Inside Scoop from The Life of the Party Movie with Melissa McCarthy #LifeofTheParty

“Ben really had the initial idea of going back to school. He grew up in a college town and has a real sweet spot for universities in general. And I really got stuck on the concept of–I feel like three or four times within a two week span, I’ve heard somebody go, we’re not really go out to dinner people. Or we’re really not movie people. Or we’re not really–and I thought these are people my age. And I was, like, you can’t say that. You’re not 105 years old. Stop saying that stuff…if I didn’t do it at 20, I can’t do it now. And that kind of spun us into this whole thing that you can redefine yourself. And I think especially as a woman, it fascinates me that we are immediately sometimes categorized that once you’re out of your 20s, you’re done with this and then you’re done. And I just kind of reject that.”

On her kids’ acting careers (they’re flower girls in the movie)

 “I would say you got to work really hard. I would make them start as a PA because they should know what the job is. They should know how much work. They should know what everybody does. I think that’s a biggie. I started as a PA. You’re the first ones there, last ones there. You’re the one that has to clean up, deal with all the trash. I mean, it’s just endless. But, you also get to learn what everybody actually does. How it gets made and how hard everybody works. I think that’s a biggie. And I would just say that if they really love it and if they work hard at it, I’d support them.”

On mothering the younger generation of actresses in the film

“You know what? The joy of this has been that I didn’t know any of these young women coming in. They’re all new to me. And to watch them come in and not only become bizarrely close almost immediately, they just clicked. It was like that magical kind of thing you hope for when there’s no way to plan for that. And to see women, especially at such a young age, be so in their own shoes. They’re weird. They’re eccentric. They’ve got strange–very different sense of humors. Very different backgrounds. I think I really love seeing at that age that they’re just, like, oh, yes, I’m totally weird. Like, that’s okay.”

LIFE OF THE PARTY Movie Trailer

Favorite Scenes

Final inside scoop: Be on the lookout for the movie’s 80s dance party scene. Rumor on set is that this scene was the most fun to shoot, so I’m assuming it will be equally awesome to watch.

Here I am on set! What a fun day.

Life of the Party Official Synopsis

When her husband suddenly dumps her, longtime dedicated housewife Deanna (McCarthy) turns regret into re-set by going back to college…landing in the same class and school as her daughter, who’s not entirely sold on the idea. Plunging headlong into the campus experience, the increasingly outspoken Deanna—now Dee Rock—embraces freedom, fun and frat boys on her own terms, finding her true self in a senior year no one ever expected.

McCarthy and Falcone co-wrote the screenplay and produced through their production company, On the Day. Chris Henchy also produced the film, with Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Michael Disco and David Siegel serving as executive producers.

Falcone’s behind-the-scenes creative team included director of photography Julio Macat (“The Boss,” “Horrible Bosses 2,” “Daddy’s Home”); production designer Rusty Smith (“The Boss”); editor Brian Olds (“Central Intelligence”); and costume designer Louise Mingenbach (the “The Hangover” films). The music is by Fil Eisler (“How to Be Single,” “Empire”).

The film has been rated PG-13.

LIFE OF THE PARTY  In Theaters May 11

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