‘I like to mix it up’

Though he’s more than proved his dramatic mettle in such films as John Sayles’ “Eight Men Out,” Stephen Frears’ “The Grifters” and Terrence Malick’s “The Thin Red Line,” John Cusack is associated most closely with comedies. He made his first big splash 20 years ago in Rob Reiner’s romantic farce “The Sure Thing,” and over the last two decades his quirky charm and boyish good looks have been put to good use in a diverse array of comic fare: Spike Jonze’s “Being John Malkovich,” Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Serendipity,” “America’s Sweethearts.” He’s also co-written and produced the offbeat comedy hits “High Fidelity” and “Grosse Pointe Blank.”

His latest, “Must Love Dogs,” opened Friday. Written and directed by Gary David Goldberg (“Family Ties”), the romantic comedy finds Cusack, 39, as Jake, a lovelorn divorced boat maker who has become obsessed with watching “Dr. Zhivago” since his wife left him. Diane Lane plays a divorced woman who connects with him via an Internet dating site. He’s desperately seeking love; she isn’t.

When you got involved in “Must Love Dogs,” you and Goldberg worked on rewriting your character. Do you always try to be so hands-on with your projects?

I think it depends on the movie and depends on how it is written and what the aesthetic is of the person who is making it. Gary, who wrote the script, is always writing and rewriting, so it is like I jumped into the fray with him.

Jake is sort of an offbeat romantic hero. Was the role more typically conceived?

I think he was written as a smaller part and then Gary asked me to do it. He said if we are going to have you come do it, we are going to make the most out of it and flesh him out. We just tried to think of stuff that we both thought was funny. Traditional doesn’t seem as fun. People are endlessly fascinating. I like to put stuff in. I haven’t met any perfect people, so I don’t want to play those in the movies.

So how did you make him less conventional?

Just sort of having the person have a more specific point of view.... The guy was a boat builder -- this person was going away from the mass-produced boats. He was an artist and an individualist. People who make those choices are interesting.

He also doesn’t seem to know how to verbalize his feelings.

I think that’s always interesting, to have guys try to verbalize what they are feeling, because they are not good at it. Obviously, that is interesting from a comic perspective.

Why did you decide to make him obsessed with “Dr. Zhivago”? Usually that’s considered more a chick flick.

Right. I think at one point it was “Rebecca” and at another point it was another movie we couldn’t get the rights to and then we came up with “Zhivago.” I think that “Dr. Zhivago” -- just the word is funny to say. Say it a few times. Go on. Say it.

Zhivago. Zhivago.

See, it’s fun to say. I found that the theme song alone would get a laugh. In most movies, you have the guy who isn’t ready to commit and the girl wants endless, enduring love that spans across continents. This movie, it’s kind of reverse. The guy is ready for it, but she isn’t.

Do you have a specific movie you watch when your heart is broken?

No. I haven’t had it happen too many times. I think usually I will listen to Bob Dylan, or if I’m angry, Elvis Costello -- some of those really early records. I usually go more with music than films that way. If I am in the middle of heartache, I don’t want to see a movie about heartache.

You move effortlessly between comedy and drama. Do you have a preference between the two genres?

I like to mix it up. The fun thing about getting to do more serious movies is coming back to do a film like this. It is such an enjoyable way to make a film because you want to find the truth of things, but at the same time you want to do something wistful in a light and loving way. You want to keep it light and fun. And it’s important to have a good time on the set.

You’ve been acting since you were a kid. Do you enjoy the craft as much now?

Hmmm. I still like acting, but I really like to have a hand in writing and producing. When I am producing, writing and acting, I am involved in casting everybody, hiring the director, getting the cast together, working on the music. It’s such a collaborative medium and you are part of the process. With “High Fidelity” and “Grosse Pointe Blank” I felt I was very much a part of making those happen.

Have you thought about trying your hand at directing?

Yeah, I’d like to do that, but I am not in a huge rush....

-- Susan King