zach galifianakis – We Are Movie Geeks

LILO & STITCH (2025) – review

And we’re finally back to the blockbusters, to be precise, the big Summer box office blockbusters, that will dominate the multiplex for this weekend (of many to arrive). Of the titanic duo for the three-day holiday, this one’s a remake, though it actually may be considered a “franchise” or even a “tent pole”. In the wake of the huge success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, several other studios have wanted their own “unified, united film series”. In a few weeks, we’ll see DC Studios at Warner Bros. try once more with SUPERMAN, while Universal continues to “fiddle” with their “Dark Universe” returns of the classic movie monsters of the “golden age” (Dracula, Frankenstein, etc.). Well, that “home of Marvel”, Disney, has an ongoing universe comprised of “live-action” remakes of their iconic animated classics. They stumbled, to put it lightly, a couple of months ago with SNOW WHITE. That nixed a planned redo of TANGLED, but this new redo was already well “down the pipeline”. Maybe since this isn’t almost 90 years old like the March misfire, this “re-imagining” of a 23-year-old cartoon feature will work, since children continue to adore (I’m stunned by all the clothing “merch” over the last few years) the cartoon chaos of LILO & STITCH.

We return to deep, far, faraway outer space as the United Galactic Federation meets to pass judgement on “mad” scientist Jumba Jookiba (voice of Zach Galifianakis). The Councilwoman (VO: Hannnah Waddingham) announces that he’ll be imprisoned while his “creation”, the destructive, wild Project 626, will be banished to a barren, empty world. Well, the little critter breaks his bonds and hijacks a ship and is on his way to Earth. The Councilwoman is relieved since the planet appears to be comprised of water…until she sees that 626 has crashed on an island. She then sends “Earth expert” Agent Pleakley (VO: Billy Magnussen) off to retrieve it with the begrudging help of Jookiba, who hopes this will help to reduce his “sentence”. Meanwhile, on that Hawaiian island named Kaua’i, an orphaned six-year-old girl, Lilo (Maia Kealoha), struggles to make friends and stay out of trouble. Luckily she’s not completely alone, as she lives with her nineteen-year-old sister Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong), who is her legal guardian after the death of their parents. But she’s having a tough time holding down a job while keeping their home tidy for the inspection from a kindly but firm social worker, Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere). Luckily, Nani is helped by her neighbor Tutu (Amy Hill) and her smitten (with Nani) grandson David (Kalpo Dudoit). When 626 crash-lands, he disrupts a big wedding party, before being knocked out by a truck and taken to an animal shelter. That’s where he’s spotted by Lilo, who’s been begging for a puppy. 626 retracts the spikes on his back, along with his antennae and a pair of arms (he has four and two feet) in order to look more like a dog. It follows Lilo home, where she names it Stitch (VO: Chris Sanders). Oh, his pursuers are not far behind, as Jookiba and Pleakley assume human form and search for the escapee. Also on the hunt is CIA agent Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance), who suspects that an alien is on the loose. Can Stitch evade them while curbing his destructive instincts as Nani tries to convince Kekoa that she should retain custody of lil’ sis’ Lilo?

Heading up the cast, in the “co-title” role is the bubbly, effervescent screen newcomer (hey, she’s only nine now) Kealoha as Lilo. She’s got an infectious smile, bringing lots of good-natured energy to the role, getting us on her side when those “mean girls” zero in on her. She has a good rapport with the more-seasoned actress Augudong as her frazzled big sis Nani, who has a deft comic touch even in the manic slapstick sequences as she tries to keep the crazy chaos under control. Galifianakis tones down his weird, awkward comedy flick persona as the fussy and devious mad doc Jookiba. Most of the alien zaniness (aside from Stitch) is provided by Magnussen, who appears to be having a grand old time goofing on his leading man looks. Vance is somber and stoic as the determined fed who’s always a few steps behind his quarry. Carrere projects warmth and concern in a role that is usually villainess, but her social worker is truly trying to help things work out for the siblings. Hill is also a nurturing presence as the protector of those girls. while being a good “foil” for Dudoit as her clumsy, cute, and charming grandson who just can’t say the right things to his adored Nani.

