Preschool’s Josh Duhamel and Michael Socha talk “Hogwarts-style” schools, faking paddle ball skills, and a fight scene that left Michael with a real-life injury.
The quest for the perfect education has never been more cutthroat – or hilarious. In the new comedy Preschool, the high-stakes world of elite schooling is pushed to the limit, blending relatable parenting anxieties with over-the-top physical comedy. Set against the backdrop of a prestigious, “Hogwarts-esque” British institution, the film explores how far parents will go to ensure their children get the best start in life, even if it means losing their own minds in the process.
Mama’s Geeky’s Rachel Foertsch sat down with director and star Josh Duhamel and star Michael Socha to dive into the making of the film. The duo discussed the transition from a California setting to the UK, the importance of keeping comedy grounded in reality, and the literal sacrifices made for their art. From “MVP” wives to a fight scene that resulted in a lingering medical mystery for Michael Socha, here is what went down behind the scenes of Preschool.
Finding the Grounded Funny
Rachel Foertsch: Josh, as a director, you mentioned you wanted the movie to feel grounded despite the ridiculous situations. How did you balance that?
Josh Duhamel: “For me in a comedy, it has to be rooted first and then you build from there. But if you’re out there trying to do some big, you know, bit that doesn’t feel like it has any sort of… reality, it doesn’t, for me at least, it doesn’t feel as funny”.
Rachel Foertsch: Michael, your character goes through quite the ringer. What advice would you give him at the start of the movie?
Michael Socha: “I’d tell my character that, I’d say, who cares? If they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it. If they’re going to enjoy a school, doesn’t matter what school they go to… Calm down, who cares?”.
The British Influence & “MVPs”
Rachel Foertsch: The film has a very distinct British feel. Was that always the plan?
Josh Duhamel: “We moved this movie from originally scripted in Malibu and decided to move it to London… rather than a new wave sort of progressive thing out here in Southern California, it’s sort of one of those Hogwarts, the old school, been there for 400 years type situations”.
Rachel Foertsch: The wives in the film are described as the true “MVPs” of the families. How did they impact the dynamic?
Michael Socha: “What is an MVP? I’ve heard it loads of times… Is that like a real thing then? The end of like a sports thing over in America?”.
Josh Duhamel: “It was just so fun to watch these two go back and forth with it… Unfortunately, the movie has to be an hour and a half, but if I let these two go, it was amazing how well they fed off of each other”.
Sacrifice for the Art (& the Paddle Ball)
Rachel Foertsch: The paddle ball scene was incredibly impressive. Was that all real skill on display?
Michael Socha: “When I went for paddle ball training, I was having a—when I’m not playing against anybody, I was absolutely fine… And then [the trainer] goes, ‘I’ll tell you what I’m going to do is I’m going to invite some people to play against us.’ And then it all just went to… it didn’t work. I was just really bad”.
Rachel Foertsch: The physical altercation between the leads is a highlight. Is it true there was a real-life injury?
Michael Socha: “My knee’s still hurting by the way, Josh… I’ve been too busy [to get an MRI]. I can’t get signed off medically. I’ve got work to [do], I’ve got bills to pay… and then I heard the pop and that’s when I said, ‘Josh'”.
Josh Duhamel: “Every time I was editing the scene, I had his knee, his leg in like a… like an ankle twist of some sort. And finally he’s like, ‘Okay, stop.’ And I couldn’t tell if he was acting or if he was actually telling me… sure enough, I was actually twisting the shit out of his knee”.
PRESCHOOL is NOW available to Buy or Rent On Digital!
For more, watch the full interview.
About Preschool
Two rival dads (Josh Duhamel & Michael Socha) go to ridiculous lengths to win the last spot at an elite preschool, sparking an escalating, laugh‑out‑loud competition with unexpected results in this warm, high‑energy family comedy.=
