The movie is based on the short story "Why Don't You Dance?" by Raymond Carver, an American author and poet. Director Dan Rush asked permission of Mr. Carver's widow, Tess Gallagher, before extending the story and adding additional characters.
The screenplay for this film was featured in the 2008 Blacklist; a list of the "most liked" unmade scripts of the year.
Filming took place in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Four of the cast members were born in the same years but were in separate months apart from each other. 1967; Laura Dern and Will Ferrell are only five months apart in age so it's very possible they could've both graduated in the same year. In this case, Dern was born on February 10th and Ferrell was born on July 16th. 1976; Michael Peña was born on January 13th and Glenn Howerton was born on April 13th.