Improvisation was encouraged during filming. One such case was the line: "This corn is like an angel." Allison Pill's (Jane) stoic expression turns into a failed attempt to hold back a grin. The outtakes show that the entire cast soon burst out laughing.
The movie was filmed in an actual house in Rhode Island, where the cast spent a great deal of time bonding and rehearsing before filming began.
Largely based on co-writer Pierce Gardner's personal experiences on years going to summer vacations at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware with his wife's extended family.
Producers recruited some local children to play Dan's young nieces and nephews.
Amy Ryan (Eileen) would turn out to be Steve Carell's (Dan) future girlfriend on the TV series The Office (2005). Furthermore, Emily Blunt (Carell's date in the double date scene) married Office star John Krasinski shortly after this film was made.