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Mr. Popper’s Penguins: Movie Review

Brendan Walsh — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:03 +0000

For the past few years, every time I’ve gone to see a kids movie in the theater, I always take a moment to feel sorry for the parents in the theater. These days, taking a family of 4 to the theater can cost anywhere between $50 and $75 (Closer to $100, if you’re seeing something in IMAX or 3-D)! But then, to add insult to injury, more often than not they’ve got to sit through dreck like Alvin and the Chipmunks, or Marmaduke. Thankfully, there are a handful of movies out that are not only geared towards the satisfaction of children, but the whole family, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, starring Jim Carrey is one of them. Check out the rest of the review after the jump…

The Players:

Director – Mark Waters
Writers – Sean Anders, John Morris, Jared Stern
Starring – Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Ophelia Lovibond, Clark Gregg, Angela Lansbury, David Krumholtz, Jeffrey Tambor

The Story:

Tom Popper (Jim Carrey) is a real estate developer whose career is more successful than his family life. He is struggling to balance his goals of becoming a partner at his prestigious firm against staying relevant to his young son and preteen daughter. But when his world-explorer, absentee father dies, Popper inherits not one, but six live penguins that he must now care for. Though the birds initially turn his routine and tidy life upside down, they also provide him with a new opportunity to connect with his kids and ex-wife (Gugino). In order to take advantage of this second chance, Popper must keep the penguins in his penthouse apartment, hidden from his nosy neighbor (Krumholtz) and out of the hands of a zoo keeper with ulterior motives (Gregg). As the animals bring his family closer together, Popper is able to become the emotionally available father to his family that he never had himself.

The Good:

Family Comedy vs. Children’s Comedy – It’s a daunting task to write a film that’s able to connect with both children and adults. It certainly doesn’t help that each year Pixar continues to set the bar so high, with the kind of universal storytelling that resonates with literally everyone. Most family movies write off the adults in the audience, and appeal solely to children with base humor and plot lines written in crayon. That said, Mr. Popper’s Penguins does a fine job of riding the line between the two styles. The film is very character driven, and doesn’t rely on the kind of stylized humor that continues to drive, say, the Shrek series into the ground.
Jim Carrey – Carrey’s performance is charming enough to keep adults engaged with his character, and though his trademark cartoonish energy is present, it isn’t a distraction from the story at hand. The humor surrounding the penguins is mostly geared towards children (one of the penguins’ distinguishing characteristics is that he keeps bumping into walls, while another one farts incessantly), however, they’re such naturally amusing creatures that whether or not they’re real or seamlessly animated, one can’t help but enjoy their presence.
Supporting Cast – First of all, there’s Ophelia Lovibond, who plays Popper’s alliterating assistant, Pippi. This girl is absolutely adorable, and her energy and appeal carry every scene she’s in. Here’s hoping this ingenue never longs for work, because I just want to see more of her smiling on screen. But more importantly, Popper’s cast is bolstered with some great and timeless character actors who really understand their function in a film, and play not to their own strengths, but to the story’s. Angela Lansbury, with her matronly voice and manner, is a welcome presence in any family movie, and it’s nice to see her introduced to yet another generation of children. Clark Gregg’s performance is only a teensy bit more overstated than usual, but hey, he’s the bad guy in a kid’s film. It’s still a pleasure to see his polite sincerity in any film. Jeffrey Tambor and David Krumholtz fill in a few scenes. Philip Baker Hall also has a small role as Popper’s boss, and although he is probably the most under-utilized actor in the film, he’s one of those performers whose face you just like look at on camera.

The Bad:

What book? – Based on the beloved 1938 children’s book by Richard and Florence Atwater, Mr. Popper’s Penguins has very little in common with its source material. Now, it’s quite understandable that this story would need to be updated for modern times and audiences, especially since one of the key elements of the book is that many people don’t even know what penguins are. However there’s a simplicity to its antiquated setting that has been a substantial part of its charm for some time now. The plot is different as well, choosing to bring the penguins closer to the family, rather than exposing them to the world. And part of the magic of the book is the fantastic notion of a troupe of traveling performing penguins. But most distinctly, all of the themes have changed as well. Rather than being a story about a man who realizes the dreams he has shelved for the sake of his family, this is a film about a man who puts puts his personal goals aside to be closer to them. It’s not an offensive departure, it’s just that if you’re looking for a nostalgic connection to your third grade summer reading list, this isn’t it.

Overall:

Although Mr. Popper’s Penguins may not provide the emotional catharsis of a Pixar film, its strong cast does a very good job of keeping it an emotionally grounded film, and strengthening its ability to connect with audiences of all ages in broad, and meaningful ways.

Rating: 7/10

Mr. Popper’s Penguins in theaters June 17th!

