The Rock on how it’s hard to make friends when you’re older: ‘it’s not like college’

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Dwayne The Rock Johnson was on Jimmy Kimmel promoting Jumanji 2, which I look forward to watching, hopefully in the theater. I rented the last one on Redbox and it was thoroughly enjoyable so maybe this holiday I’ll have time for this dumb movie. I mean that in the nicest way. Dwayne is always so congenial and uncontroversial that he doesn’t give us much to talk about. The dude is a standup guy, he works hard and he’s gracious to fans. He’s also good to his parents. The Rock and Kimmel talked about the fact that they both bought houses for their parents and how they had to put the reins on stuff their parents wanted. I’ve never been in a position to buy my parents a house, but this was still relatable to me. In Dwayne’s case his parents are divorced so he bought them each a house. Impressive. He gave his mom her pick of a dream house last Christmas, and there’s a particular reason she had to choose one from several.

On his friendship with Kevin Hart
Dwayne: It’s definitely a real friendship, it’s one I didn’t anticipate. As you get older, it’s not like in high school or college where you have a lot of best friends. He has become truly a great friend. As much sh-t as we give each other, he had a tough year and I’m so happy he’s back. He’s in the game and he’s feeling good and very resilient. I’m very happy for him.

On buying houses for their parents
Jimmy: Is it as easy as it sounds to [buy a house]? Who picks the house?
Dwayne: You gotta take control. Give them options, scope out the neighborhood, [vet] everything. If not it’s just a runaway train.
Jimmy: I did that. There’s always things, you know? ‘It’s a little small.’ Did you have any of that?
Dwayne: My old man was a little like that. ‘There’s a lot of animals and critters in the back. Maybe if I could get a fence.’
‘Yeah you could get it, sure. Maybe you could get it. Sure I could do that too. Of course.’
Jimmy: Nothing is ever easy is it?
Dwayne: Nothing’s easy with the parents.

[From Jimmy Kimmel Live]

After that Dwayne did his Danny DeVito impression, because DeVito is in Dwayne’s body in the Jumanji game, and he sounded really close! This movie will be fun. As I mentioned this in no way applies to me, but it might, someday, when my dreams come true. Of course Dwayne and Jimmy’s parents were demanding and wanted specific things because they’re parents, that’s what parents typically do with their kids. Also people want specific things in their homes, that’s where you live! I would do this to my kid. “Can I get a jet tub? The neighborhood is a little loud, is there something closer to you and your family?” I mean it’s not like I’m living with him, although old lady me would totally do that. Also I agree with him that it’s harder to make friends when you’re older.

Here’s that interview!

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Photos credit: Avalon.red

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16 Responses to “The Rock on how it’s hard to make friends when you’re older: ‘it’s not like college’”

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  1. LadyMTL says:

    It can definitely be harder to make friends when you’re older, and it’s hard to keep them too just because people are busy, have jobs, kids, and etc. It’s so easy to lose touch. I have maybe 3 friends (one of whom started as a work friend) and it’s rare if I see any of them socially more than once every 8 weeks, or sometimes even longer. Not that I’m a social butterfly – I for sure lean more towards introversion – but yeah, it’s not like back in high school, hahaha.

    • IMUCU says:

      I’m introverted too and it is harder to make friends when older. I just spent the last year in nursing school and felt like I made good friends with some of those in my clinical group (hung out outside of school, etc.). Today is graduation, which has had me feeling bittersweet the last few days. I honestly hope it’s not the last time I see some of them, but it very well might be because, as ladymtl said above, people just get busy, our schedules will now be different, some commuted in from other counties, etc. I made them each little parting gifts with notes letting them know the door is always open if they need something as our lives take us in different directions now.

      • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

        It’s waaaaaay harder to make friends as you get up there, ESPECIALLY when you don’t have kids/grandkids to talk about. Or when you’re single. Uggh. Definitely harder.

    • Raina says:

      I’ve had and kept some amazing life long type friends, some even before high school. Not elementary school because i moved right after. Those friends are the ones who know you best and youre comfortable telling them to go fuck themselves without a traumatic conclusion lol.
      That said, am going through a particularly rough “break-up” with my oldest and closest friend. I can see ego on both ends, I understand this is a matter of lives differing. But, it is so damn hard. I mean, worse than the ending of any of my romantic partners type of hard. We promosed to speak at each others funerals type of hard lol. Whomever died first, clearly.
      Anyway, those friendships are rare. I’m dealing with it by not dealing with it, sorta. I don’t want a replacement, nor will I find one. I think: it’ll be tough to live out life never talking to her again but it is what it is.
      Yes, we’ve had breaks before, this one somehow feels permanent. And, sure, it would be great to find a friend who “gets” me that exact way but what Dwayne said here is true.
      Meeting a new great friend; it’s possible but not probable. I miss the connection. The history.
      Don’t get me wrong; I have plenty of acquaintances and am cordial but it rarely gets to a point where what friendship felt like early on. Things are new when youre younger. Youre less cranky and judgemental.
      I guess I just miss saying go fuck yourself to someone lol.
      Venting over. This saved me 100 bucks in therapy.

