Trivia / Shallow Hal

• Actor-Inspired Element: Jack Black came up with Hal's "cuckoo clock" gesture.
• Creator Backlash: Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black do not hide that they did not like the final result of the film.
  • Gwyneth Paltrow has stated that she didn't care much for this film, even going so far as to call it her least favorite role in her entire career (albeit largely in part due to how uncomfortable the Fat Suit she had to wear was). The only things she really got out of it was the knowledge she got from playing an untraditionally attractive person and her friendship with Jack Black.
  • Jack Black has stated that he signed onto it because he wanted to make a film with the Farrelly Brothers, but it wasn't what he expected it to be, which made him feel like he sold out. The only thing he got from it was the knowledge he learned.
• Deleted Scene:
  • The next morning after having their first night of love, Rosemary gets up and Hal rolls across the bed ... only to find that the bed frame on the part where Rosemary was lying has broken. Hal is shocked.
  • An alternate version of the same scene of Hal and Rosemary waking up the next morning after their first night of love. After talking for a few moments, the bed frame on the side of the bed where Rosemary is lying breaks, causing her to fall to the floor. Hal is again shocked.
  • At the gym scene, to tease Mauricio, Hal invites Jill (who is in love with him at this point in the movie), just to remind that he already has an appointment and dismisses her. Jill is disappointed.
  • Hal and Mauricio are talking about how hard it is to find Tony Robbins and whether Hal should give the real Rosemary a chance. At that moment, Rosemary passes the pair by car and calls them. When Hal sees Rosemary from a distance, he is horrified by her obesity (but he doesn't quite see her face) and runs away. This is the event that Rosemary mentions over the phone to Hal in a later scene in the film.
• Dyeing for Your Art: Jack Black apparently had to lose weight for his role as Hal.
• Method Acting: Gwyneth Paltrow walked around for a day in public wearing her full makeup as Rosemary. She wasn't recognised, and thus used people's reactions to her as an obese woman to help with her performance.
• Money, Dear Boy:
  • Gwyneth Paltrow was quoted saying that this was the only reason she did the movie and that the only thing she really enjoyed was learning how hard untraditionally attractive people must face.
  • Jack Black has said he considered this movie a "sell out" on his part because the only joy he got from it was the knowledge that he'd get paid.
• Real-Life Relative:
  • Anthony Robins's wife Sage Bonnie Humphrey appears as the woman getting an autograph as Mauricio tries to talk to him.
  • Cadence is played by Brianna Gardner, daughter of special effects makeup artist Tony Gardner.
• Throw It In!: Joshua 'Li'Boy' Shintani was not auditioning, and was spotted by Peter Farrelly playing his ukulele while the latter was vacationing in Hawaii. He was invited to LA to screen test, and was subsequently cast.
• Unintentional Period Piece: One of the hot girls that Hal likes is "that Britney Spears girl".
• What Could Have Been:
  • The Farrely Brothers' first choice for Hal was Tom Cruise. The second choice was Ben Stiller.
  • Rosemary was originally going to be named Kimberly, but her name was changed because the filmmakers wanted to use the song "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" in the movie.

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