Fun Facts About New in Town

Renee Zellweger Stars In Fish-Out-of-Water Romantic Comedy

Jan 18, 2009

Moving up the corporate ladder leads to a move up North to New Ulm, Minnesota.

Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr., star in a romantic comedy in which Lucy Hill, an ambitious executive from Miami, Florida, must move to a frigid little town in Minnesota on a temporary assignment to restructure a manufacturing plant. Not only must she adjust to sub-zero temperatures, quirky townspeople, and job demands, but Ted Mitchell, the handsome union leader at the manufacturing plant, causes her problems with her personal and professional life.

Zellweger, star of many films including Bridget Jones’s Diary, Me, Myself & Irene, Jerry Maguire, Bee Movie, and Chicago, also occasionally works as a producer. She served as executive producer on the Lifetime movie Living Proof, which starred Harry Connick, Jr.

In addition to her ability to change her appearance (gaining a reported 20 pounds for both Bridget Jones movies and adopting a British accent) and endure an intensive 10-month crash course in singing and dancing for her role in Chicago, Zellweger won an Academy Award (among many other honors) for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Cold Mountain.

Although a stuntwoman was provided, Zellweger insisted on performing her own stunts in New in Town, which included lots of physical comedy such as falling on the ice and toppling over railings.

Connick, Jr. originally rose to fame through his work as a pianist, singer, and bandleader. He contributed the songs “Our Love is Here To Stay,” “But Not For Me,” “I Could Write a Book,” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” to the soundtrack for the film When Harry Met Sally and “A Wink and A Smile” to the soundtrack for Sleepless in Seattle, among other films.

His acting debut was in the 1990 World War II action drama Memphis Belle, in which he played Sgt. Clay Busby. A role in Little Man Tate soon followed and his acting career was well underway.

The supporting cast includes a friendly neighbor played by Siobhan Fallon Hogan (Men in Black, Holes) and J.K. Simmons (Juno, Spider-Man trilogy) as a blue-collar worker who clashes with Lucy’s management style. Simmons gained 35 pounds for the role.

Danish director Jonas Elmer makes his English language feature film debut with New in Town. His European work includes television (Langt fra Las Vegas) and film projects (Nynne’s Diary), in addition to music videos and commercials.

Screenwriter Kenneth Rance wrote the script for the film based on a real experience he had meeting a woman at a Minnesota nightclub who told him the pressures of climbing the corporate ladder as a transplant in a strange town.

Production took place in Miami, Florida, and Winnipeg, Canada (which served as a stand-in for New Ulm, Minnesota).

The ice, snow, and frigid temperatures are essential to the story as Lucy adjusts from her Miami state of mind and body. Shooting began during record-breaking low winter temperatures of –52.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Some equipment froze during filming and the heat from the cameras caused nearly constant fogging of the lenses.

In an effort to recreate the look and feel of New Ulm, Minnesota, in the Winnipeg setting, Elmer spent time researching the town of 13,593 residents, mostly of German and Swedish descent.

The copyright of the article Fun Facts About New in Town in Romantic Comedy Films is owned by Leslie C. Halpern. Permission to republish Fun Facts About New in Town in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.