Looking for something fun and unusual to stream – check out the K-pop and animation phenom that is KPOP DEMON HUNTERS.
When they aren’t selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.
The animated film, which is now streaming on Netflix, comes from Sony Pictures Animation (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Mitchells vs. The Machines), is directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, and features a script by Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Kang, and Appelhans.
Watch the trailer for the film that premiered June 20 on Netflix.
Collider said in their review: Great World-Building, Catchy Songs, and Impressive Performances Make Netflix’s Surprising New Film Unmissable. “It’s a beautifully bonkers fantasy premise that works, thanks to gorgeous animation and choreography, fun lore, a set of talented voice performances, and catchy tunes.”
Variety’s review:‘ K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Review: High-Concept Toon Is as Catchy as the Korean Music Phenom That Inspired It. “Because the nimble, genre-hopping movie is set in the world of K-pop, it may not even occur to fans that they’re watching a musical — although it’s kind of hard to deny as you catch yourself singing along.”
See what fans are saying over on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/netflix/comments/1lg0bvl/what_do_you_guys_think_of_kpop_demon_hunters/ “Just finished watching it. Love it. And I’m not even a k-pop fan.” “It was amazing. Great animation, I loved most of the songs, and the vibe was off the charts.” “Its entire production is gorgeous. This is one of those movies that makes me desperately want to buy a Blu-Ray copy to own forever. “
Streaming globally on Prime Video July 18 is MY SPY THE ETERNAL CITY.
The eagerly awaited follow-up to 2020’s action comedy, My Spy The Eternal City, reunites a beloved cast led by Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman in a feel-good family adventure set in some of Europe’s most storied destinations.
When Sophie’s (Coleman) high school choir is selected for an Italian tour culminating in a performance for the Pope in Vatican City, JJ (Bautista) sees this as an opportunity to bond with his new stepdaughter, so he volunteers to help chaperone the group through the Venetian canals, across Florence’s renowned bridges and into Rome’s most historic sites. Instead, he finds that he and Sophie have become unwitting pawns in a terrorist plot that could end the world as we know it.
Returning stars Ken Jeong and Kristen Schaal are joined by Anna Faris, Craig Robinson and Flula Borg in this all-new international action comedy from director Pete Segal (Get Smart, 50 First Dates).
Here’s your first look at the brand new trailer for Charlie Day’s FOOL’S PARADISE.
The movie stars Charlie Day, Ken Jeong, Kate Beckinsale, Adrien Brody, Ray Liotta, Jason Sudeikis, Edie Falco, John Malkovich, Common, and Jillian Bell.
A satirical comedy about a down on his luck publicist, who gets his lucky break when he discovers a man recently released from a mental health facility looks just like a method actor who refuses to leave his trailer. With the help of a powerful producer, the publicist helps the man become a huge star, even marrying his beautiful leading lady. Their adventures lead them to cross paths with drunken costars, irreverent unhoused action heroes, unpredictable directors, super-agent, and power-mad moguls. Fame and fortune are not all they’re cracked up to be, and the two men must fight their way back to the things that matter the most.
Written and directed by Charlie Day in his directorial debut, the “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor stars alongside an all-star comedy cast. Featuring one of the final screen performances of Ray Liotta, the cast includes Ken Jeong, Kate Beckinsale, Oscar® winner Adrien Brody, Jason Sudeikis, Edie Falco, Jason Bateman, Common, Jillian Bell, Dean Norris, Jimmi Simpson, and John Malkovich. The film is produced by John Rickard (“Peacemaker” Rampage), along with Tim Zajaros and Christopher Lemole (The Peanut Butter Falcon, Mudbound), Alex Saks (Red Rocket, The Florida Project), and Rick Dugdale (Zero Contact). The executive producers are Kirk Michael Fellows, Rob Gough, Manu Gargi, and Bob Shapiro.
Roadside Attractions will release FOOL’S PARADISE only in theaters May 12, 2023.
Charlie Day and Adrien Brody in FOOL’S PARADISE / Courtesy of Roadside Attractions
Netflix has released the first look at their upcoming series event THE PENTAVERATE.