So, this is a big leap from MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON for director Dean Fleischer Camp as he tackles a sprawling family fantasy adventure. For most of it 108-minute runtime, he keeps the story afloat with the plot pretty much “on track’ in a variation of the classic cartoon chases (think the Roadrunner and the Coyote, Tom and Jerry, etc.). And, as with many of these remakes, it’s not really all “live-action” as Stitch and all the aliens have now gone from smooth, fluid, hand-drawn (2-D) animation to state-of-the-art, every hair rendered CGI animation (we don’t see the live actors in the first six or seven minutes of the “space trial”). And these beloved cartoons have lost little of their appeal in the transition, though I’m not keen on Pleakley’s mucus-like skin texture. So the effects animation is slick, but it doesn’t mesh completely with the often clunky live slapstick, with many of the action set pieces ending with “wacky” frozen still shots. It proves distracting, much like the overuse of vocal “looping” or ADR, which results in many quick cutaways while characters are speaking. And a few shots where bits of dialogue are delivered by actors with their backs to the viewer. Perhaps this may have been implemented due to the stilted line direction of some film acting novices. For a time, I was flashing back to one of the many irritations of MADAME WEB (they set the bar very low for audio editing). The whole film seems to be running (or swimming) in circles, going into its second hour, with the obligatory set destruction and the overused “death fake-out” of so many family-friendly flicks. Sure, the island locations are gorgeous, and kids will still love the gross-out antics of Stitch, but those not swept away by a wave of nostalgia for that 2002 original may prefer to dust off that DVD (or VHS tape) for a more consistently entertaining comic romp with LILO & STITCH. Aloha!

2.5 Out of 4

LILO & STITCH is now playing in theatres everywhere

THE BEANIE BUBBLE – Review

Well from the sea of pink still filling multiplex lobbies all across the country it appears that moviegoers are wild about toy property-based movies. Perhaps we can officially call it a genre. And this new film could be a “sub-genre” as it details the creation of a beloved plaything in, well not a docudrama, but more like a “docu-comedy”. This new flick is perhaps closer to TETRIS (same producers), with elements of AIR and BLACKBERRY. Making it more engaging is that it was something of a pop culture “craze”, maybe even a “fad”. And it also benefits from a cast with some major comedy “creds”. They’re all involved with the tiny dolls that collectors thought were a big investment, which, in turn, created and inflated THE BEANIE BUBBLE.

That refers, of course, to the Beanie Babies, a 1990s sensation spearheaded by company spokesman (and face of the fad), Ty Warner (Zach Galifianakis). But, this isn’t a standard “bio-pic” about the man on the “tags”. Instead, the film is focused on three women who made a big impact on his personal and business life. The structure jumps about through a decade or so timeline, so I’ll zero in on the first of the ladies, Ty’s neighbor in their high-rise apartment building, Roberta AKA Robbie (Elizabeth Banks). She’s rushing between her job as an auto mechanic and her duties at home where she tends to her wheelchair-bound hubby. Then Ty befriends her and brings her into his fledgling toy business, a niche stuffed version of Himalayan cats. Robbie proves to be a superb saleswoman and is pivotal in the idea to make smaller animals plushes that aren’t stuffed to the seams with foam. Maybe more like the “beans” in beanbag chairs, though very ‘floppy”. Soon she and Ty are a real “couple” as the line grows. Enter med student Maya (Geraldine Viswanathan) who is hired on as an intern. Ty enlists her to “work the desk” at a toy trade show. There he sees her using a “hook” to reel in retailers. Maya cons them with stories of investors making tons of money by scooping up these “limited edition” variants whose value increases (y’know like Action Comics #1). Besides having the “gift of gab”, Maya is forward-thinking and designs a Beanie site for the just emerging worldwide web. This is also fueled by another burgeoning site, eBay. The expansion, and fractured relationship with Robbie, leads to Shelia (Sarah Snook), who is a lighting designer working on Ty’s big fancy new mansion. After a terse first meeting, Ty begins to romantically pursue the single mother of two adorable preteen girls (who contribute ideas for new Beanies). The lives of all four intertwine as the stock keeps rising and Maya awaits the inevitable collapse. Ah, but those critters are too cute, so it can’t happen, right?

