McConaughey Talks His Forte: Romance

King of Romantic Comedies Sees Himself In Newest Character

(CBS)  He's captured hearts time and again in movies such as "The Wedding Planner," "Sahara," "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," and "Failure to Launch."

And he hopes to do it again in his new movie, "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past."

Matthew McConaughey, the king of romantic comedies, appeared on The Early Show Friday to talk about life, love and his new movie.

In "Girlfriends Past," McConaughey plays a womanizer who has to revisit his mistreated ex-girlfriends, à la Scrooge, in order to find true love.

McConaughey told Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez he sees a bit of himself in Connor Mead, his womanizing character.

"I understand a little bit of Connor Mead," McConaughey said. "(But) I've never broken up with anyone on a conference call -- especially three at a time."

McConaughey added that every guy has a bit of his character in him.

"Connor, at the beginning of this film, is a guy who's single; he's swimming in it, you know, and cutting any tie that binds him," he said. "And I think every guy goes through some version of that in their life.

"At the same time," McConaughey said, "deep down, we all want to meet that someone who's right to make a bigger life with, but sometimes there's a lot of times in life that you're scared to do it."

McConaughey, who's been named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive," said his life with girlfriend Camila Alves has changed -- but not much -- since the birth of his 9-and-a-half month-old son, Levi.

"You honestly have more to live for, and that's a good buzz every day," he said. "...It's not like life was incomplete before, but it sure does get more complete after."

McConaughey has worked with several A-list stars over the years, and Rodriguez asked him his impressions of each leading lady.

Jennifer Garner, his co-star in "Girlfriends Past," he said, is "elegant" and a "pioneer woman."

"If she would have been in those times, she would have made it all the way west," he said.

Sarah Jessica Parker, whom McConaughey co-starred with in "Failure to Launch," was, he said, a crush for years, noting he "was always a big Sarah Jessica Parker fan."

McConaughey said Kate Hudson, with whom he's shared the screen twice, in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and "Fool's Gold," has "got some good rock 'n' roll."

And Penelope Cruz, his co-star in 2005's "Sahara," he said, "sees things like she's seeing them for the first time."

"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" opens in theaters on May 1.

[anitaymoore]

I can't stand McConaughey, he's a one trick pony! His movies are all the same characters (with slight differences) over and over and over again. At first he was somewhat charming...but that charm has worn off in a big way for me. His movies are soooo predictable, for me that makes them boooooring! Try playing a totally different character for a change Matthew!