Mark Wahlberg Disses "The Happening"

At the press conference for his new film, "The Fighter," Mark Wahlberg was perkier than we've seen him in years.

Maybe it's because he spent four and half years fighting to get the film made, eventually signing on as a producer, and knows he has a winner on his hands and will be getting thanked in Christian Bale's almost certain acceptance speeches for his role as Micky Ward's "squirrely" brother, Dickie.

Or maybe he was just feeling feisty.

Either way, Wahlberg served up the most refreshing moment of honesty we can remember ever seeing during a press day, one that causing a thronged room of cynical journalists to erupt in spontaneous applause and laughter.

When asked about his chemistry with Amy Adams, Wahlberg said, "We had actually had the luxury of having lunch before to talk about another movie and it was a bad movie that I did; she dodged the bullet." Without any prompting, Wahlberg continued, "And then I was still able to--I don't want to tell you what movie—alright, 'The Happening.' F--k it. It is what it is. F--king trees, man. The plants. You can't blame me for not wanting to try to play a science teacher. At least I wasn't playing a cop or a crook. But she didn't do the movie and we got the chance to work together again."

Actors admitting when their movies are terrible is one Hollywood trend we'd love to see more of. That, and more frisky Wahlberg.

Written for NBC's Popcorn Biz