Nicholas Stoller

“Your characters can do the worst things on Earth - cut to a happy baby, it ends up being OK.”

“A big part of being in a relationship or marriage or whatever is you have to eventually compromise. Your life doesn't end up exactly the way you think it's going to, and if it's the right relationship, you might have to compromise what you're doing professionally.”

“As a moviegoer, I'm always annoyed when a big joke is ruined in the trailer, but generally, it actually makes it play better.”

“I think the best romantic comedies are hard funny - no soft jokes, but ones that make you, like, guffaw. I also think that they have to make you feel good, ideally, and make you feel warm inside at the end.”

“I was born in England - though both of my parents are American - and there's something about the 'Muppets' where they have this combination of English and American humor.”

“Basically, I always thought that if I had a movie that did well enough and warranted having a sequel, I would seriously entertain it because that's a huge blessing when that happens in your career.”

“I'm not into sports, and politics is kind of my sport. I love talking about it and debating it and getting into it. I also think people on both sides of the aisle have real exaggerated, incorrect views of the other side, and that is fascinating to me.”

“I love watching how people who are in love with each other deal with each other. Every time I've had a fight with an ex-girlfriend, at the time they're horrible, but when I look back they're often funny and weird, and that kind of stuff makes me laugh.”

“A good romantic comedy is my favorite movie to watch.”

“I watched all kinds of dirty movies as a kid. My parents were very liberal about that, and I was still an uber-nerd who never drank or did drugs. I don't think it matters.”

“I've thrown way more movie parties than real parties. My real life is so much more boring.”

“I would never make a purely autobiographical movie, because it would be incredibly boring. But I always bring something. It's usually some emotional truth I've experienced, like in 'Get Him to the Greek,' the relationship between Jonah Hill and Elisabeth Moss, I had certainly had that kind of relationship with a girlfriend.”

“All movies are inherently collaborative, and animation even more so. There are hundreds and hundreds of people involved with an animated movie.”

“Comedy is my favorite genre. I think it often doesn't get the respect it deserves, and I think one of the reasons is there was a tradition in the past of comedy looking kind of brightly lit and like a sitcom.”

“I think the best romantic comedies don't have villains.”

“The huge advantage of boarding school is that it throws you into the social fire. Every social interaction I've had since then has been a million times easier. Literally, ever since then, it's all been child's play.”

“The two times I had nervous breakdowns in my life were when I graduated from college and had my first kid.”

“I knew after 'Sarah Marshall' that my favorite genre is romantic comedy. Nothing is more satisfying than a great romantic comedy.”