A Minute With: Downey Jr, Galifianakis on 'Due Date'

In film comedy "Due Date," Robert Downey Jr. stars as a short-tempered businessman and first-time dad who is forced into a road trip with a needy, aspiring actor in order to get home for his child's birth.

The wannabe thespian, played by Zach Galifianakis, brings his dog on the trip across the United States. Much of the comedy stems from the banter between the two as they butt heads on a range of topics and events during their adventure.

With the film due in theaters Friday, the pair sat down with Reuters, and the verbal jabs just kept on coming.

Q: How often did you break character and burst in to laughter?

Robert Downey Jr.: "Well I consider myself responsible for Zach's stellar performance, and I really enjoyed shaping it and watching it come together."

Galifianakis: (softly) "I don't know if that's the answer to the question."

Downey Jr: "Huh?"

Galifianakis: (louder) "I don't know if you're answering the question."

Downey Jr.: "It was, how did it feel to be the patient midwife in a staggeringly slow process of ritual adornment."

Galifianakis: "Oh, my apologies."

Q: Zach, you starred in the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time with "The Hangover." Robert you are a big box-office star with "Iron Man." Who has the biggest ego?

Galifianakis: "Don't you think it's pretty obvious? (looks at Downey Jr.) I mean if you had said Eggo that would be me. (pauses) That was a waffle joke."

Downey Jr.: "Boy, you are really controlling the pace now, aren't you? You are in your power!"

Q: Robert was nominated for an Academy Award for his roles in "Chaplin" and "Tropic Thunder." Zach, were you at all intimidated by working with a double Oscar nominee?

Downey Jr.: "How could he not be?"

Galifianakis: "Quite honestly, a little bit. At least going in to it ...

Q: What was it like sharing the camera with a dog?

Downey Jr.: "We were actually looking out for the dog, saying 'Do you really think Sunny needs to be in the hot car for another 2 hours when he's clearly out of frame?' And (director) Todd Phillips would be like, 'Hey, we're paying the dog! Get the dog in there!'"

Q: Robert, you wear the same outfit throughout the movie and it gets progressively more tattered and beat up. Were you sick of putting it on day after day?

Downey Jr.: "I always thought it would be weird to have one costume change for a whole movie."

Galifianakis: "What do you mean? Why is that weird?"

Downey Jr.: "Just because I thought it'd be weird. I know you're used to it."

Galifianakis: "Well, the costumes...

Downey Jr.: (imitating Galifianakis) "The costumes..."

Galifianakis: (exasperated) "I can't say anything!"

Downey Jr.: "Go ahead."

Galifianakis: "No."

Downey Jr. "Say what you were going to say.

Galifianakis: (mumbles quickly) "The costume is really important in filmmaking. (turns to Downey Jr.) It really is. But everything I say is, I guess, a joke. Costumes are important. Everything is important..."

Downey Jr.: "...and a joke."