Florida is a unique place and Johnny Pemberton and the team behind his new film, “Mermaid,” aim to embrace that fact.
Pemberton plays Doug, a lonely, drug-addicted, struggling man who finds a renewed sense of purpose when he discovers a real live mermaid, who he tries to keep safe from outside forces.
“It’s a love letter, because you like to look at Florida as this spectacle. It’s so much weird stuff going on there. It’s such a weird, strange mixture of cultures and wildlife, that you have to love it, otherwise you’ll hate it,” Pemberton told PauseRewind’s Elizabeth Stanton.
He added that writer and director Tyler Cornack intended to show the state some love, saying, “He just loves the all the people, all the personalities, all the scenery. It’s such a kind of a f–ked up place. It’s nasty and weird, but also you love it for that reason. I think that is why it’s such a love letter. Because Tyler, really captures the essence of Florida in the movie. And it’s hard to do that.”
The “Fallout” star went to college in Florida, but is in fact a born and bred Minnesotan, which has informed his already prolific career in Hollywood.
“Most people from Minnesota have what they call a Protestant work ethic, even though I’m not Protestant, but it’s like, kind of baked into you,” he explained. “And there’s sort of this thing where you, I mean, it helps and it hurts, but there’s definitely a lot of not wanting to stick out.”
He continued, “The process, to me, is the most fun by far, and all the attention afterwards is the worst part, which is ironic, but really true. And I think that’s what maybe helps somewhat. Also, if you’re in comedy, being trapped indoors eight months of the year helps you to have to find stuff funny, because otherwise you’re going to be miserable.”
Pemberton is also a stand up comic and just recently recorded his one-man show, “Minnesota Reggae Colostomy Bag.”
As strange as the title sounds, it’s actually quite personal.
“The title is about because I have a bowel disease, ulcerative colitis. I had that for a long time, and I had my colon removed about 20 years ago,” the actor explained. “So the show is all about stories about having colitis and having the surgery and just and discovering reggae as a means to forget about my problems.”
He did admit with a laugh, “It’s a great or terrible title, depending who you are.”
“Mermaid” is in select theaters now.
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