Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte did it in “48 Hours.” Don’t rememberthat far back? Think Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in “Bad Boys.”Getting the picture? You know the story. The straight-laced toughguy and the goofy, but street-smart partner team up for some wackyand action-packed adventures. It’s the cinematic formula that, withthe right actors, equals gold. The Rock and Seann William Scottnail the buddy/action/comedy in “The Rundown,” which hits theatresFriday.

Q: How did the idea of pairing you two come up?

The Rock: It was when we decided that “The Rundown” was going tobe my next movie. We had to choose between “Rundown” and “SWAT.”Then we had this big meeting about who my partner was gonna be.Scott Stuber threw this idea out &- ‘What do you think aboutSeann William Scott?’ and everyone was like, ‘Oh…yea.”

Q: Are you planning on making a full-time jump into actionmovies?

R: Actually, my next movie will probably be a comedy.

Seann William Scott: Maybe. I like action movies a lot. I grewup playing sports, so I like being physical.

Q: What was it like working with Christopher Walken? He is knownfor his improv. Did he do any in “The Rundown.”

R: He has that fascinating rhythm, that cadence. He re-wrote alot of stuff. Not because he didn’t like it, but because he justwanted to try it another way.

SWS: It was great, though he is a little intimidating. Actually,a lot of the movie was improv. We would crack each other up.

Q: Seann, what were the differences between working with ChowYun-Fat and working with The Rock?

SWS: It was very different. This was a totally different movie.Rock does everything. Chow Yun-Fat isn’t really an action guy. He’smore of a gun guy.

Q: Rock, is it more challenging having a match in thewrestling ring or doing a fight scene on a movie set?

R: Probably in the ring…because nothing is scored. If you haveto go through a table, it’s a real table. The only other differenceis that on the set, you have to do it over and over again for thecamera. It took us two weeks to film the fight scene in thevillage.

Q: Did either of you get any injuries?

R: My stunt double, who is my cousin, broke his ankle on a fallfrom a tree. Seann’s stunt double got really banged up on a falldown a mountain.

Q: Any plans to go back to World Wrestling Entertainment?

R: I have a great relationship with Vince (McMahon), but it’shard for me because I want to do something different every time Igo back. Last time it was Goldberg, before that it was (Hulk)Hogan, but now, it’s hard for me to envision who I would go backfor.

Q: Rock this was your first foray into action/comedy. What doyou consider to be your comic style?

R: Mine’s probably a little drier…or I can be sarcastic. I’m abig comedy fan.

Q: What is your all-time favorite movie starring a wrestler?

R: “Predator” was pretty good. But, I’d have to say “ParadiseAlley,” Sylvester Stallone and Terry Funk were in that. That was agreat movie.

Q: What was it like throwing the opening pitch for the OaklandA’s?

R: It was fantastic &- Seann did it like a pro. I, however,stunk up the mound.

Q: Did you two have any disagreements?

SWS: No, actually, it was one of the best experiences I ever hadon a set.

R: Not at all. Before we started shooting, we talked aboutbringing back the non-buddy, buddy comedy action duo. Like in “48Hours.” We (Seann and I) got together to make sure we clicked. Wejust had chemistry.

SWS: Yea, we made love.

R: The only thing we did disagree on was me eating tuna andburping it his face.

Q: What’s next for both you?

SWS: I’m producing a movie. It’s a re-make of a French Comedy.It’s a little bit like a male version of “Amelie.”