Vince Vaughn: 'I Feel Lucky'

Vince Vaughn has been on a roll lately. In 2003, he teamed up with Luke Wilson and Will Ferrell in the instant cult classic "Old School." A year later he had another huge hit on his hands with "Dodgeball"; and last year he co-stared with Owen Wilson in one of the most successful comedies of all time, "Wedding Crashers."

Now, Vaughn is back in theaters with something completely different, starring with Jennifer Aniston in one of the summer's most anticipated films, the unromantic comedy "The Break-Up."

Vaughn stopped by The Early Show to talk with Hannah Storm about his successful run on the big screen.

"I feel very fortunate," says Vaughn. "You know, that all the movies like 'Dodgeball,' 'Old School,' 'Wedding Crashers' and now 'The Break-Up' have turned out so good. I've had a lot of fun. I feel lucky."

Vaughn has said he had gotten a lot of scripts for romantic comedies but explains why he decided to put together an anti-romantic comedy.

"Always when we get a romantic comedy script it had a bizarre sub plot that was like, 'If you don't marry someone in the next six months then the mean guy that works for your father's company will inherit the company and you will not inherit anything.' And it always just seemed like relationships were kind of strange enough and funny enough," says Vaughn. "With this movie here, we really wanted to do something original where you look at just kind of when the relationship gets to a point where it's starting to peter out, and we wanted to look at the really funny side.

"There's some really big comedy in the movie. And also look at the more serious side in a simple, real way. And 'The Break-Up' audience really responded really strongly to it because I think that they like that there's something that's original. Something that's different. It's not your typical movie. It's not predictable. But that being said it's not shocking for shocking sake. It's just very simple and real."

When writing the part of the female lead, Vaughn wrote the part with Jennifer Aniston in mind. Asked why he thinks she was so right for that role, he says: "We wanted someone who was really good at comedy and also a good dramatic actor. And Jennifer is really good at comedy and a good dramatic actor. And, also, the characters in the movie are more true to life than you see in a lot of films. They're both very flawed people. So you wanted someone likable and relatable."

While making this film, Vaughn visited The Early Show last July to talk about the "Wedding Crashers." At the time, the tabloids were all over him and Aniston.

"I always look, like they're trying to sell magazines. I don't really think it's the coolest thing but I don't take it personally. They would do it where anyone is concerned. It just kind of comes with the territory. But it is a little odd that you're doing a scene in a movie and they put it on a magazine," Vaughn said in the July 17 interview.

"So you're not going out?" Storm asked.

"No, no," Vaughn replied.

Asked Friday if nothing has changed, Vaughn says: "Yeah, well, things have changed somewhat, yes. But still the same holds true for me as far as, you know, you don't take it personally. You realize that they're just trying to sell a story, sell a magazine, so I sort of laugh at the whole thing. But sometimes they have stuff that's true. And a lot of times things are just exaggerated. It just comes with the territory. And I think I've always had a good sense of humor about stuff. So it's never been that big of a deal to me. It's not like 'Oh, I can't believe what they're writing.'

"The only thing more frustrating is being followed by paparazzi. People don't realize how dangerous it is. They really will run red lights and do stuff like that. Outside of that, as far as people speculating or saying stuff like that, whatever."

Vaughn explains why he liked Aniston instantly. "Oh, I think she's great. No question about it. I think she's a genuine, what you see what you get. She's kind. She's considerate to everyone around her. She's funny. She's a good person," he says.

In "The Break-Up," Vaughn cast his own father to play Aniston's dad. And he cast Ann-Margret to play his wife.

"Christmas come early for my dad," Vaughn jokes.

"I think the tabloids should be looking at your dad and Ann-Margret because, come on, man. Sparks flew," Storm says.

"They were like two school kids, with some time on their hands," Vaughn says.

In his next movie, Vaughn will play Santa's brother. "Yeah the director of 'Wedding Crashers' are going to do a Christmas movie where I play Santa Claus' brother and I'm kind of a little bitter about Santa," says Vaughn. "He's taking all the glory, thinks he's so great. Make such a big deal about Christmas. It's a fun comedy."