"There is no accounting for love - for why one look, one casual touch, one breath of perfumed air, can ignite feelings so strong, it's almost painful."
Reiner feels strongly about the importance of achieving the proper chemistry between his lead actors. "It's always a matter of finding the right match," he says. "In my romantic comedies, the guy is always a little rough around the edges, the girl is a little bit more centered and together, and the story is in how they influence each other."
With Hudson cast as Emma, versatile actor Luke Wilson became her imperfect match as sloppy romantic Alex Shelton. "I had seen Luke in Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums and thought the guy was really funny," Reiner recollects. "He's got this great quirky personality; he's likable and attractive, and I knew he'd be an appealing lead opposite Kate."
Reiner was thrilled with the combination. "Kate is incredibly versatile, funny and attractive, and Luke is charming, sexy and a little bit rough hewn - they complement each other perfectly."
"There's a really fantastic chemistry between them," Greisman states emphatically. "They go far beyond what's on the written page. Simply put, the two best people wound up in front of the camera."
Wilson had the unique opportunity to play both writer Alex Sheldon and Alex's fictional 1920s counterpart, struggling tutor Adam Shipley. "Adam is the period version of Alex," explains Wilson, "but his story is the same. He gets caught up in loving an image, and makes the mistake of passing over the nice girl with substance who really does care about him. Alex is a gambler, and he's been taking risks that he shouldn't have, living beyond his means. He's a good person, but he's not as good a person as he could be."
Wilson and Hudson have been friends for several years, and had always hoped that they might find a project to work on together. As soon as he read the script, Wilson knew Alex & Emma was it. "It had intelligent dialogue, good jokes and good clear cut characters," he says. "The project included the three key elements I look for: a great script, an excellent director, and an actor that I really wanted to work with."
Hudson was similarly excited at the opportunity to finally work with Wilson. "We would always say, 'wouldn't it be funny if we could work together someday?' Now that we have, I can say that the experience has exceeded my expectations of what Luke is like to work with as an actor."
Hudson was also drawn to the project by the story's originality and Reiner's imaginative take on it. "Rob isn't making the typical romantic comedy, all passion and lust; he plays on that with the other characters, but the relationship between Alex and Emma is one of two slightly eccentric characters finding comfort and understanding together."
Working with the seasoned director was a gratifying experience for the actress. "I trust Rob completely, so I feel like the pressure is off of me and I'm able to just have fun and enjoy the process of making the film. With Rob, you don't have to worry about, 'Oh God, was this funny?' - because he'll tell you. He'll come right up and say, 'Nah, nah, that wasn't so funny,' or 'That was great!' It's inspiring to work with people who know exactly what they want."
Hudson has another good reason for appreciating Reiner: "Stand by Me is one of my all-time favorite movies," she reveals. "I think that was when I first started having crushes on boys - it was Keifer and River, the two bad boys." Upon his arrival in St. Charles, Adam immediately falls in love at first sight with his gorgeous and sophisticated employer, Polina Delacroix. (Emma finds this plot development to be a bit shallow and suspect, but Alex forges on nonetheless.)
Joining the cast as glamorous French heartbreaker Polina is Sophie Marceau, luminous star of French cinema. Alex & Emma is Marceau's second foray into American comedy, and the actress felt very comfortable with Reiner directing. "Comedy is a difficult genre, and if it's not funny it is a disaster, but Rob knows how to make it work very well," she says. "He focuses on exactly what he wants and it's a real pleasure, because it is easygoing and yet very controlled on the set."
"We had Sophie in mind from the very beginning," asserts Greisman. "She's ideal as a beautiful, jet-setting woman who enjoys the finer things in life."
"Polina is looking for money, because that's what she knows - she's always lived a wonderful life in a beautiful house," Marceau reflects. "Unfortunately, the family fortune is getting dry, so she's looking for a kind of bank husband. She's very much a character of the '20s. She is not conscious of her frivolity."
As the summer goes by, Adam grows ever more obsessed with Polina. For her part, Polina enjoys toying with the penniless author, but knows that in the end she will wind up marrying John Shaw, the man who lent her $500,000 - a debt he would be willing to forgive a woman who would become his wife.
"Shaw is an extremely wealthy man," says David Paymer, who plays the moneyed businessman who competes with Adam for Polina's hand in marriage, "and Polina is a woman of very expensive tastes, so he has a considerable advantage over Adam." Prior to Alex & Emma, Paymer had worked with Reiner on his film The American President. "Rob always lets me play these really unique roles," says Paymer. "He gives me incredible lines, and helps me deliver them with the utmost zing." Reiner himself joins the cast as Wirtschafter, Alex's heartless publisher. The director enjoyed the experience of working with himself. "I'm easy to direct," he compliments. "I don't give myself a lot of back talk."