'Find the Good in Things': Comedian Has Refreshing Take on Hollywood/Politics, Promotes New Rom-Com Film

Movies for adults, especially romantic comedies, have become something of a rarity in recent years, as big budget CGI IPs seemed to rule the roost. Some of that trend may be reversing, though, with the past few years seeing romance leavened with drama in some studios' offerings on the silver screen. A few recent movies, including Andrew Garfield/Florence Pugh weepfest "We Live in Time" (2024), and Celine Song's surprisingly thoughtful "Materialists" (2025), found receptive audiences in actual movie theaters, even when they might not have moved the needle with most cynical modern critics.

While touting his new-in-theaters romantic comedy, Angel Studios' "Solo Mio," Kevin James, the "King of Queens" actor/comedian, waded into the waters of how tough things have been for these kinds of movies to get released in movie theaters. His presence as part of the "Solo Mio" production apparently tipped the scales in its favor, he said in a wide-ranging sit-down with entertainment industry publication Variety. James explained:

This movie is me. [Angel Studios], more or less, got out of the way — in a good way — and just let me do what I do in the movie. That really worked out. They’re finding their way, but it gave me the freedom to do this. The film wouldn’t have been in theaters if I didn’t go with them.

Like A24's hit "Marty Supreme," the new flick has worked in a social media blitz as part of the marketing strategy before it opened last week ahead of Valentine's Day(you can see a sample of James' AMA here). The most recent facet of that happened during the broadcast of the weekend's Super Bowl, Variety reported, with James sitting forlornly in the stands clutching a discarded bouquet, as his character, a schoolteacher named Matt Taylor who suffers the misfortune of planning a destination wedding/honeymoon to Rome, then getting stood up at the altar by his betrothed. He decides to go solo (thus the title), and make the best of the situation for the rest of the Italian vacation.

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And how did the romantic comedy do its first weekend in the theaters? To paraphrase a famed Adam Sandler lyric, not too shabby, including for James' track record on the big screen:

Angel Studios is now finding success with lighter fare like “Solo Mio,” which earned a respectable $7.2 million in its opening weekend. The rom-com also earned an A- CinemaScore and an 81% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, the highest of James’ career.

Speaking of Sander, the actor also talked about the possibility of another "Grown Ups" sequel and the friendship of the fellow funnyman/producer having an indirect hand in his reigniting a desire to see movies in the theater:

James hadn’t been to a movie theater in years until Adam Sandler invited him to a special screening of “Happy Gilmore 2” last summer, rejuvenating his passion for cinemas. “It was packed and it just destroyed,” James recalls. “Seeing people laugh together, you forget that energy. It feels like an event, not like watching something on your phone or iPad.”

James had high praise for Sandler, the former "SNL" cast member-turned-Academy Award-nominated wunderkind:

He’s the greatest friend in the world, but also the biggest star. He crushes more than anybody. When he gives advice, he lifts you up if something’s not going well and comes up with fixes. He’s a brilliant mind. It’s not easy, but he’s done it time and time again. It’s great to have him.

And on the buddy movie, he added that whatever the producers/studio decide, if it comes out in theaters or streaming only, count him in:

If they ever do another ‘Grown Ups,’ I would love it. I’m just excited to be there, whether it’s streaming or in the theaters. Can I say this? How about both? I love both.

James also touched briefly on the future of movies getting played in the theaters, with that potential Netflix-WB deal still pending:

“Maybe Netflix will, I don’t know,” James says, hoping the streamer embraces the theatrical business. “I guess they don’t have to — because they get [their movies] to everybody, but I just miss that experience. Netflix is trying to buy everybody up. If they get theaters back, I’m thrilled for theaters. That’s what I’m shooting for the most, but we’ll see.”

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Something especially positive, though, was not in what Kevin James had to say as he is making the promotional tour rounds for the movie: his personal political views. He just does not see that as his job.

#KevinJames on why he doesn’t weigh in on politics: “There are experts who know much more than I do.”

“I’m just focusing on what I can do, delivering a fun, heartfelt break from the craziness of the world. Everybody carries themselves around all day long with a lot of stress.… pic.twitter.com/URI0y7pHf1
— Variety (@Variety) February 13, 2026

James said:

Politically, for me to speak on it, there are experts who know much more than I do.
I’m just focusing on what I can do, delivering a fun, heartfelt break from the craziness of the world.
Everybody carries themselves around all day long with a lot of stress. It’s necessary in some ways, but you also need a break. You’ve got to look around and find the good in things. Otherwise, you’re just not going to function. I want to make people have fun, have hope and get a nice escape in their day.

That's exactly the right way to approach things as an entertainer, especially a comedian. The long-reigning king of late night, "The Tonight Show" legend Johnny Carson, remains the gold standard on this. His monologues were famous for hitting both sides of the aisle, and even would go days at a time without any political fodder. He simply wanted to entertain people and give them a break from their every day woes. In more recent years, former "The Lae Late Show" host Craig Ferguson also was one to steer clear of politicking from the stage.

Anyway, it's refreshing to see someone like this in Hollywood staying away from spouting their (usually progressive) politics on purpose, and hooray for studios supporting original comedic/romantic movies in the theaters once again! We'll see if it pans out for the rare comedy offering, and Angel Studios, in the end.

You can watch the trailer for "Solo Mio" below, courtesy of Angel Studios:

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