Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart), Alison Palmer (Olivia Thirlby), Gretchen Palmer (Kaley Cuoco) and Doug Harris (Josh Gad) in Screen Gems’ THE WEDDING RINGER. ©Screen Gems. CR: Matt Kennedy.

By ANGELA DAWSON
Front Row Features

HOLLYWOOD—Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, who stars as the perky neighbor on the longrunning CBS sitcom “Big Bang Theory,” recalls that when she met her husband, tennis ace Ryan Sweeting a couple of years ago, she knew he was The One. They married at the end of 2013, and the actress says she is thrilled to be his wife.

In contrast, Cuoco-Sweeting, 29, plays a less than certain bride-to-be in the R-rated comedy “The Wedding Ringer,” in which she is engaged to a socially awkward wealthy guy named Doug (“Frozen’s” Josh Gad). Though Cuoco-Sweeting’s Gretchen is Doug’s dream girl, he doesn’t realize that she is merely settling for him because she is tired of dating jerks. Gretchen is so focused on her pending nuptials that she is completely unaware that Doug has no male friends, and has to hire a best man (comedian Kevin Hart) and a crew of groomsmen to fill out the wedding party.

Doug does his darndest to convince Gretchen and her family that his “friends” are the real deal but inevitably chaos ensues, including a muddy football match between Doug’s ragtag crew and Gretchen’s father and his ex- pro football pals, a fiery family dinner and the inevitable realization that convenience is no substitute for love.

Directed by first-time filmmaker Jeremy Garelick, who co-wrote/co-produced the Vince Vaughn-Jennifer Aniston comedy “The Break Up” with Jay Lavender, he also co-wrote “The Wedding Ringer” with Lavender.

Cuoco-Sweeting, who recently shed her long blond tresses for a more sporty short ‘do, spoke about playing a bridezilla and what attracted her to the role. [private]

Q: How was it making this film?

Cuoco-Sweeting: I come from the sitcom world and this was my first big screen role. So to work with this comedic golden duo, Kevin and Josh, was pretty unbelievable. I’d known Jeremy (Garelick) for a long time so getting to work with him as a director was amazing. Going from a sitcom, it was kind of a big deal for me, so I was just in amazement in watching these guys go off on these tangents and I’d have to be fit and ready to go where they went. It was an unbelievable learning experience for me and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it.

Gretchen Palmer (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting), Edmundo (Ignacio Serricchio) and Lois Palmer (Mimi Rogers) in Screen Gems’ THE WEDDING RINGER. ©Screen Gems. CR: Matt Kennedy.

Q: Jeremy said you had were some incredible improves, which unfortunately didn’t make it into the film.

Cuoco-Sweeting: Yeah, those were past the rated-R point. [She laughs.]

Q: Did you have any apprehension or concern about working with Kevin Hart, who is known for his fondness of improvisation?

Cuoco-Sweeting: No. I begged Jeremy (Garelick) for this role. We were having dinner one night, and I said to him, “Please let me be in this movie.” I just really wanted to be a part of this. When I heard that Kevin and Josh were going to be in it, I knew it was going to be massive for both of them. I just got to be a little part of it, and it’s been a dream come true.

Q: The touch football game between the older guys and Doug’s groomsmen becomes a physical muddy mess. Josh says everyone got mud everywhere.

Cuoco-Sweeting: I wasn’t there for that scene, but the pictures I got from the set—from the crew to them—they were covered from head to toe in mud. Even Jeremy was covered.

Q: What is your favorite scene in the film?

Cuoco-Sweeting: Watching Kevin and Josh dancing together was amazing to watch. That, and the scene where we light grandma (played by Cloris Leachman) on fire. I’ll never forget that day. It was amazing. [Deadpan] I think we did it three times and that stuntwoman gave her life for our movie.

Q: As a new bride yourself, what are your thoughts on how to choose a husband? Should you wait? Or just go for broke when you’re young?

Cuoco-Sweeting: I don’t know if age matters. I met my husband when I was 28; I was turning 29. So I don’t know. We knew right away we were meant for each other. Everyone has a different idea. Everyone has a different way in how they meet so I don’t know if there’s a waiting period. Everybody is different. I’m different. I moved [She snaps her fingers] fast. I knew what I wanted immediately. That’s just how I am in my life as well. For me, it was a love at first sight sort of thing. I wasn’t going to wait around for anything else. I knew right then, this was what I was going to do and I did it. [/private]