What if a secret society of five men has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347? As this new series begins, one unlikely Canadian journalist finds himself embroiled in a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world himself. Remember, the Pentaverate must never be exposed!
Stars Mike Myers, Jennifer Saunders, Ken Jeong, Lydia West, Debi Mazar and Keegan-Michael Key as Dr. Hobart Clark.
For those of us who love SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER, do you remember the line:
“its a well know fact that there’s a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world know as The Pentaverate who learn everything in the world including the newspapers and meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado known as the Meadows.”
“So whose in this Pentaverate?”
“The Queen, the Vatican, the Gettys, the Rothchilds, and Colonel Sanders before he went tits up.”
Aside from going to the movies (natch’) what’s very very high up on the lists of kids’ fun activities? Right at the ‘tippy-top” would probably be a visit to a big ole’ amusement park. Not the traveling carnivals that go from town to town and set up for a few days in an empty field or a parking lot. We’re talking the big permanent vacation destinations like your “several flags over…” or “something land or world” with the Griswold family running in slo-mo toward the front gate. And just what could make such an excursion even more fun, aside from a multi-day express pass or unlimited refreshment vouchers? What if that place was based on your own ideas, if you were the “Imagineer” thinking up the perfect coaster or ride? Well, as this new animated movie suggests, that would truly be a WONDER PARK.
Actually, this place, in the film, is called “Wonderland” and it springs from the daydreams of precocious seven-year-old June (Sofia Mali) and her devoted fun-loving Mom (Jennifer Garner), with the encouragement of Dad (Matthew Broderick). All’s well until June (without Mom) enlists the neighborhood kids to help her put together the ultimate “Wonderland” style coaster from stuff gathering dust in their families’ garages and basements. Of course, chaos and calamity spill out into the town. But after a lengthy “time out” punishment, the family team’s back plotting and building miniature versions of their fantasy place. Then Mom has trouble keeping up with lil’ June. She’s so pale and tired that she must leave their home and travel far away to a place that will hopefully heal her ailments (perhaps a hospital or spa). The trio’s now a duo and, as the months become years, now middle-school-aged June (Brianna Denski) wants nothing to do with Wonderland, becoming obsessed with safety (particularly fixated on potential dangers to Dad). Finally, he convinces her to join her classmates on a bus trip to a math competition. But worried June finds a way off the bus and ventures homeward through the nearby forest. And that’s where she stumbles upon the “real” Wonder Land”. She’s even greeted by the ‘official mascots’: Greta the wild boar (Mila Kunis), big blue bear greeter Boomer (Ken Hudson Campbell), jittery porcupine Steve (John Oliver) and beaver brothers Cooper (Ken Jeong) and Gus (Kenan Thompson). The place is in disrepair because an army of now alive stuffed toys, the “Chimpanzombies”, are dismantling the rides and tossing them up into a swirling dark magenta storm cloud. June and the mascots must work together, but they can’t win without the park’s missing director/ ride builder, the chimp known as Peanut (Norbert Leo Butz). Evan if they locate him, will they save their Wonderland before it’s too late?
The filmmakers have done a pretty good job of balancing the voice cast with “name” stars and relative “up and comers” (a frequent “pet peeve” of mine is the reliance on “celeb” talent to sell an animated flick). Both Mali and Denski brings lots of youthful exuberance to the June lead with the latter taking on most of the “heavy lifting” of her traumatic turn into a safety “sentry”. Unfortunately, Garner is once again cast as the dutiful, nurturing, now almost martyred matriarch, too close to so many of her recent live-action roles. She gets the right amount of “sweetness”, but never gets to showcase her comic skills. The same might be said of Broderick (the original Simba) whose pop persona harkens to his dim, but doting dad without that “snark” that marks most of his live work (not just Bueller, but the recent TO DUST). Then there are the mascots, the “cuddly creature crew”. Most prominent (seen and heard a whole lot) is Oliver as the manic, motor-mouthed Steve. He’s an engaging comedian commentator, but his constant chatter, repeating phrases and whimpers, becomes tiresome and monotonous, as if they needed him to hammer the gags. Pixar proved (particularly with WALL-E) that the quiet can draw the viewer into the story’s world. His dominance takes away from the others, especially the talented Kunis who has little to do as the plucky and determined wild boar Greta (sad because she’s been great for so long as a regular voice on TV’s “Family Guy”). Relative newcomer Campbell brings a loveable, engaging gregarious quality to Boomer in between sudden naps (a clever gag involves his narcolepsy, called “frequent hibernation syndrome”). Just as he did in the recent Grinch feature, Thompson brings much-needed energy to Gus the beaver and is almost matched by Jeong as brother Cooper. And though, it’s more of the heroic “straight man” role Butz brings loads or warmth and charm to the courageous, clever chimp Peanut.
