Why hasn’t Chris Tucker been in more movies?
Chris Tucker is one choosy man. Look at his film career, for instance. “Rush Hour 3” came out in 2007. Since then, he’s been in only two movies: The best picture Oscar-nominated “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” — not a hit, but a prestige film directed by Ang Lee. Tucker, 46, hasn’t been sitting home twiddling his thumbs. He formed his own charitable foundation and has stayed busy with his stand-up career. Tucker, on the phone to plug his show at the Celebrity Theatre, talked about where’s he been and where he’s going. Question: I looked at your schedule, and you’re doing a lot of stand-up. Answer: I started as a stand-up and then the movie career took off so fast, I kind of put it on the back burner, but it’s on the front burner again. It’s a priority.
Q: When you don’t do stand-
up for a while, do you get rusty?
A: I never stopped doing it; I just didn’t focus on it so much. But it is something you have to work at. You stop and then you start again, and it comes right back. It takes some time, but it will come back. Q: What is it about stand-up that you love?
A: You know, it’s in the moment. Standup comedy, my stand-up comedy, keeps evolving and there’s always something new to talk about. There’s always something going on in the world or in society, and I get to tell my point of view.
Q: You talk about evolving. How has your act changed through the years?
A: It’s broadened. I have way more life experiences than I did when I was a teenager. I have a lot more material. I think I’m a whole other person than when I was a kid doing “Def Comedy Jam.”
Q: When you see clips of yourself back then, does it feel like you’re watching someone else?
A: Yes and no. You grow up, you mature a lot; in that aspect, it’s a big difference. But other than that, the comedy still Details: 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.
holds up. It’s still funny. I was still very conscious of what I was doing and saying, even then.
Q: What do you talk about on stage these days?
A: It’s what’s going on with the world, what people are thinking about, what’s going on in my life, what I’m experiencing. It’s very much in the present. What I love as a comic is that it keeps changing all the time. With me, I could go talk about something different each night and make it relevant.
Q: We’re talking right after the Las Vegas shootings. How would you deal with something like that, or would you?
A: I would deal with it by being truthful about it. My prayers go out to everybody. I wouldn’t try to make a joke about it. I would be respectful and comedy should be as natural as possible. I do think you should mention it and make people
Q: It’s a really turbulent time, and we are divided politically. Is that a good time to be a comedian, or does that make it harder?
A: It’s a time we need comedians. Sure, you might say something that somebody in the audience is not going to agree with. I try to be sensitive to everyone that’s in the audience. I’m a comedian first. That’s who I am, but I want to respect everybody. I try to make everybody in the audience see that the times aren’t so bad. I do let the audience know my opinions, but I don’t think you should be mean about it. But it is a great time for comedians.
Q: You look at your filmography, and you seem to take your time between projects. Is that intentional?
A: I love making movies, and I have a lot of stuff in the works. That’s going to take care of itself. You’re going to see a lot more of me. I don’t like the times in between. I love making movies, but I have been working doing my stand-up. I’m working one way or the other.
Q: But when you look at your films, you seem like you have high standards. You do things like “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” instead of doing two to three movies a year.
A: Thank you. I like finding good content and working with good directors and doing something I really feel could be important. I am picky. I like to do stuff I can bring something to. I don’t want to do something to just be doing something. Q: Will there be another “Rush Hour?”
A: I’ve heard talk of a script, so we’ll see if that comes. I would love to possibly do another one. I’ve been talking with Jackie (Chan) and we’re definitely going to try to do something.
Q: So is Jackie really a friend off-camera?
A: Oh, yeah. He was always a hero of mine. When we did the first “Rush Hour,” he was already Jackie Chan, you know? We became friends over the years. I visit him when I’m in Shanghai or Beijing and he sees me when he comes here for work. Q: Is it intimidating to meet your heroes?
A: Certain people can be, like Sidney Poitier, the great Harry Belafonte, Berry Gordy. It happens with people from all walks of life, like Ambassador Andrew Young. I got to meet Richard Pryor before he passed. He came to one of my shows in 1995, and I was so young I don’t think it really hit me until I got older that
came to see me.