'Hot' Diggity!

Image credit: James Dittiger

In Hot Rod, Taccone plays Samberg's adoring stepbrother, and Schaffer makes his feature-directing debut. Both were instrumental in gearing the script to their friend's strengths. ''We had to go page by page and Samberg it up,'' reports Schaffer. ''Which is another way of saying, just dumb it down. And add a lot of sex with ladies.'' At least two parts of the above statement are patently untrue, but Samberg still fit the part. ''I interact with girls by acting intentionally awkward; I like throwing my body around and acting like a moron. Rod was...not a stretch.'' And the film itself, which includes repeated references to spirit animals and a spot-on Footloose parody? ''We wanted to make a crazy-ass movie,'' Samberg says. ''I think we managed to make it pretty weird.''

The question is whether that weirdness will be enough of a draw. Samberg's positive attitude is unflappable. ''If anyone feels the way about Hot Rod that I felt about the comedies I liked growing up'' — Billy Madison, for example — ''I feel like it's a success,'' he says. ''It will get bad reviews. Comedy is traditionally not reviewed that well. I was excited for [the well-received] Knocked Up. Any time people give it up for a comedy, it's a victory.''

Let's say Hot Rod is victorious. Will this NYU film- school grad who's known his best friends since junior high lose his soul to Hollywood? Schaffer doesn't think it's ''much of a risk,'' he says, then thinks for a moment and adds, ''Maybe in 10 years when we're not talking, and he's got a huge mansion, and I live in a co-op apartment, I'll have something else to say.'' For now, Samberg says he mostly just works and enjoys the occasional beverage at SNL after-parties; he describes his personal life as ''spare.'' His big post–Hot Rod plan is to find a new NYC pad with a decent shower. He remains close to Dad (a photographer) and Mom (a teacher), and someday hopes to cash it all in and have kids. So much for the theory that good comedy comes from bitterness and pain. ''I'm a tearless clown,'' Samberg says. ''If I were to get a tattoo, it would be the two masks, and they would both be smiling.''

After the allotted interview time, Samberg's in no hurry to jet, and hangs around for an extra hour just for kicks. But once the restaurant starts playing Kenny G, he decides to hit the road, where a black Lincoln Town Car immediately materializes behind him. ''That's my ride,'' he says, and it seems like he must be kidding. But no! Sunglasses in place, BlackBerry in hand, Andy Samberg is, indeed, about to step into an idling sedan and zip away. Finally, a movie-star moment! But it doesn't last. ''I didn't ask him to pull up,'' Samberg protests, in a tone that suggests the car is horribly embarrassing. He apologizes with a smile and an awkward hug.