You'd think a movie actor wouldn't have trouble getting a date to the prom.
After all, we regularly see video pleas from teens to movie stars to accompany them to their big dances — so surely young actor Skyler Gisondo, who plays Ben Stiller's son in "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb," wouldn't have any problem ... right?
Well, a little insurance couldn't hurt. So back in May, when Gisondo wanted to hedge his bets when it came to getting the prom date of his dreams, he enlisted a little help from his co-stars Stiller and Robin Williams.
According to Gisondo, who spoke with the Hollywood Reporter over the weekend about the video, he asked for only a few seconds of their time. But the final product ended up going nearly three minutes, getting funnier and goofier as it went along.
"All morning, Robin was pitching more ideas," said Gisondo. "He was saying 'Can I say this? Would it be appropriate to say this?' You're Robin Williams. You can say whatever you want!"
It's a warm, delightful performance, in which Williams trots out many of his well-known voices and personas to convince the girl in question that Gisondo is the right guy for her. Meanwhile, Stiller does his best in the straight man role ... and then out comes Crystal the monkey.
I am the one who rocks: Bryan Cranston helps teen land a prom date
"It turned into this three-minute, ridiculous thing. A prom-posal," Gisondo continued. "I realized that was the most awesome three minutes of my life, and I've accepted it will go downhill from there."
Yet the display of Williams' improv genius is bittersweet, since, tragically, the funnyman ended his own life Aug. 11.
Noted Gisondo, "Robin was this bottomless reservoir of kindness and hilarity. It was just so special to work so closely with this guy whose movies I've grown up with, and watch his preparedness and his kindness."
And his ability to land a teenager a date for the prom. Because yes, of course ... the video worked.