Film marks the dawn of a new Day

No rest for television sitcom star as big screen career begins to take hold

Suffering from Sydney-to-Los Angeles jet lag, Charlie Day tries to keep the conversation from zoning out.

Day’s taking a break from filming the Pacific Rim monster-movie sequel in Australia to chat about his R-rated comedy Fist Fight because he felt a responsibility.

The 41-year-old developed the Fist Fight script and brought in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia director Richie Keen to helm the movie.

“I was very happy for that,” says Day of working alongside his show buddy. “It allowed me to be a little more hands on then I have been in my other movies, and it was great to be collaborating with somebody I knew.”

Key casting decisions were part of his job description, too. And that included hiring Ice Cube to play Day’s comic foil.

In the farce, easy going, highschool English teacher Andy Campbell (Day) gets into a jam when gruff colleague Ron Strickland (Ice Cube) challenges him to an after-school fight for getting him fired.

A lot of the laughs count on the interplay between Day and Ice Cube but Day says the rapper and actor had previously proved his comedy talent with performances in the Ride Along and Jump Street films.

“I’ve always been a fan of his music and his movies, too,” Day says. “And after we talked it seemed right, so he signed off on Fist Fight.”

Co-starring are Christina Hendricks from Mad Men, Jillian Bell who had scene-stealing moments in 22 Jump Street and 30 Rock comedian Tracy Morgan making his first appearance in a movie since his near fatal 2014 car crash.

“I don’t know why you wouldn’t want the funniest people you can get,” Day says. “It just makes my job and Cube’s job that much easier.”

Morgan, especially, had the headliner breaking up, and ruining takes, more than a few times. “He has a direct path to my funny bone.”

And then there’s Day’s Campbell, a change of pace for the actor who usually plays the oddball sidekick or the half-baked pal.

“He really is one of the sanest characters I’ve played,” he says. “I’m usually one of the craziest. Instead, I get to react to all the crazy.”

What he didn’t prepare for, and should have, was the rumble referenced in the movie’s title that occurs at the conclusion.

“It was eight days straight of 14-hour days,” says Day of shooting the fight. “I’ve never really had to do anything so physically demanding.”

The stunt team did some of the swings and tosses, “but that was Cube throwing me up against the bus and he wasn’t faking it.”

There were bumps and bruises but both actors survived without major mishaps.

“I guess I should have made sure before I started, to be in better shape.” Day says. “I was in my normal shape. In hindsight, I probably should have worked out a bit.”

His role reprising Dr. Newton Geiszler in Pacific Rim: Uprising, isn’t nearly as combat-physical but it is demanding for the way in which he mixes comedy with drama again.

“I’m in the middle of it with a great cast,” says Day who can’t give away plot details. “So far it’s been a pleasure and after we finish up in Australia it’s off to China for filming.”

In other movie news, Day says that a third Horrible Bosses picture doesn’t seem likely, “but never say never.”

Fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia can be assured the show will continue. The opening episode of the 12th season aired on FXX last month profiling four self-centred friends who co-own an Irish bar.

“I think we’re going to be around a little while longer, because we’re not finished lampooning society just yet,” says Day who plays one of the friends. “It helps that we don’t do too many episodes at once so there is no burn out.”

“And life keeps giving us things that we need to have a laugh at,” he adds. “Until we get society straightened out, we’ll keep going.”

He really is one of the sanest characters I’ve played. I’m usually one of the craziest. Instead, I get to react to all the crazy. CHARLIE DAY, about Andy Campbell in Fist Fight