And since they inspire the “chapter headings” for the story, I’ll start with the trio of talented actresses involved. Banks, who has an impressive directing resume, is a true force of nature as the tough but also kind-hearted Robbie. We see the conflict across her furrowed brow as the lure of wealth attached to Ty begins to dissolve a very difficult marriage. It’s clear that Robbie yearns to spread her wings despite the stifling pangs of painful guilt. When Ty shows his true nature, Banks makes Robbie a seeker of justice and equality. Much of that could apply to Viswanathan as the initially bright-eyed and eager Maya, who also has a dream beyond the medical career her parents have planned for her. There’s the delight in her smile as an idea blossoms and bears fruit, mainly in her early internet ambitions. And then Ty squelches them, and Maya must find her own way out before the kingdom crumbles. Much of that escape applies to Snook as Shelia, who fortifies a wall between her and the amorous Ty, only to have it be slowly chipped away by his charm and flattery, plus his bond with her beloved daughters. She’s isolated from his shaky company dealings, but eventually, Shelia has to tell him that she’s not in need of a new child, especially a “man-child”. And as the man in the center of their stories, Galifianakis gets to showcase his dramatic skills alongside his impressive comedic “chops”. His version of Ty is a swaggering peacock, always looking in mirrors to see if a “touch-up” is needed (and even suggesting one for his future stepdaughter), while looking to promote himself and gobble up all the glory (and cash). He even believes that his ego can stop the gradual downslide started by public disinterest. Mr. G truly immerses himself in the role, trading in his scruffy beard for a black pompadour and big dark-framed glasses, offset by a variety of wild pastel suits and ascots.

Unlike the aforementioned AIR and TETRIS, this isn’t a story of triumph, but the sharp direction and a clever script keep us engaged in this rags-to-riches-to-rags cautionary fable. Co-helming the film (with director Damiian Kulash) and penning the screenplay adaptation of the Zac Bissonnette book is Kristin Gore. And yes, she’s the daughter of former veep Al Gore, who is branching into features after a long stint on the writing staff of the witty TV series “Futurama”. She smartly juggles the timeline and switches the focus from one woman to the other until it all seems to converge and intersect in surprising ways. Sure, there are laughs garnered by the fashions of the 90s along with the “ancient” tech (the long screech while you’re sent to the world wide web), and the use of actual archival news footage of retail riots, but Gore really gets to the emotional heart of the characters (Shelia’s “wake-up” rant to Ty). It all makes for a briskly paced true-life romp that has us rooting for the heroines even as we know of the product’s eventual fate. THE BEANIE BUBBLE is bursting with terrific acting and insightful dialogue. You could say that it is not at all over-stuffed.

3 Out of 4

THE BEANIE BUBBLE is now playing in select theatres and it streams exclusively on AppleTV+ beginning on Friday, July 28, 2023.

Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper in THE HANGOVER Screening at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville Tuesday March 22nd

“To a night the four of us will never forget!”

Nothing’s more fun than The Wildey’s Tuesday Night Film Series.. Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper in THE HANGOVER (2009) will be on the big screen when it plays at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, IL (252 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025) at 7:00pm Tuesday March 22nd. Tickets are only $3 Tickets available starting at 3pm day of movie at Wildey Theatre ticket office. Cash or check only. (cash, credit cards accepted for concessions) Lobby opens at 6pm.

Angelenos Doug Billings and Tracy Garner are about to get married. Two days before the wedding, the four men in the wedding party – Doug, Doug’s two best buddies Phil Wenneck and Stu Price, and Tracy’s brother Alan Garner – hop into Tracy’s father’s beloved Mercedes convertible for a 24-hour stag party to Las Vegas. Phil, a married high school teacher, has the same maturity level as his students when he’s with his pals. Stu, a dentist, is worried about everything, especially what his controlling girlfriend Melissa thinks. Because she disapproves of traditional male bonding rituals, Stu has to lie to her about the stag, he telling her that they are going on a wine tasting tour in the Napa Valley. Regardless, he intends on eventually marrying her, against the advice and wishes of his friends. And Alan seems to be unaware of what are considered the social graces of the western world. The morning after their arrival in Las Vegas, they awaken in their hotel suite each with the worst hangover. None remembers what happened in the past twelve or so hours. The suite is in shambles. And certain things are in the suite that shouldn’t be, and certain things that should be in the suite are missing. Probably the most important in the latter category is Doug. As Phil, Stu and Alan try to find Doug using only what little pieces of information they have at hand, they go on a journey of discovery of how certain things got into the suite and what happened to the missing items. However they are on a race for time as if they can’t find Doug in the next few hours, they are going to have to explain to Tracy why they are not yet back in Los Angeles. And even worse, they may not find Doug at all before the wedding.