This flick is fairly unique in a couple of ways. It’s a Nickelodeon Movies co-production with Paramount Pictures (not that unusual), but it follows in the footsteps of JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS and BARNYARD, in that it’s really a feature film TV “pilot” for a series on that basic cable channel that debuts later this year (so, don’t be surprised, parents). Kinda’ sneaky, eh? The other unusual tidbit is the fact that no director is credited. Of course, there was one, but he was fired after an accusation of Sexual Misconduct (it’s “Time’s Up” for family flicks too). So the main credits are to the screenwriters, Robert Gordon (actually story) and Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (both co-producers, too). And as for that script, well maybe the blame should mainly go to the marketing folks because it goes very dark fairly fast. There’s no warning that the adored mama is nearly at death’s door by the twenty-minute mark. She’s doing the “full Camille” complete with pale flesh, coughing into an ever-present scarf, and eyelids at “half mast”. Many of the tots at the Saturday morning screening needed quick “comforting” by their escorts. Not that any kids’ flick should be free of tragedy, but this seems to come out of nowhere. Aside from that, the last half hour in the park is pretty much a near-constant story treadmill of screaming, running, and bouncing that loses any real sense of urgency and drama. Some of the rides are cool (that big robot squid that tosses rider-filled orbs is a dream/nightmare) and the hordes of lil’ chimps have much of the creepy (but not too scary) menace of the winged monkeys of Oz, but it’s not enough to sustain this story for 85 minutes. The character design is serviceable as are the settings, but it’s nothing really new or engaging. It’s just a shame there’s not nearly enough of a sense of wonder in WONDER PARK. Now, please board the shuttles back to the parking lot…
(L-R, front row) Steve, Greta, June, Cooper, Gus, Peanut, (back row) Boomer in the animated film, WONDER PARK by Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies
Opening in theatres on March 15, 2019 is Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies WONDER PARK.
WONDER PARK tells the story of a magnificent amusement park where the imagination of a wildly creative girl named June comes alive.
The voice cast includes Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, John Oliver, Mila Kunis, Kenan Thompson, Ken Jeong, Norbert Leo Butz, Brianna Denski and Ken Hudson Campbell.
Here’s a first look at the super cute first preview.
If you enjoyed RIDE ALONG, you’ll like RIDE ALONG 2 – it’s as simple as that. Fast-talking stand-up Kevin Hart and gruff straight man Ice Cube bicker like an old couple all the way to the bank as they play off each other’s delivery styles to lively effect, but this weak follow-up to the 2014 hit is basically a series of disposable action sequences loosely connected by the presence of its two stars. What you saw in the predecessor and see in RIDE ALONG 2’s trailers is what you get: plenty of routine action, lots of Kevin Hart sass, and not much else.
RIDE ALONG 2 is pretty much on par with the original in terms of plot. Atlanta cops James Payton (Ice Cube) and his future brother-in-law Ben barber (Hart) travel to Miami, where they team up with a computer hacker (Ken Jeong) and a sexy-but-tough detective (Olivia Munn) to take down corrupt politicians and a drug kingpin (Benjamin Bratt).
