- The film's original lead actress was actress Rachel Weisz.
- Dennis William Quaid and Thomas Haden Church both had special beards for the characters.
- Dennis William Quaid thought his beard looked very strange, so he shaved it off as soon as the scene was over.
- Dennis William Quaid changed many of his habits, including his walking posture, to make himself look like a British professor.
- Dennis William Quaid didn't have enough time, so he couldn't get fat for the character, so he had to wear some fat clothes, and then stuffed some stuffing inside, and used them to create a slightly fat look.
- The crew wasted a lot of time before filming started because they couldn't find the right person to play Vanessa.
- During the filming, the script was revised several times, and the role of Vanessa was reworked by Am Muro and Marc Poyer for Elliot Page.
- Sarah Jessica Parker hadn't read the script before deciding to star in the film .
Smart People behind the scenes gags
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Lawrence Wetherhold: Just go home and get some sleep, and get the perfect SAT score.
Vanessa Wetherhold: That's what I've been trying to do.
Lawrence Wetherhold: mercurial...
Vanessa Wetherhold: I learned that word in the 5th grade.
Lawrence Wetherhold: fecundity...
Vanessa Wetherhold: Ah, English is my first language.
Lawrence Wetherhold: uxorious...
Vanessa Wetherhold: That's appropriately obscure - mind you I know it. Overly fond of one's wife.
Lawrence Wetherhold: That's my girl.
Janet Hartigan: I have a good one. eft...
Vanessa Wetherhold: Let me ponder... Short in stature. Diminutive.
Janet Hartigan: No I'm sorry, eft is a young newt.
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Vanessa Wetherhold: Dad if there are *any* romantic inklings, you're simply not ready. I mean the socio-sexual mores
Vanessa Wetherhold: Ah and look, let's not forget the stigma attached to widowers.