Jenny Slate, Zach Galifianakis Star In THE SUNLIT NIGHT – Available on VOD on July 17, 2020

The trailer and poster for a new drama called THE SUNLIT NIGHT which stars Jenny Slate and will be releasing on VOD on July 17^th from Quiver Distribution. Also starring Zach Galifianakis and Gillian Anderson, check out the preview below.

THE SUNLIT NIGHT follows an aspiring painter (Slate) from New York City to the farthest reaches of Arctic Norway for an assignment she hopes will invigorate her work and expand her horizons. In a remote village, among the locals, she meets a fellow New Yorker (Sharp), who has come in search of a proper Viking funeral only to find that the Chief (Galifianakis) is but a re-enactor from Cincinnati. The eclectic crew ranges from “home” to “lost,” within the extreme and dazzling landscape of the Far North. Under a sun that never quite sets, and the high standards of an unforgiving mentor, Frances must navigate between ambition, desire, obligation, and risk in order to find a way forward.

Based on the novel by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight, the film is directed by David Wnendt and is his English language debut. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January 2019.

Wnendt made his mark at Sundance 2014 with WETLANDS, an adaptation of Charlotte Roche’s bestselling novel. His next feature LOOK WHO’S BACK, which he adapted from the best-selling satirical novel by Timur Vermes, brought in over $20m at the German box office and had an international release on Netflix.

Wnendt’s powerful debut film – the acclaimed COMBAT GIRLS – tells the story of a young neo-Nazi gang member whose convictions slowly evolve when she meets a young Afghan refugee. The film earned Wnendt the Bavarian Film Award for Best Young Director, the Young German Cinema Award and the Prix Genève-Europe for Best Screenplay.

Check Out The First Trailer And Poster For MISSING LINK Starring Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana And Zach Galifianakis

Opening in theaters on April 12, 2019 is the upcoming animated film MISSING LINK. From LAIKA and Annapurna Pictures watch the first trailer and check out the new poster for the film featuring the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Timothy Olyphant, David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Ching Valdes-Aran, Stephen Fry, Amrita Acharia and Dame Emma Thompson.

This April, meet Mr. Link: 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don’t let his appearance fool you… he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world’s most lovable legend at the heart of Missing Link, the globe-trotting family adventure from LAIKA.

Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend. Through it all, the three learn that sometimes you can find a family in the places you least expect.

Visit the official site: missinglink.movie

A WRINKLE IN TIME – Review

Less than a dozen weeks into the movie year of 2018, and a couple of flicks squarely aimed at the tots have scored some big box office bucks and surprisingly strong critical praise (that lil’ Paddington Bear, in his second feature adventure, is still at a whopping 100 percent at Rotten Tomatoes). So, the folks at the “mouse house” are eager to jump into the arena, though the smash BLACK PANTHER is from their Marvel Studios branch. Now, this new flick is from their Disney Pictures banner, not Pixar (recent Oscar winner COCO), or Disney Studios Animation (like the previous year’s winner ZOOTOPIA), or even Disney Nature with its “real life” animal extravaganzas. Now many of the Disney Pictures stamped films have been set in the world of sports like MCFARLAND USA (track and field) or QUEEN OF KATWE (chess) or have been big live-action versions of the classic animated features such as THE JUNGLE BOOK and last year’s megahit BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. And then there’s the Jack Sparrow PIRATES franchise (which may never sink). This time they’re adapting a much-beloved piece of children literature, hoping to repeat the box office bonanza from 2005’s first NARNIA outing. We’ll see if a new trilogy can be culled when Disney, along with a lauded film-maker and a true multi-media superstar, brings to life Madeleine L’Engle’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

