Off-screen, actor John Corbett is not really in love with Nia Vardalos -- his costar in the 2002 crowd-pleasing hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and the new romantic comedy, "I Hate Valentine's Day," which also marks her directorial debut. But he's certainly crazy about working with her.
During a recent interview to promote the film, Corbett frequently leans forward to tap a journalist's leg in a courtyard at the Four Seasons, where he waxes enthusiastic about Vardalos' skills behind the camera, an ode that includes plenty of salty language unsuitable for a family newspaper.
"I came up with this analogy today, so I'm kind of proud of myself: Directing is like conducting an orchestra," he declares with that familiar half-grin. "You've got your flute and your oboe and the . . . guy who does this," he continues, miming a cymbal crash. "The conductor has to listen to all this; all that guy has to do is 'Ksssshhh!' on the right cue. If he [messes] that up, everybody knows it. Especially the conductor.
"My job is to stand on this mark and suck it in," he adds, unfolding his lanky limbs and standing leading-man straight, "and try not to [mess] up my words. Nia handled all those distractions . . . I swear to you, she never, ever let anybody see her sweat. On top of that, she's got to stand on her mark, suck it in, and say, 'I love you,' with a big smile. My hat's off to her, man."
Corbett famously has played a host of hunky boyfriend types over the course of his career, and "I Hate Valentine's Day" finds him back on familiar ground as Greg, the suddenly single proprietor of a tapas bar in the same neighborhood as Vardalos' perky florist, Genevieve. She agrees to go out with him, with one proviso: that they have five dates, then call it quits -- as she has determined that after that number, the romance declines in a relationship.
By that standard, this stage of his career is a kind of rule-busting "sixth date" for Corbett, who spent a couple of years making music. In 2006, he released a self-titled collection of country-rock songs and says he has played more than 400 shows with his band.
"Extra work is boring for the extras, and I started to feel like an extra with lines -- it wasn't that challenging to me," he says of playing too many "nice-guy boyfriends." "So I made a record and . . . the Nashville community really embraced me.