      • LadyMTL says:

        Raina, I went through something very similar a few years ago (a friend I’d known since high school, we’d taken trips together, I helped her through a divorce, etc) and it was devastating when the friendship ended. FWIW it was her choice, not mine – she felt like we’d grown apart.

        It is very hard to deal with, and it can take a while to adjust to the fact that this person will no longer be in your life. Those friendships are rare indeed, and the fact that we might never find friends like that again can make it even sadder to think about…but take it from me, it does get better. Each day that passes you’ll see that you miss this person less and less, and one day you might just say “eh, I wish them well, time to move on.”
        In the meantime, big hugs!

  2. Shirleygailgal says:

    He’s doing a lot of belly cupping. Think we should be on pregnancy watch? LOL my son saw an advance screening of this movie last night and came home raving about it. He even said “I can hardly wait for you to see this movie, Mum, you’re gonna laugh out loud!!” so there’s that..I’m a big fan of Dwayne’s and have been for a very long time. He’s really coming into his own.

  3. Becks1 says:

    I had such a hard time making friends over the past 10 years or so. I was in college, and then law school, so that gives you built in friends in a way, and then I have some friends at work, but after that it was hard. I’ve lived in my current house for 7 years and only started making friends when my youngest started elementary school, and even then it took a year or two. Its just hard. People are busy, less common ground, etc. We’ve made some good friends in our neighborhood now which makes me happy.

    anyway I’m excited to see Jumanji 2. I was surprised at how much I loved the first one. It was just…..fun. Campy, funny, light hearted. There should be more of those kinds of movies.

    • Esmom says:

      I felt lucky to meet some really good friends when my kids went to preschool and elementary school. And I had a very social block when my kids were young. In the place I lived for the past 10 years, most of my neighbors don’t even acknowledge anyone.

      The people at the gym I go to all seem to have become good friends but I don’t hang out with them outside of our workouts because they’re all 20+ years younger! But it’s nice to see these young adults developing new friendships, I know how hard it can be.

      One of my best friends is struggling to get over a divorce and trying to make a new start in a new city. He’s finding it impossible to make friends. I keep telling him he needs to pick up some new hobbies or join some groups. I’m guessing it might be awkward at first but hopefully he can connect with someone eventually.

    • Celebitchy says:

      I joined a Meetup group for women over 40 and they are really wonderful and keep planning things to do every weekend. I have made a lot of friends in that and we do things outside the group too. Check your local meetups to see what people are doing. They have groups for hobbies and interests too of course.

      • Esmom says:

        CB, that is great to know. I don’t know why my friend is so reluctant to do this. I guess I do know, his self-esteem has taken a huge hit. But he’s been divorced for over three years now. I’m hoping he can find some new friends to distract him from his pain over the breakup. My trying to help long-distance just isn’t enough.

  4. Brandy Alexander says:

    My husband’s cousin went to college with Dwayne Johnson. I hated him as The Rock, but he seems so nice when not in that persona. So, I recently asked my cousin-in-law which was his real personality when he knew him, assuming he would say that he really was a jerk back then. To my surprise, he said DJ was straight up genuinely the nicest guy around when he knew him in those days, that the jerk character was the act. It made me really like him.

  5. What...now? says:

    I’m glad that those Celebitchies who have seen this say it’s gonna be funny. I really liked the first one and thought it was just a fun little movie. Jack Black was GREAT, and I believed his teenage girl performance.

    I definitely want to see this when it comes out. I am a fan of the Rock too!

  6. holly hobby says:

    I love Jumanji! Better than the original. I know it’s difficult to make friends after college. It was even difficult in the dating department. I finally made friends when my kids entered school. Most of my closest friends now are parents of the school.

  7. TG says:

    It’s funny how we thought nothing of making friends with other students in school. But look at our workmates in a different light. I guess we become less open as we get older

  8. Maples says:

    It is difficult for adults to make friends, and even harder when you also have a chronic illness and chronic pain that keeps you at home a lot. I am pretty sick most of the time so I am at home a lot and therefore have next to no friends except the two I made years ago before I got sick. . I like being alone and doing my own thing but occasionally I can feel lonely as my two friends are busy with their own lives and families and we only talk once every few weeks.

  9. Granger says:

    My closest friends are from university — 25 years, we live in different places, we get together at least twice a year for girls’ weekends and once every 3 or 4 years we go on an extended trip. And there is just nobody who compares to these ladies. We’ve been through so much together, and they GET me. I can be annoyed with them and they can be annoyed with me and it’s all good, we talk it out, get over it. It’s an amazing relationship. But it takes work, let me tell you. We make our girls’ weekends a priority — we book them in our calendars every year before we even have solid family vacation plans. That way, the weekends happen no matter what.

    I have other wonderful friends but none of them are as close as my uni ladies. It’s that level of comfort, being with people who are kind of like sisters at this point. Plus I’ve moved around a lot since university, and it DOES get harder and harder to make new friends the older you get. My last move was when I was 42 and no longer required to drop kids off at school or hang out in the playground where you might meet other like-minded women. My uni friends are just a constant, plain and simple.