[IMG:L]With a robust raster of memorable characters emblazoned along the quirky, comedic trail which her curious career has charted, Molly Shannon returns to the screen lending simultaneous humor and humanity to her edgily daunting character, Peggy White, in Year of the Dog.
Under the cunning direction of discomfort-inducing scribe Mike White, of Chuck and Buck (2000) and Nacho Libre (2006) fame, Shannon’s character Peggy gets caught up in a swirling vortex of animal rescue, misguided romance and neighborly antipathy following the unexpected death of her inseparable best friend, Pencil–her beloved beagle.
As Shannon’s Peggy gently unravels, so too unfolds a most compelling study of obsession. Casting all co-dependent behavioral judgments aside, Molly breaks it down for Hollywood.com.
Hollywood.com: A film with such a unique voice, how would you describe Year of the Dog?
Molly Shannon: The way I look at it, the character loses her dog, the love of her life, she’s obsessed with her dog and she’s very devastated. I think she needs to go through all of this stuff to figure out what’s important to her. I think it’s true to life and as a lot of people go through this they realize the process is not so easy of finding yourself and finding out how to make a better life for yourself. I believe she’s headed in a better direction and she kind of found what’s important. She makes some bad choices. But, I really like what Mike [White, the director] did…that he doesn’t vilify her.
HW: How does White achieve that with such intense character portraiture?
MS: Like, because she’s not perfect, she goes off, and he doesn’t just go, “She’s just bad!” And some movies might go, “She’s the ‘evil lesbian’. And, she’s all evil!” I really like the way that Mike makes these characters that are complex and they’re not all good or all bad–they’re just complicated, real people. To me, that’s what I love about Mike White’s writing. I’ve seen screenings where, at some parts of the movie, people watching it are laughing and some people are crying–and some people are angry. It’s not that everyone is laughing together…it’s different that way. And I really love the way he writes.
HW: There’s such a thin emotional zone in which Peggy blurs the line between passion and obsession?
MS: There are points that she doesn’t want to feel how devastated she is and she sort of avoids that through her obsession…getting involved in animal rights…and the activism…just doing whatever she needs to so she doesn’t have to feel like getting more dogs! Eventually you have to face that stuff, it’s inescapable, you need to go through it and kind of grieve and feel the annihilation–and set yourself free. So, eventually she’s forced to do that because of the circumstances; and obviously she’s better for it.
HW: Have you had to deal with that balance in your own life–getting too carried away with anything?
MS: Yeah, I’ve had certain periods in my life where I was like, “I really want this!!” I remember really wanting to be on Saturday Night Live and years ago they came around looking for women, and I ended up getting passed over because they looked at other comedians first, and I had to wait five years. So, yeah, that’s happened before.
HW: Do you have a pet?
MS: Ummm. No. [Sheepishly] I had dogs when I was a little. I had a German Shepard named Hannibal who could sing opera. After that I had a dog named Oliver who was a Beagle, kind of a mixed mutt. But, we had to give him away because I developed allergies. And I was like, [my character] Peggy–I was just so devastated…so sad!
HW: Did you have allergies during the film while being surrounded by all these dogs?
MS: [Laughs] I did! It was not bad at all. The worst of it was in pre-production and we did a photo shoot and I got a little break out on my face; I had to tell them I had a little bit of an allergy and they were like, “Whahhhht!?! Are you Kidding?!!!” I went to an allergy doctor and had to take all of this medicine, but I ended up not having to take anything and it was fine.
HW: Other than that, what was the most challenging part of the role?
MS: I have to say I really enjoyed it. It’s fun playing the lead part because you’re so involved in the whole story–it’s almost easier than playing a smaller part, coming in very quickly having to establish your character in seconds, or a minute. I actually really enjoyed this and found it easier because [acting-wise] ‘you’ are the arc. And I have to say that I preferred it; and if you feel like you didn’t “get it” one scene, you have another chance, and another and another. It was really just great.
[IMG:R]HW: That awkward scene where Peggy kisses Peter Sarsgaard‘s character, Newt, is so uncomfortable, but yet truthful along her journey.
MS: If I’m looking at a scene thinking, “How would Peggy flirt?” It’s just so much subtler than normal so it’s kind of finding that tone of keeping her subtle and smaller than what I am used to.
HW: This movie may come across as extremist to some people, what do you think?
