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Casting the children, Erin and Josh, was very important to defining the Jordan family; winning these roles were newcomers Colleen Rennison and Jake Sandvig. Reiner's main requirement was finding two actors that have the same qualities as Pfeiffer's and Willis' characters. "Erin is very intelligent, sensitive and aware of everything that's going on," confirms Reiner. "Josh is kind of a wise guy who has fun, jokes around and doesn't take anything too seriously...chips off the old blocks."
Four of the most respected comedic actors were cast to portray Willis and Pfeiffer's parents. Betty White and Red Buttons play Lillian and Arnie, Ben's easygoing and hopelessly romantic parents. Jayne Meadows and Tom Poston are Katie's parents, Dot and Harry, who have a marriage built around by Dot's obsessive-compulsive ways.
This great timing can be seen in one of Ben and Katie's many therapy sessions. Their doctor explains that there are never just two people in bed together, there are six, including their parents. Taking a glimpse into this observation, Ben and Katie are fictitiously accompanied during a romantic moment in the bedroom by the quarrelers, Dot and Harry; and the romantics; Lillian and Arnie. "This scene is like a fugue for six people," explains Reiner. "The voices of your parents are actually inside you all the time. They guide you in good ways and in bad ways to navigate your ability to relate to the opposite sex," says Reiner. The key craftspeople took great care to ensure that the visual images in The Story of Us would be as genuine as the depiction of Ben and Katie's relationship. The Story of Us was shot in various locations in and around Los Angeles with a brief trip to Venice, Italy that adds an essential romantic touch. Being a true Los Angeles-based family, the Jordans are seen in many well-known locations; Will Rogers State Park, Malibu Lake, Third St. Promenade and downtown's California Plaza, to name a few. In addition, several of Los Angeles' most celebrated eateries are featured, including Pinot Bistro, Campanile, Cicada and Miceli's. Searching for a possible theme song for The Story of Us was one of Reiner's biggest challenges. Nothing seemed to perfectly match the sentiment carried throughout the film. Reiner decided to send a rough copy of the film to renowned artist Eric Clapton. When a few weeks went by without hearing back from Clapton's representatives, Reiner decided to contact them directly. Reiner was told that "today is just not a good day. Let's wait to contact him." Coincidentally, Reiner received a FedEx the very moment he ended this conversation. To his surprise, enclosed was a note from Eric Clapton stating his enjoyment of the film. Since it has inspired him on such a personal level, Clapton immediately wrote several verses and recorded them for Reiner to review. "It was unbelievably perfect! It worked like a charm," says Reiner. His search had concluded with one of the world's best musicians attached to his film.
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Reiner expresses, "It was great having these great, solid professionals. They have done a lot of comedy and have incredibly great timing."