The tale’s main character is the brilliant teenager Meg Murry (Storm Reid), the daughter of equally brilliant parents Kate (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Alexander (Chris Pine). We first meet them as they prepare for the arrival of Meg’s kid brother Charles Wallace. Mr. and Mrs. Murry have been trying to convince the scientific community that long distance space travel can be accomplished, not with rockets and thrusters, but through the power of the mind to cause a jump, or wrinkle, in the vast distances. Years later, Alexander disappears without a trace, perhaps while proving his theory. Unfortunately this helps makes Meg and now six year-old Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) outcasts at school, derided by fellow students and teachers alike. One evening, as Kate and Meg discuss the playground altercation that sent Meg to the principal’s office, Charles invites an eccentric adult into their home, a woman he calls Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon). After making several odd statements she disappears. Soon afterward, Meg is befriended by a classmate, Calvin (Levi Miller), who finds her fascinating. Charles leads the two to another friend of his who lives in an old run-down house, the even stranger Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), a lady who only responds by reciting famous quotes. Soon the two women are joined by a third, the towering (she hasn’t adjusted her size), Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), who tells the children that their father is alive. Their surroundings begin to simmer and quiver as if the fabric of their dimension is unraveling. The three kids, along with the magical trio, burst though their undulating world and arrive on the planet Uriel, a beautiful utopia. Mrs. Which explains that she used a device known as the “terreract” and “tesserd’ them to this place. But papa Murry is not here, rather he’s somewhere far from Uriel, a planet of darkness known as Camazotz. With the help of Mrs. Whatsit’s sometimes beau the Happy Medium (Zach Galifianakis). Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace will enter “the Darkness”, face down the “Red-Eyed Man” (Michael Pena), and try to locate their long-lost father.

This fantasy journey is firmly grounded by the compelling confident performance of Ms. Reid in her first (of many, no doubt) starring role. Particularly in the opening Earth sequences, she conveys the pain of being an outsider, yearning to fit in while knowing she may be destined for more than just popularity. The confusion at her new surroundings is all in her eyes and movements, along with her fear, then the hesitation giving way to determination. Later she experiences the first tugs of romance, stirred by Calvin played by Miller as a true “teen dream” right out of Tiger Beat Magazine (it’s still around, really). But all is not perfect, as we see his torments from his perfectionist pop. Plus he eagerly succumbs to the Darkness’s temptation, needing to be rescued by the level-headed Meg. McCabe, as the precocious “third wheel” kid brother has energy to spare, bouncing between obnoxious and endearing within seconds. The movie’s marketing department may be banking on the magical ladies played by some show biz heavy-hitters. Winfrey projects the right amount of gravitas, even as she hovers above at over thirty feet in her first scene (“The Amazing Colossal Oprah”, to borrow a “B” movie classic’s title). Later she provides much-needed plot points while being the stern mother (or the “Moe”) to her flighty sisters. Witherspoon is light, ethereal beauty as Whatsit, playful and odd, but never threatening (when she is lead into the Murry home). Kaling is dream-like, a delightfully dotty aunt as she runs along the fleeing flowers and uses bits of trivia for her dialogue. Galifianakis is a prickly, but endearing “drill sergeant”, putting Meg through her “paces” and trying to unleash her potential. Pena is an affable “genie-like” pixie, who reveals his true colors with frightening glee. Back at the homestead, Pine is a playful and passionate papa, who delights at his children as his peers reject his life’s work. And Mbatha-Raw is a nurturing matriarch, nearly overwhelmed at sole parental responsibilities while mourning the loss of her partner and soul mate. Solid support is provided by MOONLIGHT’s Andre Holland as Meg’s stern, but understanding principal and Rowan Blanchard as the school’s “queen B” who bullies others to hide her own insecurities.

Director Ava DuVernay leaps from the indie world of SELMA into this big budget film fable with a fairly steady hand after a somewhat rocky opening act. The Earth-bound sequences are marred by extended close-ups, making this widescreen epic feel like an old Perry Mason episode. Perhaps this is used to make the other planets seem more expansive, but the tightly framed scenes almost induce claustrophobia. We are given a visual “breather” once the quest begins, but the principle characters are posed and still, drinking in the CGI wonders along with the audience.The landscapes are lovely as are the bizarre creatures, the floating butterfly like flowers and a soaring dragon with leaf-like skin. The three “missuses” have looks that may work in book illustrations, but the intricate design make-up and billowy “tarp”-dresses become distracting and cumbersome (we wonder when one will get entangled and trip). The script becomes far too precious with the odd speech patterns of the mystical trio, and it often feels too preachy as Mrs. Which delivers many platitudes (ready-made for framing) and solemn life lessons (a bit of humor would be welcome). Some of the imagery is refreshingly dark (the demise of “Red” and the “Stepford” plastic suburbia are creepy), but there’s no great sense of danger (oh, for a cackling witch). Meg Murry’s is such a terrific role model for boys and girls, that it’s a shame that her first outing isn’t more exciting. The wee ones may enjoy seeing this “bedtime” tale come to life, but the sluggish pace may cause the older audience to wish they could “tesser” and make another crease to forward through A WRINKLE IN TIME.

