Screenwriter and director Paul Weitz first gained notice when he and his younger brother Chris (along with Todd Alcott) contributed to the screenplay for the DreamWorks/PDI computer animated feature "Antz" (1998). For this film, the writers created a movie that would have appeal for adults as well as children. A cleverly written exploration of individuality in the face of society's predetermined roles, "Antz" starred Woody Allen in what was easily his funniest role in the better part of a decade. Allen voiced Z-4195, the drone dissatisfied with his station in life who, for the love of high-class ant Princess Bala (Sharon Stone), undertakes a great adventure, becomes a hero, finds the elusive Insectopia, and foils the plans of coup minded General Mandible (Gene Hackman). With visual gags to entertain children and sophisticated social commentary that spoke to adults, "Antz" proved a crowd-pleaser, its character-driven screenplay setting it apart from Disney's similarly themed Pixar computer animated "A Bug's Life" (also 1998).
Paul and Chris Weitz come from a Hollywood background, their mother is Academy Award nominated actress Susan Kohner, father fashion designer John Weitz, grandfather famed talent agent Paul Kohner, grandmother Mexican actress Lupita Tovar, and uncle producer Pancho Kohner. Keeping the family business alive, the Weitz brothers collaborated on their next project as well, Paul as director and Chris as producer (and reportedly uncredited co-director) of 1999's teen comedy "American Pie", the brothers' take on a tale of four high school seniors who go to great lengths in their attempts to lose their virginity. "American Pie", the modern equivalent of the teen sex comedies prevalent in the early 80s (i.e., "Porky's" 1981; "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" 1982) captured that era's crudely funny look at teen sexuality, as well as incorporated a somewhat sensitive look at friendships and relationships. Featuring an ensemble cast made up primarily of virtual unknowns, many of whom would go on to thriving Hollywood careers, "American Pie" became a summer sleeper hit and ultimately, a film franchise: the Weitzs would go on to executive produce two sequels, "American Pie 2" (2001) and "American Wedding" (2003).
After the brothers were among the credited screenwriters of the hit sequel "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" (2000) they co-created the short-lived WB sit-com "Off Centre" (2001) starring "Pie" veteran Eddie Kaye Thomas. In 2002 the Weitz brothers teamed with screenwriter Peter Hedges to adapt British novelist Nick Hornby's cult book in "About a Boy," which the brothers also co-directed. Starring Hugh Grant as an indolent arrested adolescent who suddenly matures when he forms a quirky friendship with a lonely young lad, "About a Boy" was one of the best films of its year, delivering both big laughs and honest sentiment. Wietz next tackled a solo project without his brother, serving a writer, director and producer of the extremely appealing, Billy Wilder-esque adult serio-comic "In Good Company" (2004), starring Dennis Quaid as a successful middle-aged ad salesman who suddenly finds himslef with a new boss half his age (Topher Grace) who also begins seeing his daughter (Scarlett Johansson).
Before achieving success in film, Weitz received some acclaim as a playwright, with "Mango Tea" produced by New York's Ensemble Studio Theater (EST) and performed off-Broadway featuring Marisa Tomei and Rob Morrow. Other plays of Weitz's produced by EST include "All for One" and "Captive", the latter leading to his first film credit. This lurid story of a couple who finds that taking a hostage serves as romantic inspiration was adapted by writer-director Karl Slovin into "Sex and the Other Man" (1995), starring Kari Wuhrer and Ron Eldard as a dysfunctional couple, and Stanley Tucci as Wuhrer's boss, taken hostage by the couple whose presence cures Eldard's impotence. Weitz also had writing credits in Daisy von Scherler Mayer's "Madeline" (1998), as co-lyricist of the song "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale". Additionally, Weitz and brother Chris teamed up to pen the pilot episode of the 1998 remake series "Fantasy Island" (ABC), and as an actor he appeared in a supporting role in the indie hit "Chuck & Back" (2000). |