MS: That’s interesting. I don’t see it that way but I know that there are some people who see it that way. Which is what I also love about the movie is that it really has different reactions. There are some people who really like the way she is and there are some people that are like, “Is. She. Okaaaay?” I guessss…I really like that it’s open to interpretation like that and it’s just kind of how you want to see it. Personally, I think she had to go through all this difficult stuff to get to a better place. … It’s a very, messy process and she makes really bad choices and really struggles through it…but, she does get to a better place!
HW: Does this movie say something about people and their animals?
MS: Mike is not just commenting on Peggy and her world and her obsessions, but the obsessional thinking of a lot of different people and the world of: [manically energized] mommies and babies–and these are the rules! Or, somebody just wanting to be on the blue team. Or, the orange team! These all different kinds of obsessional worlds. What’s crazier necessarily? Not, judging these people but observing them. That’s kind of how I see it.
[IMG:L]HW: Mike is such a brilliant, brilliant writer–how did he stack-up as a director?
MS: He was great. He’s a friend. We became friends because we did a TV show in 2003 called Cracking Up and it was for FOX. It ended up getting canceled and it was not a good experience for Mike. Mike and I had so much fun together! But, anyhow, after that didn’t work out he said, “We really like working together, so I’m going to write this movie for you.” So, as a director he was great. This was such a great experience for him. He just wrote the script on his own, without any involvement and had it ready–and gave it to me. It was just kind of he and I in our little world. He didn’t tell anyone he was writing it, I don’t think, and he just did it on his own. Because he’s Mike White, the movie is made a few months later. People are just so enthusiastic because he’s so talented!
HW: Sounds like you were surprised at how quickly the film came together?
MS: From my end, I was like, “Wow. That was fast! You can just have a script and then, boom! But, that’s the fancy world of Mike White. He’s just really talented, but very humbled and laid back–and he wants to have fun! He creates this atmosphere of just fun. He’s a really funny guy in person all the time…but he’s sweet and kind. He’s just great to work with and has a really strong vision. He’s able to convey what he wants in a very laid back way.
HW: What about the cliché of don’t work with kids and animals on a set?
MS: Well, the dog that played Pencil got the part because he auditioned with a lot of other dogs that really wanted the part [slyly smiles], but that particular dog could do a great death quiver [surpressing laughter] … The kids were really cute; the little girl, Lissie, was played by twin girls [Amy and Zoe Schlagel] because of the hours. These girls were really great because they weren’t actress-y or anything. Some kids are really actor-y and pushed by their parents and they’re like [immodestly], “Hi Molly! My name’s Michelle! And it’s a pleasure to be performing with you!!” They seem so trained. These [Schlagel] girls were so real and genuine that it was really fun to act with them cause they were so pure and innocent that when they’re looking at you, you’re kind of forced to be real.
HW: There were so many memorable moments throughout the film, and told with such an even tone–do you think it was the writing, directing or the entire collaboration between you guys?
MS: That’s really Mike. He assembled this amazing group of actors, but the tone of the comedy is really his vision. He likes the real and the humor comes out of the real characters. It’s not like he’s writing jokes, he’s writing pure character, and the jokes come from the character in the situation. And Mike likes it very real; I think that’s Mike White’s vision. I find it easier to watch, and less invasive, and it’s my kind of comedy.
[IMG:L]HW: Career-wise, where do you go from here?
MS: Well, actually I just shot a pilot for NBC with Natasha Richardson about these three sisters who are socialites, wealthy, very eccentric in NYC in this giant apartment. It’s a comic-soap opera and it also has mystery! My character is on trial for murdering her husband. I like to do it all. It helps if the writing is good…but it whether it be in television or movies, lead parts or supporting parts, it’s just whether or not you respond to the writing. I don’t have a big master plan. I just try to stay open to what seems fun and to working with nice people–and that kind of thing.
HW: Back to the movie’s topic of obsession–when you were a kid, did you have a celebrity crush?
MS: Oh mi’ god! I liked the Fonz! I wrote him a letter saying I wanted to cook him spaghetti and meatballs. I met him years later and he’s the nicest guy. I also liked Lance Kerwin from those movies, James at 15, those made for TV movies. Do you know those? I also liked Robbie Benson. I loooooved him.
HW: With your roles, do you feel pressure of living up to your Saturday Night Live fans?
MS: I dooo. But, I really feel so proud of this movie that I don’t feel that with this. But, yeah, people get used to a certain way. I try not to worry about it too much. But, [knowing smile] yeah, I do.
