In 2006, when the film and the book “The Secret” were released, the new-age self-help “teachings” by Rhonda Byrne seemed to take the country by storm. The book’s message centered around the laws of attraction and how positive thinking can help manifest good things to come into your life, and many readers and viewers were enthralled by that ideology.
Now, at a time that seems to be anything but positive, another addition to “The Secret” family has hit our TV screens, and comes in the form of a fictional and romantic tale. “The Secret: Dare to Dream” stars Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas and Jerry O’Connell and follows Holmes’ character Miranda as she juggles being a working single mom and her relationship with her somewhat pessimistic boyfriend, Tucker, played by O’Connell. Josh Lucas’ character, Bray comes on the scene and seems to turn her world around with just innate kindness — showing her the laws of attraction and how your way of thinking can ultimately shift your life one way or the other.
The storyline itself isn’t exactly one that follows the book to a “T”, but the overall arch of the new film does follow the same guidelines. The family-friendly story is available now through on demand, and Jerry O’Connell sat down with Metro to discuss more on what went into making “The Secret: Dare to Dream.”
Initially, what was it that made you want to sign on with this particular project?
It’s a big-time Hollywood romance movie, and it’s an honor to be apart of that. Without spoiling too much, I might play sort of the anti-secret character in it, but still, as an actor, you know it’s great that I’m up there with Katie Holmes who is a big-time movie star and Josh Lucas as well. But on a personal level, about 15 years ago when the book came out, I was at work and I was complaining nonstop about one of my bosses in particular, one of my co-stars told me to come to his dressing room and he gave me this book. At first, I was like oh gosh, this is going to be a cult situation, I don’t need this right now, please just let me enjoy my negativity, I’m happy with being negative. But he told me to read it, and it really helped me through a difficult professional time in my life. At the risk of sounding too cheesy, I guess I manifested being part of this movie.
What can you tell me about your character specifically?
I think he’s sort of the anti-secret. He’s a pessimistic, negative person which is, I guess a little bit like I am in real life. I guess that’s why maybe they attached me in it. Then, of course, you have Josh Lucas who comes in and helps Katie Holmes find a better life through the laws of attraction, and she sort of has to choose to dump me and end up with him or not—and I’ve read some of the comments, and I think people are pretty happy with her decision.
What do you think about the timing of this film’s timing and having it come out?
This film was supposed to come out in April in movie theaters, and obviously, that’s not happening, so it’s now on video on demand. I was a little bummed. When you make a movie, you want to go to the multiplex with your family and see yourself on the big screen—but the people at Lionsgate who released the film said no, this is the right time for this film to come out, and I think it just has a positive message right now.
How was it working with Katie Holmes and Josh Lucas?
It was great, I love Josh Lucas and you do get lost in his dreamy eyes when you’re working with him, and Katie Holmes is just great. She’s positively inspiring, not only as a co-worker, but truly as a parent. Watching her balance work and being a mom is inspiring, it really is.
After getting to work on this film, has it changed your outlook on anything?
Yes, especially now during the pandemic, I guess we all need to have a little positivity. It’s just not an easy time, so I would say yeah, working on this has made me a positive person—maybe I can roll that into a sequel where my character using the laws of attraction has a more positive outlook on life. I’m a little partial because I’m in the movie, I’m in the fiction, romantic arm of “The Secret,” but it really is a positive movie, and especially for now. I think that families will get to take away that positivity. I’m a fan of movies, I guess we’re not grabbing popcorn and going to movies anymore but you can have whatever is in your fridge and watch it at home now.
“The Secret: Dare to Dream” is now available on video on demand
