The idea of a woman giving her own baby to a friend who so desperately wants one, but can\u2019t conceive sounds like a weighty core concept through and through, but Jessie McCormack\u2019s \u201cGus\u201d strikes a unique balance between heartfelt drama and natural comedy, and that\u2019s what attracted talent like Michelle Monaghan to the project.<\/p>\n
Monaghan stars as Andie, Lizzie\u2019s (Radha Mitchell) longtime friend. When Andie winds up pregnant after a one-night stand, she commits to giving her unborn child to Lizzie so she can finally start a family with her husband, Peter (Jon Dore). Trouble is, before that can happen, Andie needs help getting through the pregnancy so moves into their home where her free-spirited lifestyle doesn\u2019t mesh well with Lizzie and Peter\u2019s more regimented way of living. Complicating the situation further, Peter\u2019s brother Casey (Michael Weston) is also released from rehab and, with no one else to keep an eye on him, Peter feels obligated to bring him into their home as well. Throw in Lizzie and Peter\u2019s dog, Joyce, and you\u2019ve got one very full, tumultuous household.<\/p>\n
While celebrating the film\u2019s big debut at SXSW, Monaghan and McCormack sat down to run through how \u201cGus\u201d came to be, the challenges of shooting a low-budget film, the craft of balancing comedy and drama, the film\u2019s unforgettable four-legged star, and much more. Catch it all for yourself in the video interview below and keep an eye out for part two of our \u201cGus\u201d coverage, a one-on-one interview with Radha Mitchell.<\/p>\n