TV's first set of 'Idols' parlay sudden
fame into a multiplex vision
By Joe Neumaier
Daily News (NY) June 19, 2003
And now, Kelly and Justin, The Movie.
Faster than you can say Frankie and Annette, the "American Idol"
cuties have jumped from the TV studio to the recording studio to the sandy set
of "From Justin to Kelly."
Their movie, a modern version of a 1960s beach-blanket frolic, opens Friday.
For the record, a year ago, Kelly Clarkson was a former cocktail waitress at a
comedy club in Arlington, Texas, and Justin Guarini was looking for work
after taking acting lessons in Manhattan.
Then last summer's largest TV audience, 22.8 million people, saw Kelly top
Justin to become the first "American Idol."
Clarkson's first record, "A Moment Like This" was 2002's best-selling
single and her album, "Thankful," recently debuted at No. 1. With
Justin, she is sharing top billing on a major summer concert tour of
"American Idol" alums.
"Fame is a lot of smoke and mirrors," says Guarini. "The one
thing I've learned about fame is, it's not that big of a deal. I don't want to
be ruled by it."
"We're not here to impress the world," says Clarkson. "We're here
to have fun with our music and be ourselves."
It's clear their 15 minutes has been extended, at least until Friday.
In the movie, the earthy girl from Texas and the big-haired guy from
Pennsylvania play, well, an earthy girl from Texas and a big-haired guy from
Pennsylvania who sing, dance and fall in love during a very family-friendly
spring break in Florida. Yet while their characters' names are Justin and Kelly,
and it is a musical, "we're not playing ourselves," Clarkson says.
"Justin is much more aloof in the movie. And I'm much less
spontaneous," she says.
Though they had an acting coach during filming who was ready to help, the pair
learned quickly the ins and outs of movie acting.
"We picked it up pretty fast, because we didn't have time not to,"
says Clarkson. "And we do everything, TV and our albums, so fast anyway.
The show was great training for that. We knew the movie was going to be a piece
of cake."
"They had a foundation on which to build," says the movie's director,
Robert Iscove ("She's All That"). "I didn't show them the Frankie
(Avalon) and Annette (Funicello) films, because I didn't want them copying
anything. I wanted them to bring their own perspective to it. There's a certain
natural ebullience that the Frankie and Annette movies embody that Justin and
Kelly have naturally."
The two have a best-pal energy, talking over each other's sentences and still
sounding like eager talent-show contestants. During an interview, Clarkson, 21,
lays back on a couch and puts her feet in Guarini's lap. Justin, 24, helps Kelly
hold her hair up as she shows off a tattoo on the back of her neck that says
"Blessed" in Japanese.
They share a natural confidence about their dream of doing something outside
their current images, at least at the multiplex.
"Music is tougher," says Clarkson. "Everything is a reflection of
you, no matter what it is. You're so classified and put into a pocket."
"You do get typecast in the music industry, whereas in film, I think,
you're able to do different things," adds Guarini.
So forget their toothsome apple-pie personas. They each say they want to explore
their edgy side.
"I want to play the Emcee in 'Cabaret,'" says Guarini. "I was
offered that role recently. I like it because it's darker, more twisted."
"I don't want to always do mushy roles. I want to play a big vixen,"
says Clarkson. "I'd love to play someone mean.
"I could do mean."
essentialjustin.com