John Hamburg

The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter John Hamburg

Dave Moldavon

John Hamburg, Michael De Luca

Hamburg wrote and directed the crime comedy Safe Men, which played at Sundance and spawned a devoted cult following. A sure-thing comedy closer, the New York City native built hilarious set pieces and character work into Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and Meet the Fockers that not only helped lift them to huge box office but also pushed a few new catchphrases into the American lexicon. A veteran of the uncredited production rewrite, Hamburg also wrote and directed the romantic comedy Along Came Polly in 2004. In this amusing interview, Hamburg discusses how he developed his talent for writing actor-hooking dialogue in the humorous monologues he performed in college, why he'd do a thousand test screenings if he could, and what it's like to hand a new scene to Robert De Niro and stand there waiting to see if he likes it.

I Love You, Man

John Hamburg

Пол Сти́вен Радд, Джейсон Джордан Сегел

Peter Klaven is a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey, discovers, to his dismay and chagrin, that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward "man-dates."

Tick

John Hamburg

Michael Showalter, Nina Hellman

A brisk look into the lives of two bomb diffusers. John Hamburg's student film.

Why Him?

John Hamburg

Bryan Cranston, James Franco

A dad forms a bitter rivalry with his daughter's young rich boyfriend.

Along Came Polly

John Hamburg

Ben Stiller, Дже́ннифер Э́нистон

Reuben Feffer is a guy who's spent his entire life playing it safe. Polly Prince is irresistible as a free-spirit who lives for the thrill of the moment. When these two comically mismatched souls collide, Reuben's world is turned upside down, as he makes an uproarious attempt to change his life from middle-of-the-road to totally-out-there.

Duplex

Danny DeVito

Ben Stiller, Drew Barrymore

When a young couple buys their dream home, they have no idea what the sweet little old lady upstairs is going to put them through!

Safe Men

John Hamburg

Sam Rockwell, Стив Зан

Two untalented singers are mistaken for a pair of major league safe crackers in Providence, Rhode Island. The two are pressed into service by the local hoodlums and quickly find themselves in conflict with their professional colleagues. Romantic interest is added by the daughter of the underworld leader who won't date the men she knows are gangsters.

Me Time

John Hamburg

Nick Taylor, Brad Lee Wind

With his family away, a devoted stay-at-home dad enjoys his first me time in years by joining his hard-partying old friend on a wild birthday adventure.

Me Time

John Hamburg

Kevin Hart, Марк Уолберг

With his family away, a devoted stay-at-home dad enjoys his first me time in years by joining his hard-partying old friend on a wild birthday adventure.

Dr.Rapp

John Hamburg

Dr. Sherman Hershfield, a respected neurologist from Beverly Hills who practiced medicine in the San Fernando Valley. When Hershfield suffered a stroke, an unusual side effect changed his life forever: He couldn’t stop speaking in rhyme. Remarkably, Hershfield then emerged in South Central as a freestyle performer, Dr. Rapp.