Filmmaker Joel Hopkins talks ‘The Love Punch’

Love Punch - Joel HopkinsWriter/director Joel Hopkins recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new comedy “The Love Punch.”

In “The Love Punch,” which opens Friday, May 23, Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson play a divorced couple who, after their pension is stolen by an unscrupulous businessman, reunite to steal it back.

Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Hopkins by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses his motivations for the movie.

[‘The Love Punch’] is about two people who were once in love and for whatever reason fell out of love. Through an unfortunate thing that happens to them – their pension is stolen in a business scam – they have to team up to go after what is rightfully theirs. In the process, they start to feel things for each other again. That is the romantic side of it.

It is that sort of idea of can you fall back in love with someone, which is a nice idea. [My previous film] ‘Last Chance Harvey’ was about falling in love with someone late in life. This is about falling back in love with someone. This is about second chances instead of last chances. But people should know – especially if they have seen ‘Last Chance Harvey’ – that this is definitely a lot more goofy. I really want people to embrace the goof.

I feel a lot more vulnerable after [‘The Love Punch’] than I did after [‘Last Chance Harvey’]. I don’t know why because this is a joyful comedy yet I feel a lot more sensitive after it. But [the ultimate takeaway for me personally is to] just keep at it. Keep going and just keep trying to work. I very quickly get lose momentum because I write my own scripts and it takes a lot for me to get back on the writing treadmill. So just keep going and keep at it. That is my takeaway. It ain’t over.” – Joel Hopkins

Joseph J. Airdo

Joseph J. Airdo is a film critic, producer and on-air personality for Breakthrough Entertainment, a talk radio show airing 10-11 a.m. Saturdays on KPHX 1480 AM and BreakRadioShow.com that shines a spotlight on the practical perspectives of the topics and themes explored in movies. He has a pet duck named Frozen who is as opinionated about movies as he is. E-mail him at joseph.airdo@gmail.com.

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