Like our two loose cannons with badges, the movie misses its target far more often than it hits it but RIDE ALONG 2 is careful not to stray too far from safe ground. Hart and Cube have an easy rapport, and luckily the filmmakers have found a decent foil for both of them in the spunky persona of Ken Jeong who gives a terrific comic performance that really gooses the proceedings, but even he can’t get Rush Hour 2 out of the sequelitis quagmire. While the usual arc of the straight man in these buddy cop comedies is to eventually lighten up, Ice Cube just seems annoyed from beginning to end. Olivia Munn is easy on the eyes and I liked that she arrives at crime scenes in her sports bra, while Benjamin Bratt displays about as much menace as a Scooby Doo villain.
I enjoyed an early scene where Hart is playing ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and gets whacked by an old white lady and later on when he envisions he’s in the game during a car chase complete with GTA interface. It’s the only ambitious gag and it’s well done. My problem with the film is that the banter between Hart and Cube lacks spirit and even the action scenes feel stale and lethargic. It’s basically a series of shootouts, nightclub bromancing, loud music, and car chases that climaxes at one of those big ship container yards with loads of gunplay and exploding barrels. Motor-mouthed Hart works hard to keep the energy levels high and there are intermittent guffaws, but no matter how many times he shouts “We’re the Brothers-in-Law!” charm is in short supply as the script focuses too much on the recycled action-movie plot instead of on verbal interplay between the two leads.
RIDE ALONG 2 isn’t very good but it’s also no chore to watch. Director Tim Story keeps things moving at too brisk a clip to be truly boring and the Miami locations provide for plenty of fine, bikini-bottomed eye candy including an eye-popping sequence set at ‘Beach Kitten Inc.’, a high-end swimsuit shop. You may not get your money’s worth with RIDE ALONG 2, but you can’t say you don’t get what you asked for.
See what it’s like to live in NORM’s world with a day of winter ice skating fun at Steinberg Skating Rink!
NORM OF THE NORTH opens theatres on January 15. It’s the story of a polar bear of many words, Norm’s greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic. But when a maniacal developer threatens to build luxury condos in his own backyard, Norm does what all normal polar bears would do…he heads to New York City to stop it. With a cast of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm takes on the big apple, big business and a big identity crisis to save the day. The voice cast for NORM OF THE NORTH includes Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, Gabriel Iglesias, Loretta Devine, Michael McElhatton, Colm Meaney and Bill Nighy.
Be one of the first 50 guests to stop by the NORM OF THE NORTH table at Steinberg Skating Rink! starting at 1:00PM this Saturday, January 9th and receive free skate admission in honor of the new film, NORM OF THE NORTH. Guests will also be entered to receive prizes from the film.
Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park is located at 400 Jefferson Drive, St. Louis MO 63110.
Check out this hilarious trailer for NORM OF THE NORTH!
As we head into the Christmas holiday this week, it’s time to shake your bear thing with the arctic’s chillest bear – NORM! Hilarious, right?
Learn the “Arctic Shake” in this all-new clip with Norm before he heads to theaters in the heart-warming family adventure NORM OF THE NORTH.
A polar bear of many words, Norm’s greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic. With a cast of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm takes on the big apple, big business and a big identity crisis to save the day. (Trailer)
Starring Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, Gabriel Iglesias, Loretta Devine, Michael McElhatton, Colm Meaney and Bill Nighy this exciting adventure hits theaters January 15, 2016.
Check out these fun activity DOWNLOADS for NORM OF THE NORTH now, plus help Norm and his band of lemmings save the arctic in the exciting NEW web game called LEMMINGS LAUNCH.
Norm, a majestic polar bear, and the world’s coolest party animals are hitting the big city and we’ve got your sneak peek with an all-new trailer from NORM OF THE NORTH.
A polar bear of many words, Norm’s greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic. But when a maniacal developer threatens to build luxury condos in his own backyard, Norm does what all normal polar bears would do…he heads to New York City to stop it.
With a cast of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm takes on the big apple, big business and a big identity crisis to save the day.
The voice cast includes Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, Gabriel Iglesias, Loretta Devine, Michael McElhatton, Colm Meaney and Bill Nighy.
