Jack Black stoops to conquer

jack Black enjoys making movies for children, having two young ones of his own. Photo / Supplied

Jack Black talks to Shandelle Battersby about going King Kong in a new take on another classic.

In a role reversal of epic proportions, US funnyman Jack Black has gone from chasing and capturing a giant on screen in Peter Jackson's King Kong, to playing one under siege himself.

His latest film Gulliver's Travels, which opens in cinemas on December 26, is a modern, 3D take on the classic Jonathan Swift novel about a man who finds himself held captive by a nation of tiny people.

This interpretation of Swift's satire of human nature, penned in 1726, is aimed at children, with the writers deliberately dumbing down some of the original content.

"I didn't read [the book] until I was offered this project, but I was familiar with the story," Black tells TimeOut. "On reading it I was surprised at what a great piece of literature it is, and how it's not really for kids. It's a fantasy adventure but there are some really spicy, hilarious elements in there.

"We actually had to tone down some of it because it wouldn't have been acceptable family fare."

In this version, Black's Lemuel Gulliver works at a New York newspaper as a lowly mailroom clerk. He has a crush on the travel editor, played by Amanda Peet (Syriana, 2012), and fools her into sending him on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle in a bid to impress her. En route he gets swept into a whirlpool and yep, you guessed it, finds himself held prisoner on the island of Lilliput. After his size proves useful during an attack by their enemies, Gulliver wins over his captors and forges himself a new and exaggerated identity.

Of course he is found out, and has to learn the hard way that it's being big on the inside that really counts.

The cast is heaving with British and American comedic talent including Billy Connolly, Catherine Tate, Jason Segel, T.J. Miller, Chris O'Dowd and James Corden, as well as up-and-comer Emily Blunt.

"When you have that many great people in your cast it helps because you can rest assured that funny things will be happening when the camera's not on you. So it actually helped me relax a little bit," Black says. "Of course, I always want to bring my A game, I always want to be as funny as humanly possible, but it's good to know when you've got help."

Best known for his lead parts in comedy flicks like School of Rock, Tropic Thunder and Nacho Libre, Black shrugs off the suggestion that the roles he takes on are too similar.

"When I'm looking myself up on Google I don't find that to be a major criticism," he jokes. "Maybe it's been said once or twice. It doesn't bother me because everyone is who they are. You can put on different masks and change accents but at your core you're still who you are and you bring your own life experiences to every role."

With Kung Fu Panda 2 due for release next year, Black admits having his two children, Samuel (4) and Thomas (2) has increased his interest in making films for children.

"I've definitely embraced my inner child. Now that I've got two little ones at home, I like to do things that they could eventually see. You know, before they're teenagers.

"They will enjoy [Gulliver's Travels]. The 2-year-old's not really ready to go to a movie theatre but Sammy will get a kick out of it for sure. He likes robots and adventure."

So now that he's played a giant among men, does Black have any regrets about the way he treated poor old King Kong in Jackson's 2005 film?

"I do have a newfound respect for the King. It's lonely at the top, being the biggest and the strongest. Poor King Kong. It doesn't work if you're 100-ft taller than your loved ones.

"Sometimes big can be too big."

He says he wouldn't hesitate to work with Jackson again. "I'd love to. Anytime he calls, I would jump at the chance. It really was my favourite experience going out and living in New Zealand and making King Kong.

"It was a film to remember for me. I was there for, like, six months. I felt like an honorary Kiwi."

In fact, he's a big fan of our other famous exports, Flight of the Conchords, and would like to one day combine their skills with those of his own band, Tenacious D.

"I'd like to some day do a tour called the Monsters of Comedy Rock with us, Spinal Tap and Flight of the Conchords. We'd all just travel the world and make people 'rock laugh'."

Black says he's too busy with movies to devote as much time to Tenacious D as he would like but life is pretty good at the moment for the little man with the big personality.

He leans back in his chair and pats his signature belly thoughtfully.

"The best thing about being Jack Black [right now] is my babies, my wife. And the food that I'm always getting to eat in the finest restaurants in the world. I'm not even joking when I say the food. Food is one of the great pleasures in life. Now that I've left all my partying days behind, there's still food."

And the worst thing?

"Being asked for my autograph when I'm in the loo. That's the worst. I'm like 'Dude. I'm trying to relieve myself. Could you just wait outside please?"'

LOWDOWN

Who: Jack Black
What: Gulliver's Travels (and 3D)
When: Opens at cinemas on Boxing Day

-TimeOut