I join CTV Atlantic’s Stephanie Tsicos to talk about the biopic “Tony,” the dino drama “The End of Oak Street,” the kid’s flick “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” and the stoner comedy “The Wrong Girls.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I join “CTV News Toronto at Five” with anchor Zuraidah Alman to talk about the biopic “Tony,” the dino drama “The End of Oak Street,” the kid’s flick “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” and the stoner comedy “The Wrong Girls.”
Watch the whole thing HERE! (Starts at 15:06)
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
SYNOPSIS: In “Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie,” a new animated film for kids spun off from the popular TV series about a heroic puppy search-and-rescue team, the canine heroes discover an island populated by dinosaurs. “No dino’s too big, no pup’s too small!”
CAST: Carter Young, Mckenna Grace, Terry Crews, Jennifer Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, Mckenna Grace, Ron Pardo, Lucien Duncan-Reid, and Nylan Parthipan, Bill Nye, Henry Bolan. Directed by Cal Brunker.
REVIEW: After a daring adventure to rescue a cat named Mr. Fluffy Butt from a burning yacht, the Paw Patrol finds themselves shipwrecked on what they think is a deserted island. When the clumsy Dalmatian Marshall (voice of Carter Young) tumbles down a hill, he soon finds himself face-to-face with one of the island’s many inhabitants, a dinosaur named Timmy the T-Rex.
But this isn’t Jurassic Park.
These dinosaurs are friendly, at least that’s what Rex (Hayden Chamberlain), a friendly paraplegic Bernese Mountain Dog who has been stranded on the island after falling overboard years before, says. “Dino Island is the greatest discovery in the history of the world.”
Meanwhile, the Paw Patrol’s arch-nemesis Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo), and his coterie of naught6y cats, are released from jail. “No more cheating,” he says. “No more lying! No more get rich quick schemes!” But, when he sees a news report on Dino Island, and notices a large cache of diamonds in the background, his path on the straight and narrow takes a U-turn and he heads to the island to face his old canine foes and steal as many diamonds as he can.
“Paw Patrol: Dino Island” does not cater to adult sensibilities by wedging in jokes or double entendres for the older folks à la “Shrek” or “King Fu Panda.” Instead, it’s a gently paced action adventure aimed directly at kids. So, no clever pop culture references just kid-friendly action that, as the third movie in the franchise, is bigger than anything they’ve attempted in the past.
The richness of Pixar and the playfulness of Illumination and their millions of Minions is missing in “Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie.” The direction, by Cal Brunker, who co-wrote the screenplay with Bob Barlen, is workmanlike, keeping their core audience, age 3 to about 8, top of mind. The result is a cute but bland movie stuffed with good messages about teamwork, helping others and perseverance, and some high-flying action but little in the way of memorable sequences.
I review the number one film in the world, “Zootopia 2” for CTVNews.ca.
“It makes for a densely packed, candy-coloured confection that lacks the cleverness of the original film, but still delivers a fun, although sometimes repetitive, experience for all ages…” Read the whole thing HERE!
SYNOPSIS: In “Zootopia 2,” the decade-in-the-making-sequel to the 2016 Oscar winner, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman voice odd couple, undercover police partners on the most important case of their lives.
CAST: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Shakira, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, and Quinta Brunson. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard.
REVIEW: Picking up immediately after the event of the first film, the 2016 Oscar-winning animated hit “Zootopia,” the action takes place in the titular city, a big bustling metropolis run by the mammal descendants of the city’s founder, Ebeneezer Lynxley.
Fresh off solving a career making conspiracy case, the eager police officer rabbit Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and con-artist-turned-cop Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), are stumbling all over themselves to convince Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), their cape buffalo chief of police, that they aren’t one-trick-ponies, or foxes or rabbits.
“Some are questioning whether you should be partners in the first place,” Bogo tells them.
When Judy finds a piece of snakeskin, a rarity in a place where mammals don’t trust reptiles, she’s thinks it’s the first clue in her next big case.
