The trailer attracted a lot of criticism for the line spoken by Vince Vaughn's character "Electric cars are gay. I mean, not homosexual gay, but my-parents-are-chaperoning-the-dance gay.". Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) publicly asking they remove the line, support for the motion being seconded by Anderson Cooper. Universal released a new trailer without the line. Co-Producer and Director Ron Howard, however, refused to cut the line from the film itself as he felt it was tantamount to censorship.
Winona Ryder won the lead female role after two auditions, beating out the likes of Kate Beckinsale, Carla Gugino, and Uma Thurman.
In a nod to the late John Hughes, several of his movies on DVD are stacked up on the kitchen counter while Ronny (Vince Vaughn) is trying to cut a piece of cake.