There’s a certain precision to everything Paul Feig does—whether he’s stepping out in a crisp three-piece suit, nailing a shot on set, or fixing himself a martini at the end of a long day. The filmmaker behind women-led comedies such as Bridesmaids and The Heat proves time and time again that he knows just what a girl wants. (His movies pass the Bechdel Test.) Now Feig is out with a second installment of his black comedy A Simple Favor, again starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. Feig swaps Connecticut for Capri in the very White Lotus–wedding-turned-murder-mystery saga. To celebrate the film’s release, Feig dishes on his least favorite things. —Carolina de Armas
Least favorite number: 47. Even worse than 45.
Least favorite color: Red. It was my mother’s favorite color, but then MAGA ruined it for everyone.
Least favorite team: Whoever the Detroit Lions are playing against. Just let us get to the Super Bowl once, for Christ’s sake.
Least favorite James Bond: Roger Moore. I loved him as an actor, but his version of Bond was too silly and too far from the dark Bond of the original books.
Preferred deadly sin: Gluttony. What’s more fun than that?
Food that makes you gag: A toss-up between mayo and pickled beets. Eesh.
Book you never finished: Ulysses, by James Joyce. But not for lack of trying.
Film you walked out of: I never walk out of movies. They’re too hard to make.
Song you never want to hear again: “I Will Always Love You,” by Whitney Houston. Sorry, everyone.
Character from history you most dislike: Whoever invented reality TV. It’s not reality when you know there’s a camera filming you, people.
Item of clothing you would never wear: Crocs. God forbid.
Worst form of transport: A Tesla Cybertruck. No explanation required.
Preferred form of revenge: Success. It makes it much easier to forgive your enemies.
Favorite curse word: “Fuck.”
Least favorite habit (in you): My addiction to routine—same restaurants, same bars, same stores, same vacations. I do seem to love a good rut.
Least favorite habit (in others): Making a big deal when I show up with a haircut. Did everyone in the restaurant need to know my hair was an inch longer two days ago?
Least favorite apology: “My bad,” which translates to “Whatever, you whiny asshole.”
Least favorite conversational topic: Gossip. Mind your own business.
Least favorite present you’ve received: Galoshes. My 90-year-old grandma called them “rubbers” and then told a 10-minute guilt-inducing story about how much trouble she went through to get them.
Worst New York City moment: Getting hit by a car outside Cooper Union in a suit, in the rain, in front of college students—as a 50-year-old man.
Person you’d least like to share a lifeboat with: Elon Musk. No explanation required.
Words you’d hate to have spoken behind your back: “He has the worst taste in clothes.” (Please don’t say it in front of my back, either.)
Thing you said but wish you hadn’t: “I’d be happy to read your screenplay.” (Please submit through your agent, no matter how well I know you.)
Thing you didn’t say but wish you had: “Go fuck yourself.” (It would have felt so good.)
Worst advice you’ve ever gotten: “Stay in your lane.” (It’s what someone tells you when they don’t want you to be more successful than they are.)
Worst advice you’ve ever given: “Don’t take no for an answer.” (Because then they didn’t take no for an answer.)
Last words before execution: “I tried.” (Because I really did.)
Paul’s Inessentials
