“Kevin James looks miserable at the Super Bowl.” The camera caught his unmistakable pout as the jumbotron at Levi’s Stadium passed through a parade of celebrity guests. There, Kevin James sat frozen, wearing a black tuxedo and holding a bouquet of white flowers, staring off into the distance as the crowd roared around him.
The moment went viral on social media, where James has been captivating viewers for months as his online alter ego “Mr. Taylor.” The video began circulating in October last year from the account of “thisismatttaylor,” an art teacher who resembles James and dispenses wisdom while sketching and painting at an easel. In a way, he’s a modern-day Bob Ross.
Although James doesn’t officially own this bit, it’s the same character Matt Taylor plays in the new rom-com Solo Mio. The film follows Mr. Taylor as he goes on a solo honeymoon after being left at an altar in Rome by his future wife.
“Solo Mio” is the first romantic comedy from Angel Studios, the “values-based” indie distribution company that made its name with 2023’s box office surprise “The Sound of Freedom.” The anti-human trafficking thriller starring Jim Caviezel grossed $251 million worldwide on a budget of $14.5 million, making it one of the most successful independent films of all time.
Angel Studios is currently finding success with lighter releases like “Solo Mio,” which grossed a respectable $7.2 million in its opening weekend. The romantic comedy earned an A CinemaScore and a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 81%, a career high for James.
“It’s a movie made with the right actors, the right story, and the right distributor for a shoestring amount of money,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. “Angel Studios knows how to reach this audience.”
Theatrical comedies are becoming even rarer as studios pour more marketing dollars into intellectual property-driven blockbusters. But James, 60, was adamant about bringing “Solo Mio” to theaters.
“This movie is about me,” James told Variety. “[Angel Studios]were more or less hands-off in a good way and just let me do what I was doing in the movie, which worked really well. They’re trying to figure out their own way, but that gave me the freedom. If I hadn’t been with them, this movie would never have been in theaters.”
James hadn’t been to the theater in years until Adam Sandler invited him to a special screening of “Happy Gilmore 2” last summer, which reignited his passion for movies. “It was stuffed, and it broke easily,” James recalls. “When you see people laughing together, you forget the energy. It feels more like an event than like watching something on your phone or iPad.”
Although “Happy Gilmore 2” broke streaming records, the celebrity-packed sequel never received a wide theatrical release. Netflix has an aversion to releasing its flagship titles in theaters, and controversy continues over its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, one of Hollywood’s highest-grossing companies. Ted Sarandos argues that while Netflix could gain new value by acquiring WBD’s “theatrical distribution engine,” a company like Paramount would be merging two major studios, which could result in significant job losses.
“Maybe Netflix will too, I don’t know,” says James, who is hopeful that the streamer will embrace the theatrical business. “I don’t think they have to, because they’re bringing[movies]to everyone. But I really miss that experience. Netflix is trying to buy everyone. When they bring theaters back, I’m excited to go to theaters. That’s what I’m shooting the most, but we’ll see.”
Will a movie like Grown Ups 3, which has been rumored to be in development for years, ever reach theaters? James quickly changed his tone.
“If they ever do another ‘Grown Ups,’ I’d love to have fun with it,” James said. “I’m excited to be a part of it, whether it’s streaming or in theaters. Can I say this? How about both? I love them both.”
When asked about Sandler, James responds cheerfully. “He’s both my greatest friend and biggest star in the world,” he says. “He breaks down like no one else. He gives me advice, he cheers me up when something goes wrong, he comes up with solutions. He’s got a great mind. It’s not easy, but he’s done it over and over again. It’s great to have him.”
For now, James seems content in his corner of the entertainment ecosystem, a far cry from his melancholy Super Bowl play. At a time when Hollywood is becoming more politically outspoken, the famously apolitical comic is sticking to what he does best.
“When it comes to politics, there are experts who know a lot more than I do,” James says. “I focus on what I can do and provide a fun and hearty break from the craziness of the world. We all go through the day with a lot of stress. That’s necessary in a way, but you also need a break. You have to look around and see the good in things, otherwise you won’t be able to work. I want people to have fun, give them hope, and get a nice escape from their days.”
“Solo Mio” is currently showing in theaters.
