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Will Smith Interview
Wild, wild Will
One of the first things that becomes boisterously apparent about Will Smith, is that here is a man with a whole lot of front.
And as he bounces into the room joshing loudly with Barry Sonnenfeld, the director of his latest blockbuster film, there's plenty of behind as well - the duo's banter turning almost immediately to the subject of the Smith derriere.
The superiority of the genuine article when compared with moulded action figures of his previous characters is the issue in lively contention, and before you know it, second opinions are being sought as Smith bounds forth, inviting female journalists in the front row to 'feel my butt'.
This is a classic example of the Will Smith phenomenon in action.
From rap artiste, to self-styled sitcom star, to motion picture leading man, his rise to fame and fortune has been pretty sharp. And it's not difficult to see why.
Smith's energetic personality shakes the room, but it comes with bundles of fun and some significant charm. And it's this irresistible combo which has given the multi-millionaire 30-year-old that elusive status of bonafide movie star, to which Sonnenfeld readily attests.
"The only way for me to have directed Wild Wild West was with Will," he says. "Because you need Will to say to the world, even though it's a Western and based on a television show, it's new, it's different, it's got attitude, it's hip, it's cool.
"Without Will you've got a straight-ahead Western. And with Will, you've got a James Bond, action adventure, comedy-special effects-Western cowboy movie."
This is a fair summary. The film has more to do with Hollywood's continuing fascination with adapting 60s telly shows (however obscure), than another look into Western territory.
It's a far cry from the original series though, and on those terms, Smith isn't the most obvious choice to play Captain James T West. But his star status affords a number of rule-bending privileges and in his case, casting is to some degree colour blind.
"I think the great thing about Hollywood is there's racism, but on a certain level, everyone's green," he says. "It gets to the point that if you can put butts on seats then people will make films with you. I don't look at myself like I'm making any wonderful social statements.
"If children can be inspired to think that maybe they can do something like I've done, then I'll accept that, but it's not something that I'm shooting for and consciously trying to do."
Box office success doesn't, of course, always go hand-in-hand with critical acclaim, and although Wild Wild West has received something of a savaging in America so far, Smith remains upbeat and good-natured about it.
"Critics notoriously don't like the big summer films," he says. "It's almost like they're not allowed. You know, I was scared reading the Star Wars stuff. Star Wars was just torn to shreds, and then when Wild Wild West came out the critics were in a shred-tearing mood.
"But what was wonderful was that you realise the audience does make its own decision about the film. And we had a number one movie and a number one record at the same time, so that got me over my pain of the criticisms!"
After Men In Black, the movie-themed hit single is becoming a regular feature and, as the man says, there are few clearer barometers of his appeal than being able to top the film and music charts simultaneously. the song is currently number seven in the UK charts.
By his own admission Smith had Michael Jackson's Thriller as his inspiration for the 8 million dollar music video ("it's just the quintessential music video, it's never ever been done better than that"), and if pressed, would admit that his music is more personally fulfilling than his film work.
On the subject of personal fulfilment, for all the bravado and excess, Smith is unashamedly a family man. He is currently writing a screenplay called Love For Hire with his actress wife Jada Pinkett (The Nutty Professor), which either - but not both - may star in.
"It's better when we're not working at the same time, for someone to maintain the household," he says.
And he's also busy being a hero for his young son Trey, who appeared with him in the dedicated video Just The Two Of Us.
"I was able to get all of the Burger King action figure stuff ahead of time for my son to give out to his friends at school," Smith laughs. "So with Men In Black and now Wild Wild West, I'm the best dad in the world!"
The doting father's professional clout can only grow further with the possible Men In Black 2 and a planned Muhammad Ali film.
Wild Wild West met with Trey's approval, although - as Smith happily relays:
"He said to me: Dad, I don't know why people laugh when you talk, you're not
really that funny'."
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