“Namaste,” says Rob Schneider faultlessly, although it has been over six years since his last visit to India. When I tell him that we say “Vanakkam” in South India, he responds in kind, nailing the pronunciation on the first try. “I definitely want to come back,” he says, “The food was great and the people are remarkable; just another level of kindness.”
On the road
The American actor, comedian, screenwriter and director, who started his career as a stand-up comic, is back to the stage. Coming full circle has been a journey of revelation, says Schneider. “I’ve been building my trust with the audience, and their trust with me has grown. So I’m able to speak more honestly,” he explains. The tour, called ‘An Evening of Lies’, “is about the personal lies that we tell ourselves, the lies we tell others, and the lies we’re OK with as a society. Eventually, there are some lies we are not OK with, and I think that's good.”
Life and laughs on screen
He’s also made his way on to the digital space, with his Netflix show, Real Rob . The second season, which rolled out late last month — two years after the first season — follows the everyday life of Schneider, including his real-life wife Patricia and daughter Miranda. He’s evidently very proud of it, saying, “Its a beautiful, funny show, and my wife is terrific in it. It’s about the trials and tribulations of a career in showbiz that’s not going well, and how you maintain your dignity in that situation.” He adds that the lessons transcend industries: what not to do, how not to behave, no matter where you are.
While working with his wife is “wonderful”, Schneider says he can’t write with her, “She thinks her stuff is better than mine. And I know my stuff is better than hers,” he says in his typical deadpan way. “Luckily, we have our friend Jamie Lissow (who also writes with us) to act as referee.”
For Schneider, making people laugh wasn’t always aimed at making them think. “Comedy started out as a way to get attention. But I love laughing, and the feeling of making people really laugh is quite heavenly. I remember thinking, ‘If I could do this for a living, that would be just beyond perfection, joyous.” Which is why Sony Le Plex found his movies — The Hot Chick and Big Daddy — apt to feature on World Smile Day earlier this month.
Remembering roles
Being on Saturday Night Live gave him the opportunity to make people laugh, where he quickly moved from writer to full cast member. From 1990 to 1994, he played several roles: perhaps the most memorable was Richard Laymer, the copy-machine guy. “I think he was most similar to me. I give nicknames for everyone, and I’m happy to be in a place and annoy people by doing that,” he says with a laugh. Another favourite sketch of his is the one with Jeff Goldblum, where Schneider busks in the subway while playing the guitar, and gets annoyed when people offer him money.
Although Schneider’s last big screen directorial venture, in which he also played the lead, was The Chosen One (2010), he has been seen in The Ridiculous 6 and Sandy Wexler , both starring Adam Sandler. After 19 plus films together, it doesn’t look like they are ready to stop. “I’m not in his next one, but I think we'll do another together with Steve Buscemi,” he says.
Critic’s choice
While his popularity — or at least, recognisability — is undeniable, his films have never been box office bonanzas or critically acclaimed. But it doesn’t bother him in the least. “I don’t make my movies for critics. Most of them don’t know how to review comedies, since it is so different from drama. There are plenty of ways to review drama, but comedy either makes you laugh or it doesn’t,” he says, adding, “Most people would be honest if you ask them if they’re a good cook. They don’t have a problem saying ‘No’. But if you ask if they have a good sense of humour, that comes closer to who they are and how they see themselves as a human being. So they always think of themselves as an intelligent person, so the answer is ‘Yes, of course I have an amazing sense of humour. But not everybody does.”
So if critics, or anybody, “feel like they have to attack” his work, Schneider says, “It's no reflection of me. Criticism is a reflection on the critic. My work is pure and good and funny; otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it for 35 years.”
That being said, he plans to get back into the movie business once he’s done with the comedy tour. “I’m figuring out what movie to write next, and once that’s done, will probably work on season three of Real Rob ,” he concludes.
