A tilt-shift lens is used to give several wide aerial shots the miniaturized look of the Game of Life board game.
Prior to filming, the cast members had their own "game night" so they could get to know one another and prepare for the film. They played Clue and Joking Hazard.
Jason Bateman was originally set to direct the film, but John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein would only work on a rewrite of the script if they could also direct.
Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) make a joke about child actors not amounting to much. Bateman was a child actor famous for his roles in Silver Spoons (1982) and Valerie (1986) among others.
Amy Adams was the original choice for the role of Annie.