Kristen Bell before YOU AGAIN

Fresh from the hit romantic comedy “When in Rome,” endearing actress Kristen Bell now stars in Touchstone Pictures' new outrageous comedy “You Again.” She plays successful PR girl Marni who heads home for her older brother’s wedding and discovers that he’s marrying her high school arch nemesis.

“This is a story about people who find their way to a place of forgiveness and acceptance,” says Bell. “There’s a sweetness and heart to this movie that will appeal to many different demographics, and it’s an escapist kind of comedy with some really funny things happening based in reality.”

Bell and “You Again” director Andy Fickman have had a long-standing friendship since 2001. He is the one responsible for nicknaming her K-Bell, a moniker that she happily responds to.

Fickman reveals, “I first met K-Bell when she was a student at NYU, and I cast her as the lead in ‘Reefer Madness: The Musical.’ We went through the highs and lows of rehearsing and opening during the tragic events of 9/11, since our theater, Variety Arts, was located behind the red zone. Because we were in the heart of the incident, it bonded all of us further.”

Reflecting on their friendship that has inspired both of their creative sides, he continues, “When K-Bell moved to Los Angeles, we did a very successful musical called ‘Sneaux,’ and then for Showtime, we filmed ‘Reefer Madness: The Musical Movie’ which premiered at Sundance as well as winning an Emmy® and the Premiere Jury Award at the Deauville Film Festival. We reunited again for a wonderful Breast Cancer Benefit called ‘Les Girls,’ and then she has been tremendously supportive of ‘Heathers: The Musical,’ a project I’ve been developing, by playing the lead in multiple readings.”

Why so much work together?

Director Fickman smiles, “K-Bell and I just simply click when it comes to our sense of humor; she is a wonderful muse for me.”

As for teaming on “You Again,” Fickman admits, “K-Bell and I had been looking for something to work on, so when this script came to me, I saw K-Bell in the lead. That was a major enticement.”

Regarding her relationship with Andy Fickman, Kristen Bell, whose popularity is rising thanks to her roles in such comedies as “Couples Retreat” and “When in Rome,” acknowledges, “Andy was the one who convinced me to move to Los Angeles. I don’t think I would’ve done it if I had not known him.”

As for collaborating on this comedy, Bell confesses, “I owe Andy, but man, he put me through the ringer on this movie! Marni had a variety of injuries—ant bites, falls, trips, you name it!”

With a hint of a smile, Bell wonders, “It seems like Andy enjoyed every single minute of it!”

Opening soon across the Philippines, “You Again” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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high school catfight is rekindled in YOU AGAIN

No matter how old you are, you never get over high school.

In Touchstone Pictures' new comedy “You Again,” successful PR girl Marni (Kristen Bell) heads home for her older brother’s wedding and discovers that he’s marrying her high school arch nemesis (Odette Yustman), who’s conveniently forgotten all the rotten things she did so many years ago.

Then the bride’s jet-setting aunt (Sigourney Weaver) bursts in and Marni’s not-so-jet-setting mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) comes face to face with her own high school rival. The claws come out and old wounds are opened in this crazy comedy about what happens when you’re reunited with the one person you’d like to forget.

First-time screenwriter Moe Jelline wrote “You Again” four years ago from an idea she had based upon her own life experience. Jelline reveals, “I’ve always been fascinated how high school is a blip in your life—four years—and yet somehow the emotional ups and downs can stay with some people for the rest of their lives. Anyone who’s ever thought twice about going to their high school reunion knows exactly what I’m talking about.”

She continues, “I have an adorable brother and, at the same time I was playing with this script idea, many of my friends were calling me asking if he was single, could they be set up, et cetera. And that thought was slightly horrifying—I mean, my brother dating one of my friends? Um, NO….”

Jelline considers, “Then, it occurred to me that it’s better that he wind up with someone that I like versus someone I don’t, and from that concept, another idea gelled that incorporated my high school experiences – what if your greatest nightmare came back to haunt you in a very permanent way? What if your high school nemesis was marrying your brother?” proposes Jelline.

And so, “You Again” was born.

Director Andy Fickman offers, “I loved the universal appeal of the script—everyone has someone from their past that made their life less than wonderful. In high school, those arch enemies can have an even more profound power on your daily existence. I found the more people I spoke with, the more everyone had a ‘You Again’ person from their past, regardless of age or gender.”

As for helming Moe Jelline’s script, Fickman admits, “Exploring this theme was very exciting and a perfect place to breed comedy.”

Opening soon across the Philippines, “You Again” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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YOU AGAIN sneak peek - posters, photos and trailer

From Touchstone Pictures comes “You Again,” an outrageous comedy directed by Andy Fickman (“Race to Witch Mountain”), featuring an all-star ensemble cast that includes Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Kristin Chenoweth and Betty White.

In the film, just as she is about to return home to Northern California for her brother’s wedding, Marni (Bell) learns from her mother, Gail (Curtis), that Will (James Wolk) is marrying Joanna (Yustman), her high school arch nemesis. Marni is horrified! Why would her brother marry the one girl from high school she never wants to see again?

“You Again” is produced by John J. Strauss, who wrote the hit comedy “There’s Something About Mary,” and Eric Tannenbaum, who executive-produces the hit television sitcom “Two and a Half Men.” Newcomer Moe Jelline penned the script.

Upon Marni’s arrival home, she can’t help but be annoyed as she watches her father Mark (Victor Garber), little brother Ben (Billy Unger) and even Grandma Bunny (Betty White) welcome Joanna into their family like she’s an angel. They have no idea how much Joanna tormented Marni during high school. Meanwhile, Joanna acts like nothing bad ever happened!

Then, the untenable situation takes another twist when Joanna’s aunt, Ramona (Weaver), a highly successful, career-driven woman, flies in from Europe for the wedding festivities. Evidently, Ramona and Gail also attended the same high school some thirty years ago, and though they claim camaraderie, they, too, have some rivalry that stems from their teenage years.

Added to the mix in the jammed-pack long weekend are Georgia King (Chenoweth), the “wedding-extraordinator,” who specializes in top-of-the-line event planning, Charlie (Sean Wing), Will’s high school friend and Best Man, and Tim (Kyle Bornheimer), Joanna’s former fiancé. Not to be forgotten are Taylor (Christine Lakin) and Kendall (Meagan Holder), the cheerleaders from those high school years who are Joanna’s best friends and poised to be bridesmaids for the big event.

Determined Marni is on a mission to prove to her family that Joanna is not who she appears to be. Meanwhile Gail is trying not to be intimidated by Ramona, who exudes confidence, beauty and wealth in everything she does, says or wears. As everyone comes together for dance lessons, Joanna’s bridal shower and the rehearsal dinner, Marni and her mother, Gail, unwittingly revert back to their teenage selves—and the result is wedding turmoil to the extreme!

“You Again” reminds everyone that high school might be a thing of the past, but sometimes if just the right person crosses your path it can undermine your present.

Opening soon across the Philippines, “You Again” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

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