Photo Gallery:

Paul: Movie Review

Krystal Clark — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:20:52 +0000

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite on the big screen this weekend for their new comedy Paul. Like they’re previous works, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, which poked fun at the horror and action genre, Paul places the focus on science fiction. It’s a comedic take on what would happen if you mixed the movie Alien with Fanboys. Check out our review…

The Players:

Director: Greg Mottola
Screenwriters: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, Sigourney Weaver, Jeffrey Tambor, Jane Lynch, Blythe Danner, John Carroll Lynch
Cinematography By: Lawrence Sher
Original Music By: David Arnold

The Plot:

Clive and Graeme are two sci-fi enthusiasts who travel from the U.K. to the U.S. to attend San Diego Comic-Con. After the convention wraps they take a road trip across the Southwest, where they visit several famous UFO landmarks including Area 51. During one of their stops they meet Paul, an alien who’s on the run from the government. He enlists the help of Clive and Graeme, who dodge FBI agents, red necks, and Bible thumpers to get him where he needs to be.

The Good:

Simon Pegg/Nick Frost: The chemistry between these two is undeniable. They’re naturally funny apart, so when they’re together comedy ensues. If you’re a fan of their previous collaborations, you won’t be disappointed with their performances in Paul.
Paul: Paul is a pleasant surprise. At first glance, he comes across as a rude, slimy, untrustworthy creature but he’s actually a heartwarming character that you learn to love as the movie progresses.
The Big Guy: Sigourney Weaver plays the main villain, who’s affectionately called The Big Guy. Her casting in this role is pure genius considering her longstanding battle with aliens for the majority of her career. There’s only a choice few actresses who can pull off masculine characters believably and she’s one of them!

The Bad:

Throwaway Characters: There are more than a few oddballs who interfere with Paul, Clive, and Graeme’s journey including a couple of agents in training, some hillbillies, and a religious zealot. All of them are one dimensional characters who serve no purpose to the story. They could have scrapped them and given more screen time to those who mattered.
Agent Zoil: I love Jason Bateman, therefore it hurts me to say this: Agent Zoil dropped the ball. The majority of the film, Zoil is the straight man against all the other goofball characters, a role that Bateman is used to pulling off (Arrested Development anyone?) but his character wasn’t fun, witty, or interesting. Anyone could have played Zoil. It didn’t have to be Bateman. His talent was wasted here.

Overall:

Paul is a road trip movie that pokes fun at the sci-fi genre and the fan boy culture. It’s campy and comedic fun.

Rating: 7.5/10

Paul opens in theaters everywhere on March 11th.

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

Will you be seeing Paul this weekend?

Comic-Con 2010 Video: Cast of Paul Favorite Comic-Con Moment

Krystal Clark — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:36:08 +0000

Paul director Greg Mottola was joined by his cast including Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bill Hader, Jeffrey Tambor, Joe Lo Truglio, Seth Rogen and Sigourney Weaver at the film’s official Comic-Con panel. They gave an exclusive sneak peek at the film, and revealed to the audience their favorite Comic-Con moment. Lucky for you we recorded it! Watch their answers below…

The reason this moment is so epic is because Paul takes place at Comic-Con (the majority of it anyway). The characters played by Pegg and Frost are certified geeks and they take a cross country trip to the annual event, which leads them to finding their new alien friend. Unfortunately, we found out a lot of the footage filmed for the movie was recreated at another location because the Comic-Con folks wouldn’t let them film during the actual event. Boo!!!

Anyway, one of the fans who was in attendance at the Paul panel asked the cast what they’re favorite Comic-Con moment has been so far and this is how they answered.

There you have it!

What do you think of the cast of Paul and their favorite Comic-Con moments? Were you in attendance at this year’s panel?

Like what you read? For more fun, check out our top stories from Comic-Con…

The Invention of Lying: Movie Review

Krystal Clark — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:30:11 +0000

Are you interested in some dry British humor, with a side of moral ambiguity? The Invention of Lying is the latest film from the creator of the hit TV series The Office and Extras, Ricky Gervais. The movie takes place in a world where deception doesn’t exist and honesty isn’t the best policy, it’s the only policy. The Invention of Lying centers on the one person in the universe who’s developed the understanding and the ability to tell a lie.

Check out our review for The Invention of Lying…

The Players:

Directors: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson
Screenwriters: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Jeffrey Tambor, and Jonah Hill

The Plot:

The Invention of Lying takes place in an alternate universe where the concept of falsehood doesn’t exist. No one is capable of telling a lie, and everyone speaks their minds no matter how harsh the truth is. Mark Bellison (Gervais) is a down on his luck screenwriter who after getting fired from his job, and evicted from his apartment comes up with the first lie. He uses his new found ability to manipulate the general public, become filthy rich, and win the affections of the lovely Anna McDoogles (Garner). The only problem is even with the gift of gab he can’t lie his way into Anna’s heart, or gain the genuine respect of his colleagues because his success is based on a sham.

