After Le silence des agneaux (1991) became a resounding success in 1991, Ted Levine, who played a serial killer in the film, became typecast as a villain by casting directors. It was Jennifer Jason Leigh who convinced the director of this film that he could portray a stay-at-home dad supporting his wife. Levine says he is now forever grateful for Leigh's belief in his versatility.
Mare Winningham and Jennifer Jason Leigh have been longtime friends since meeting at a summer camp when they were both teenagers, in the late 1970's, but this is their first film together.