“The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is a tough sell. This is a new, slightly darker and more mysterious visionary tale loosely based on one of the most famous ballets and musical compositions in history. Disney has taken “Alice in Wonderland”, mushed it with “The Chronicles of Narnia” and sprinkled it with Sugar Plum Fairy […]
Yeti or not, here comes “Smallfoot” – a new animated movie musical from Warner Bros. that gives the Bigfoot legend a complete makeover. Migo (voiced by Channing Tatum) is a YA yeti who opens “Smallfoot” with a song. He introduces us to his yeti village which is picture perfect. Such an unoriginal beginning (done so […]
“The House with a Clock in Its Walls” is a PG-rated fantasy mystery adventure starring Jack Black (no stranger to family fare) and Cate Blanchett. Her recent roles include the evil stepmother in “Cinderella” and voice work in “How to Train Your Dragon 2”. However, “House with a Clock” comes from director Eli Roth, whose resume […]
For nearly a century, the works of author A.A. Milne and artist E.H. Shepard have taken us deep into the Hundred Acre Wood. Now, Disney and “Finding Neverland” director Marc Forster take us deep into the mind of Christopher Robin, the young boy now all grown up in the new, original (that word has more […]
DC has produced numerous superhero movie flops over the years. “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies”, based on the popular Cartoon Network TV series, will make you both remember and forget that fact. This delightfully funny and incredibly smart parody is what Marvel’s “Deadpool” movies have tried – and failed – to be. The Teen […]
Sony Pictures Animation’s first two “Hotel Transylvania” movies were fast-paced and filled with frenetic action, eye-popping characters and unique visuals. But what if you added loud, classic and contemporary pop music to the equation? That’s exactly what we get with “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation”. This is the latest in a recent string of animated […]
At the Regal Cinemas “Incredibles 2” showing I attended (and it’s likely playing everywhere), right before the film began, writer/director Brad Bird, and stars Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter and Samuel L. Jackson appeared on screen and thanked all the fans for waiting patiently for the past 14 years (it’s been 13 and a half, […]
2011’s “Gnomeo & Juliet” is charming, sweet, emotional and genuine. I told lead voice actress Emily Blunt “it’s a terrific animated movie” on “The Tonight Show”. I can’t believe that was more than 7 years ago. Now, after seeing the new sorta-sequel, sorta-spinoff, follow-up – “Sherlock Gnomes”, I kinda feel bad for Blunt, whose Juliet […]
“A Wrinkle in Time” is based on the Award-winning 1962 novel of the same name that’s a fixture in most grade school classrooms. I’ve been familiar with the book for a long time, but didn’t read it growing-up. After seeing Disney’s film adaptation, I consider that a blessing. Ava DuVernay is the talented director of […]
“Early Man” is the fifth stop-motion feature from iconic British animation studio Aardman. It also marks the triumphant directorial return of Nick Park, the creator of Wallace & Gromit and Oscar-winner for the duo’s 2005 film, “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit”. “Early Man” is packed with Aardman’s trademark comedic style. But with each of their […]