Actor Joaquin Phoenix got a bit defensive in the December issue of Playboy magazine, snapping back at We Own the Night co-star, Eva Mendes.

Mendes joked at the movie’s press conference that Phoenix has a short attention span, after the actor fidgeted and tried to light a cigarette. “It’s kind of like working with a puppy dog or a two-year-old,” the actress said. “When you have its attention, it?s really cute, but otherwise…”

Phoenix strikes back at the seductive actress in his Playboy interview, ranting, “Had I known I was supposed to be a puppy dog, I would have been much more cute and more consistently attentive. My apologies, Eva, but I had a few other scenes that you weren’t in.

This puppy dog had a lot of work to do.” Earlier this year, rumors circulated on the internet that the two were dating after photographs surfaced of them leaving dinner together. We Own the Night is currently in theaters. It also co-stars Mark Wahlberg. Source