USA TODAY International Edition
Team Avengers: A great time to be named Chris
BEVERLY HILLS – What happens when two of the world’s most famous Chrises join forces? ❚ Well, in person, Avengers: Infinity War stars Chris Hemsworth, 34, and Chris Pratt, 38, end up cracking each other up a lot. ❚ “My brother goes: ‘I hate that guy. He’s got Brad Pitt’s waist and Arnold Schwarzenegger arms,’ ” Pratt ribs as they laugh.
Hemsworth’s Thor and Pratt’s Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord of Guardians of the Galaxy) team up to defeat Thanos (Josh Brolin), a villain closing in on collecting the Infinity Stones.
But it’s not all rainbows and sunshine when Star-Lord shares the spotlight with the God of Thunder in the superhero mashup (opening Friday, in some theaters Thursday night).
“We mined for comedy in the idea that (Star-Lord is) a little intimidated by him and jealous of him,” Pratt says.
A day before Infinity War’s premiere, neither had seen the full movie. Marvel has told them “only as much as we needed to know,” Pratt says.
Adds Hemsworth: “I’m pretty excited to see the movie just to find out what the hell it’s about.”
Last year, when Hemsworth arrived on the set of Infinity War, it felt like a stacked game. The Australian actor had
just finished shooting Thor: Ragnarok. “I didn’t know anybody,” he says. “I came off my film feeling better than I ever had ... and I felt like, ‘Oh, my God, why am I self-conscious?’ ”
Still, these Chrises have a lot in common. Onscreen, they’re comic forces. And offscreen, they’re just guys juggling fatherhood and filmmaking.
Pratt is dad to Jack, 5, and Hemsworth has three kids: India, 5, and twins Tristan and Sasha, 4.
Kids keep their parents grounded. “One of my sons ... flat-out with no hesitation says: ‘Wonder Woman’s stronger,’ ” Hemsworth laughs. “He’s like, ‘Dad, you’re my second favorite.’ ”
Pratt grins. “Jack, I will ask him, who is his favorite superhero? ‘Spider-Man.’ I go, OK, but not counting SpiderMan. ‘Black Panther.’ OK, who’s your favorite Guardian? ‘Rocket.’ He won’t give it to me.”