2.5 Out of 5

Win A Family Four Pack of Passes To The Advance Screening of A WRINKLE IN TIME In St. Louis

WAMG has your passes to see Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

The film is an epic adventure from visionary director Ava DuVernay based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic, takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love. Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.

A WRINKLE IN TIME stars Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peňa, Storm Reid, Levi Miller and Deric McCabe with Zach Galifianakis and Chris Pine.

A WRINKLE IN TIME opens in theaters nationwide March 9.

Visit the official site: disney.com/wrinkleintime

Enter for the chance to win FOUR (4) seats to the 2D Screening of A WRINKLE IN TIME on Monday, March 5^that 7pm in the St. Louis area.

Answer the Following:

“A Wrinkle in Time” is the first book in Madeleine L’Engle’s series. What is the name of this series? How many books are there total?

Enter your name, email address and answers in the comments section below.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house.

Rated PG

Buy Tickets at: http://bit.ly/WrinkleTix

Make A Fantastic Voyage In New Trailer For Ava DuVernay’s A WRINKLE IN TIME

From visionary director Ava DuVernay comes Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love.

Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.

Watch the brand new warrior trailer from Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” which debuted on the “American Music Awards”.

Directed by Emmy(R) winner and Oscar(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominee Ava DuVernay from a screenplay by Oscar winner Jennifer Lee based upon the beloved novel by Madeleine L’Engle, “A Wrinkle in Time” stars: two-time Academy Award(R) nominee Oprah Winfrey, Oscar and Emmy winner Reese Witherspoon, Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peňa and introducing Storm Reid, with two-time Emmy winner Zach Galifianakis and Emmy nominee Chris Pine.

Produced by Jim Whitaker and Catherine Hand with Doug Merrifield serving as executive producer, the film also boasts an impressive creative team featuring some of the most talented artisans working today, including: Tobias Schliessler, ASC as director of photography, Naomi Shohan as production designer, Oscar(R)-nominee Spencer Averick as film editor, two-time Academy Award(R)-nominee Paco Delgado as costume designer and four time Emmy(R) nominee Ramin Djawadi as composer.

Visit the official site: movies.disney.com/a-wrinkle-in-time

Zach Galifianakis is The Happy Medium in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

Storm Reid is Meg Murry in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME, an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classis.

TULIP FEVER Trailer Stars Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Christoph Waltz And Cara Delevingne

The Weinstein Company has released a brand new trailer for TULIP FEVER

Starring Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Christoph Waltz, Holliday Grainger, Jack O’Connell, Zach Galifianakis, Matthew Morrison, Tom Hollander, Cara Delevingne, Cressida Bonas, David Harewood and Dame Judi Dench, watch the latest preview below.

17th Century Amsterdam, an orphaned girl (Alicia Vikander) is forcibly married to a rich and powerful merchant (Christoph Waltz) – an unhappy “arrangement” that saves her from poverty. After her husband commissions a portrait, she begins a passionate affair with the painter (Dane DeHaan), a struggling young artist.

Seeking to escape the merchant’s ever-reaching grasp, the lovers risk everything and enter the frenzied tulip bulb market, with the hope that the right bulb will make a fortune and buy their freedom.

Directed by Justin Chadwick, TULIP FEVER will be released August 25.

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE – Review

When it comes to movie concepts, this flick may have the oddest, most tangled roots of all. But somehow things just snapped together (excuse the pun). Three years ago the movie world was stunned when a little kids’ flick, starring a beloved toy, became a box office (ahem) blockbuster! That may be because the WB folks thought outside the (toy) box and enlisted film makers and writers who brought something totally unexpected to the project: satire. Oh, and parody, and a big dose of zany anarchy. It was inevitable that THE LEGO MOVIE would spawn a sequel. But this is more of a spin-off. That earlier flick focused on the journey of everyman Emmet Brickowski and the folks he encountered. Since the Lego company makes themed toys around classic licenced characters, Emmet and his pals teamed up with Batman, whose gravelly voice was supplied by the great comic actor Will Arnett. Though a “super-friend”, Arnett’s Batman stole a Batboat full of scenes. And so, while we wait for Ben Affleck to don that suit, let’s spend some time with a “not quite so” dark knight in THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE.