With a reluctant Nick by her side, Judy tries to discover why pit viper Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan) is back in town, why there’s no snakes in Zootopia and why everyone wants to get their paws on a mysterious old book that predates the town.
A mishmash of puns, old-school movie references and action delivered at supersonic speed, “Zootopia 2” threatens to careen out of control but strays on track to deliver a family friendly crime caper with plenty of laughs and heart.
Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, working from a script by Bush, lay it on thick for all members of the family. It’s probably the first kid’s flick about gentrification, which will likely fly over the heads of the younger set, but the vibrant animation and frenetic action should keep kids entertained while adults will catch the endless puns—Gnu Jersey anyone?—and call backs to “Ratatouille,” “The Godfather,” “Silence of the Lambs” and the original movie among others.
It makes for a densely packed, candy coloured confection that lacks the cleverness of the original film but still delivers a fun, although sometimes repetitive, experience for all ages.
“Dinner with Friends,” a new comedy starring Malin Akerman and Kat Dennings now on VOD, is a Hollywood Hills friends and family farce that seems to have done much of its casting at the nearby Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip.
Dennings and Akerman are Abby and Molly, BFFs who have both recently split with their significant others. After declaring she would love her to “the moon and back,” Abby’s girlfriend left abruptly and Molly is now a single mom after her four-year marriage imploded. Their plan to spend a quiet Thanksgiving is turned upside down when Molly’s one-night-stand (Jack Donnelly) blossoms into a relationship and decides to crash their party.
From there the party grows and grows as word gets out of a Friendsgiving at Molly’s house. Her touchy-feely mom Helen (Jane Seymour) arrives, fresh off her fifth divorce, and gets friendly with Molly’s old boyfriend (Ryan Hansen). Then there’s an assortment of characters like self-described “shawoman” Claire (Chelsea Peretti), the hemorrhoid obsessed Rick (Andrew Santino) and Lauren (Aisha Tyler) who shows up with her husband (Deon Cole), two kids and a stash of magic mushrooms.
Predictably, things swing out of control as friends, family and ex-lovers collide. There’s even a trio of “Fairy Gay Mothers” (Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho, Fortune Feimster) who descend to offer Abby some life advice.
“Dinner with Friends,” called “Friendsgiving” in the United States, is an all-out farce with a heart of gold. By the time the end credits roll the movie reveals itself not to be about a randy mother figure or a friend’s psychedelic trip. Ultimately, it’s a story of healing and working through dysfunction. Along the way, however, are enough raunchy jokes to curdle your eggnog. It’s an old formula and despite some winning performances—many from the stand-up comics who migrated down from the Comedy Store—it feels as stale as Thanksgiving’s left-over stuffing.
On this week’s Pop Life Podcast we meet two people who make people laugh for a living.
Fortune Feimster is a writer, comedian, and actress. Feimster made her television debut on NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2010. Between 2015 and 2017 she starred as Colette on The Mindy Project. Here she talks about finding her comedic voice.
Best known as J. Peterman on Seinfeld, the #1 syndicated television show in the world, John O’Hurley’s television career began in daytime television on a number of soap operas. He starred on the inaugural edition of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and was the show’s ultimate champion. O’Hurley went on to star on Broadway in Chicago, as the male lead, Billy Flynn, and hosted the syndicated game show, Family Feud. He has written three books, the New York Times bestseller, It’s Okay to Miss The Bed On the First Jump, Before The Dog Can Eat Your Homework First You Have To Do It: Life Lessons From A Wise Old Dog To A Young Boy and The Perfect Dog, published by Penguin Books.John O’Hurley is an American actor, voice actor, author and television personality. He is known for the role of J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, and was the fifth host of the game show Family Feud from 2006 to 2010.
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
This week on “Pop Life” Richard speaks with comedian Fortune Feimster. “The Mindy Project” star opens up about about her sexuality, why representation matters and her grandmother’s unwavering love and how it impacted her life.
Watch the whole thing HERE!
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including musician Josh Groban, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, legendary rock star Meatloaf, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actor and best-selling author Chris Colfer, celebrity chef Jeremiah Tower, and many more.
