
She went to this dramatic place when she realizes that she doesnt want to marry him.
I remember being totally taken off guard by how deep she went.
You could see it in her eyes.
I remember turning to John and going, Shes going to be a phenomenal dramatic actress.
I would love to see her in a drama or direct her in one.
Consequently, shes top of our list all the time.
How do you think theyve translated into other films?
Why do you think they have such staying power as a cast-able couple?
John and I are always kicking ourselves.
We shouldve kept our mouths shut.
Again, they have great chemistry, and they have fun together.
I think it shows in everything they do.
Its going to be fantastic.
Im sure it wont be the last time they work together.