After a very funny opening title sequence (shades of DEADPOOL), we’re taken to the candy-colored big block streets of Lego Gotham City. The Joker (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) has enlisted almost all the residents of Arkham Asylum to grab an airliner full of explosives. Where’s the city’s hero?! Why right on top of things, as Batman (Arnett) easily thwarts this plot (after telling a heartbroken Joker that he’s not his main enemy). Joker slithers away as Batman returns to the Batcave for some microwaved lobster thermadore. While channel surfing he stumbles across a news interview with Superman (Channing Tatum) who explains how he banished his arch foe General Zod to the Phantom Zone via a special projector. Of course Batman is not impressed. But life goes on , as Bruce Wayne visits a local orphanage the next day and encounters one very excited, kinda’ nerdy lad, Dick Grayson (Michael Cera). That evening, Bruce attends a retirement party for police commissioner James Gordon (Hector Elizondo). His successor is announced, his daughter Barbara (Rosario Dawson). Bruce is disgusted when she says that her main goal is for the police force is to form a close partnership with Batman. The festivities come to a halt when the Joker and his gang arrive. But he surrenders without a fight. Bruce is livid. Returning to the Batcave, where Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) reminds him that he has adopted Grayson, Batman hatches a plan: he’ll steals Superman’s projector and send the Joker to the Phantom Zone. Unfortunately the clown prince of crime ends up sending hordes of pop culture monsters and menaces to Earth. Now Batman faces his greatest challenge: accepting help from others and becoming a team player.

The vocal dream team seems to be having a real blast (the feeling’s contagious). All appear to be following the lead of the, well, film’s lead. Arnett’s got that all too somber growl down perfectly which makes his absurd boasting riffs (bragging about his 9 pack) and opening battle rap musical number real comic highlights. But he’s not afraid to show us the vulnerable side as Batman finally must ask for help, all while battling that out-of-control ego. And he’s got a great rapport with his co-stars. Cera’s bumbling, hyper-excited Robin is a perfect complement to his grimacing mentor. That goofy youngster delights in living out his dreams, ignoring that garish uniform (“it doesn’t blend in anywhere!”). Bruce’s mentor (kind of an uncle, I suppose) is Fiennes as the dry, acerbic Alfred (very close to John Gielgud in ARTHUR). He’s the scolding voice of reason, the only person who can put Bruce in his place (though he’s often too stubborn to listen). Galifianakis expands on the notion of the Joker as Batman’s mirror image, but twists that with a bit of the jilted or spurned suitor (he dies a bit when Batman says he likes to “fight around”). His own partner, Harley Quinn, is voiced with naughty girl relish by the great Jenny Slate. The whole “bad guy gang” boasts a roster of terrific comic talent (special kudos for Two Face). Rounding out the cast are two superb actresses who give the caped crusader a great assist. Dawson ‘s a quite tough, but tender Babs AKA Batgirl, while Ellie Kemper endows a rainbow-colored brick with loads of personality.

TV vet Chris Mckay (“Moral Orel” and “Robot Chicken”) makes spectacular use of his big screen canvas. Every frame is chock full of bits of whimsy and wonder (lots to see when you hit the pause button on the disc). The big problem is that second half lull, which seems like a let-down after the manic barrage of gags and slapstick in the movie’s first half hour (no way they could keep up that pace). Perhaps the disjointed nature is the result of far too many cooks (five screenwriters) trying add too much spice. But the jokes that land really hit hard, delivering big laughs. The best gags may be those centering around our collective nostalgia for the main character. Loving jabs at all the incarnations of Batman jump out, from the comic books to TV to animation, and, of course, the big blockbusters. If we haven’t “Made America Great Again”, at least they’ve “Made Batman Fun Again”. It’s a nice break before that “gloomy Gus” is back with the JUSTICE LEAGUE. Like that 2014 flick, this is a wry satire that’s truly perfect for the whole family. THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE is “dada-dada-dada-dada-delightful”.
4 Out of 5

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: