TROLLS BAND TOGETHER (2023, animated)

November 16, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. For the third film in the ‘Trolls’ franchise, much of the creative team is back at it. This includes co-directors Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz, as well as screenwriter Elizabeth Tippet, who penned this story based on the original characters of Thomas Dam. It seems obvious that this has been developed for kids, yet it’s always interesting to see how much effort the animation films put into entertaining the adults as well. And being the third film, expectations are naturally somewhat muted.

We first see BroZone and their disastrous stage performance that leads to backstage arguing and a breakup. The band consists of Troll brothers, including Baby Branch, who inexplicably gets deserted when the older brothers insist on going their own way. Time passes and we catch up with (no longer Baby) Branch (Justin Timberlake). He’s attending the wedding of friends when it’s interrupted by his older brother John Dory (Eric Andre), who explains that brother Floyd (Troye Sivan) has been kidnapped. Through a twist of screenwriting, the only way Floyd can be rescued is by the brothers achieving “perfect harmony” … their previous failed attempt caused the band’s breakup.

Joining the brothers on the trip is the eternally perky Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick), who has long desired a sister of her own (in one of the most obvious foreshadowing moments ever). We follow along on the journey as they reunite with BroZone brothers Spruce (Daveed Diggs) and Clay (Kid Cudi), and Poppy’s big surprise of Viva (Camila Cabello). Things get crazy when the group tracks down Floyd and finds his ‘essence’ is being stolen by the talentless, entitled, obnoxious siblings, Velvet (Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Anthony Rannells). This prefab brother-sister duo only wants to be famous and see no issue with stealing Floyd’s talent.

Some of the film’s funniest moments are provided by Velvet and Veneer’s assistant Crimp (Zosia Mamet) and Tiny Diamond (Kenan Thompson), the latter of whom absorbs quite a bit of energy from a mysterious pacifier that he offers to share. The film is so colorful, it at times looks like a package of Skittles exploded on the screen. Cute characters, love for brothers and sisters, lots of color, and funny characters are a great way to win over kids. As for parents, there is quite a bit of nostalgic music from the 90’s and 00’s, and enough Boy Band puns to keep everyone on their toes … “we’re out of sync”.

In theaters beginning November 17, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

DREAMIN’ WILD (2023)

September 26, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Very few actors are more proficient than Oscar winner Casey Affleck at taking on the role of a tortured soul and making us care. If you are one (like me) who wiled away many hours scouring LP bins at music stores, then you likely recall the “Dreamin’ Wild” album from Donnie and Joe Emerson. It was a horrible album cover featuring the two young brothers in white jumpsuits. The self-produced album flopped, and writer-director Bill Pohlad has adapted the in-depth article penned by Steven Kurutz to dramatize the backstory, while filling in the real-life effects.

A vivid dream of success at an early age startles an older Donnie Emerson (Casey Affleck) awake. This is how Pohlad opens the film. Reality strikes as he once again realizes that recurring dream never came true, and now he runs a foundering recording studio and plays wedding gigs with his wife Nancy (Zooey Deschanel). Director Pohlad plays with timelines in an unconventional manner much as he did in his excellent Brian Wilson biopic LOVE & MERCY (2014). Noah Jupe and Jack Dylan Grazer play the young Donnie and Joe, respectively, while Walton Goggins plays grownup Joe, the less talented, though quite eager drumming brother.

This is a beautifully crafted film, though a bit unusual for a musician biopic. It’s not so much a story of music as it is a glimpse at the psychology of a musician. On the family farm in rural Fruitvale, Washington, teenage Donnie writes and performs songs. His ever-optimistic and always supportive father (a terrific Beau Bridges) mortgages the farm to build the boys an onsite recording studio so that they can pursue music, while keeping up with farming chores. When nothing happens with the album, dad loses a big chunk of the farm, and everyone just moves on with life. Well, Donnie doesn’t so much move on as brood about a shattered dream.  Thirty plus years later, an independent record producer (Chris Messina) shows up and informs the brothers that their album has found a second life online and there is interest in a new pressing, as well as a special concert and even a tour.

It’s at this point where we see just how deep the waters run for Donnie. He is reticent to allow himself to dream again … despite encouraging his own kids to do so. He’s a pensive man carrying the burden of guilt and shame as a son and failed artist. It takes courage to try again, although a tortured artist remains tortured regardless of any level of success. The second shot finds the dreamlike hit “Baby” front and center. It’s an ethereal song perfectly suited to Donnie’s temperament and a testament to his talent.

Director Pohlad brilliantly utilizes flashbacks throughout so that we understand what these folks have endured, and how differently they each react to the second shot at fame and respect. Often it takes a jolt in the present to permit us to come to terms with the unresolved feelings of the past, and we not only get to see Donnie make peace with his brother and father, but in a brilliant cinematic sequence, also with his younger self. Pohlad’s film plays as a fitting tribute to Donnie Emerson, but also as inspiration to all the dreamers.

Releasing digital and On Demand beginning September 26, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (1-26-12)

January 26, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

 ZOOEY DESCHANEL has struck TV gold with her new comedy series “New Girl”
 
Previously she was best known as “the Queen of Indies” due to the number of independent and arthouse films she was part of.  It started with Mumford (1999) and Almost Famous (2000), and her status jumped after Elf (2003) and again in 2009 with (500) Days of Summer.
 
Zooey was born into a show-biz family.  Her father Caleb Deschanel is a 5 time Academy Award nominated cinematographer (The Right Stuff, The Natural, The Passion of the Christ) and her mother Mary Jo Deschanel is an actress best known for the TV series “Twin Peaks” (she was also Annie Glenn in The Right Stuff).  Of course, her older sister is Emily Deschanel, the star of the long running TV series “Bones”.
 
According to her parents, they named her for the lead male character in the novel “Franny and Zooey” by J.D. Salinger.
 
Zooey’s two year marriage to Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie recently ended in divorce.
 
She is half of the indie musical duo, She & Him, with M. Ward
 
She currently has no new movies in the works as she concentrates on her hit TV series

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (1-5-12)

January 5, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

 ELF, the 2003 blockbuster that has since become a Christmas TV tradition, stars Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf.  Did you know that Jim Carrey was originally slated for the role?  In one of the first scenes, Ming Ming the elf is played by Peter Billingsley … better known to most as Ralphie Parker from A Christmas Story (1983).  Leon the Snowman is voiced by Leon Redbone, who also sings “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel, and “Christmas Island” on the soundtrack.  Lastly, the director Jon Favreau also directed Iron Man and Iron Man II, and wrote the script for Swingers (1996).

And don’t forget “to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup! “

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Posted by David Ferguson

OUR IDIOT BROTHER

August 29, 2011

 Greetings again from the darkness. If you have seen the trailer, you might have the wrong impression. This is no laugh riot. Sure there is plenty of humor and you will laugh, but it’s not the slapstick goofy movie the trailer leads us to believe. Oddly enough, one could make the case that it’s actually a “message” movie.

Director Jesse Peretz has teamed with his writer sister Evgenia Peretz to dive into the often strained relationships between siblings – especially brother and sister, or in this case, brother and 3 sisters. There are numerous examples of how we often cheat or lie our way through life, or at a minimum, trick ourselves into believing (or not) certain things about ourselves and our loved ones.

 The movie begins just like the trailer. Ned (Paul Rudd) is working an organic vegetable booth and is approached by a UNIFORMED police officer to buy some pot. Ned laughs it off until the officer says “It’s been a really rough week“. See, Ned is an incredibly nice and trusting guy. He always wants to help people and treat them kindly. This scene sets the stage … is Ned really an idiot or are we the idiots for not being as open and trusting as he? Once Ned is released early from jail (good behavior, of course), he naturally returns to the organic farm and his girlfriend of 3 years (Kathryn Hahn). To his surprise, he finds she has moved on to Ned’s apparent replicant Billy (TJ Miller). Even worse, she has no plans to let Ned take his beloved dog, Willie Nelson.

 So Ned heads off to re-connect with his mom (Shirley Knight) and 3 sisters. Miranda (Elizabeth Banks) is a hard-driving career woman trying to break into the magazine writing world. She believes in stopping at nothing to nab a story, or even take advantage of her neighbor (Adam Scott). Liz (Emily Mortimer) is a dedicated Mom and frustrated wife married to Dylan (Steve Coogan), a documentary filmmaker and scoundrel. Natalie (Zooey Deschanel) is the world’s worst stand-up comedian as well as a quasi-lesbian in love with lawyer Cindy (Rashida Jones in ridiculous wardrobe and glasses).

 Not going to ruin the individual story lines, but obviously Ned spends time with each of his sisters and manages to wreak havoc for each, and anyone else within ear shot. At least that’s how they see it. All he really does is act nice, be open and tell the truth. The chips then fall where they may. Each of the sisters learn a bit about Ned, but even more about themselves.

 As previously stated, there are plenty of laughs in this one, but also moments of drama and reality that work like a bucket of ice dumped on your head. The above cast is excellent and also includes Hugh Dancy and Bob Stephenson as the police officer from the opening. Mr. Stephenson is underrated and very talented. He can do much with little. For proof stay for the outtakes over the closing credits. His is a gem.

While the sisters are all quite annoying in their own special ways, it is Paul Rudd who makes the film work. He has the eyes, nature and smile to pull off this character as someone who could actually exist. Someone we all wish we could be a little more like.

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you see the genius of Paul Rudd OR you are intrigued with the idea of living your life with complete honesty

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you are expecting a raunchy slapstick Apatow-type OR you prefer to miss the worst ever lesbian wardrobe captured on film

watch the trailer:

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Posted by David Ferguson