The Good:

Ricky Gervais: The one thing that stood out about Gervais’ performance was his dramatic scenes. There were certain points in the film where the tone took a very dark turn and his character was forced to get serious and emotional. It was a totally different side of him that was exposed to the audience and he pulled it off beautifully.
The Setting: The film was set in an alternate reality, so everything from the city billboards, to the offices had to be bland and straight forward. The set design was very one dimensional, but it worked for the purpose of the story.
The Cameos: The best part of the film had to come from the many cameo appearances made by several talented actors. Edward Norton, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Bateman, and The Office and Extras co-star Stephen Merchant each popped in for various scenes.

The Bad:

Tina Fey: Tina Fey’s role could have been given to any no name actress in Hollywood without a shadow of a doubt. She starred as Mark’s snarky secretary Shelley, and pretty much played a watered down version of Liz Lemon mixed with her news anchor personality from Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update.
Religious Undertone: The film is marketed as a comedy, but has some serious religious themes that play alongside the story. There’s an entire bit dedicated to the origin of heaven and hell, what’s considered good or bad, and the daily responsibilities of “the man in the sky.” No matter what your spiritual position is, the subtext comes off like bad propaganda.

The Overall:

The Invention of Lying isn’t a terrible film, but it’s not a typical comedy. There are a lot of self-reflective moments that occur during the movie, so if you do plan on seeing it, prepare for your laugh to be followed by a hefty cry.

Rating: 6.5/10

The Invention of Lying in playing in theaters everywhere nationwide.

Colin Hanks Gets Lucky

Laura Aguirre — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:40:02 +0000

Colin Hanks just got lucky with his latest gig. According to Variety, next week he will join actors Ari Graynor, Ann-Margret and Jeffrey Tambor on the set of Lucky in Iowa, where Gil Gates Jr. will direct the promising indie comedy. The script for this film must be pretty good if it got the legendary Ann-Magret to come out of semi-retirement.

Lucky is based on a serial killer who wins the lottery and attempts to pursue his lifelong crush. The question is — can Hanks, as sweet looking as he appears, be a believable serial killer? We’ve seen him act up a bit in The Great Buck Howard, but never anything too strenuous.

However, there is no doubt about the rest of this promising cast. Lately, Ari Graynor has landed some roles in potentially good films like Drew Barrymore‘s Whip It!, Youth In Revolt (starring Michael Cera), and we can’t forget her hilarious portrayal in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. On another note, as a huge Arrested Development fan, I’m always glad to see Jeffrey Tambor on the silver screen. His cameo in The Hangover just didn’t satisfy my appetite for Tambor-esque style comedy.

What do you think of the line up for the upcoming film, Lucky?

The Hangover Theatrical Trailer

Krystal Clark — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:40:22 +0000

*** Check out “The Hangover” Review ***

God I love this trailer! I just had to write that before I actually posted the video. The Hangover looks like it’s going to be hilarious. A new theatrical trailer has just been released for the film and it makes me want to see it even more than I did before. The Hangover is directed by Todd Phillips the man who brought us Road Trip and Old School. The cast includes Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Jeffrey Tambor, and Ed Helms. On the surface it may seem like your typical drunk, Vegas comedy but something about it gets to me. The cameo with Mike Tyson singing “In the air of the night” by Phil Collins is worth my price of admission.

You can check out the trailer after the jump.

I love how Bradley Cooper says, “Mike Tyson?” That’s the thought that ran across my head when I saw him singing soft rock in a hotel room. I also love how the music group that appeared at Will Ferrell’s wedding reception in Old School makes an appearance as well. It’s the little things that matter to me. The Hangover lands in theaters on June 5.

So what do you think? Are you interested in seeing the film? What do you like or hate about the trailer?

Tambor Says that Arrested Development Film is a Go

Mali Elfman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:00:50 +0000

This whole Arrested Development debate has been going on for ages. Will they just start filming this thing already? Not long ago, Michael Cera said that the film was “more hypothetical than people think,” and that he would need to read the script first. Well actually what he said was, “I’d possibly like to play the part. I’d possibly like to put the script in my shredder.” Slight difference there.

Now the new rumor, started at a recent Upright Citizens Brigade LA performance of “Word Girl,”by Jeffrey Tambor, is that he believes that both Cera is on board and that the Arrested Development will happen this year. According to /Film he said:

If I have to call him up and say, ‘Get on set right now, young man,’ he’ll be there…The movie is going to happen this year, and Michael Cera is on board. Trust me.

Is this stemming from something real? Or just coming out of a slight god-like complex? Or just an attempt to un-do some possibly bad PR that Cera may have started from his shredder comment? I have no idea! Someone give us some answers!

ScreenCrave.com » Jeffrey Tambor

Mr. Popper’s Penguins: Movie Review

The Players:

The Story:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7/10

Photo Gallery:

Related Posts

Paul: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7.5/10

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

Related Posts

Comic-Con 2010 Video: Cast of Paul Favorite Comic-Con Moment

Related Posts

The Invention of Lying: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

The Overall:

Rating: 6.5/10

Related Posts

Colin Hanks Gets Lucky

Related Posts

The Hangover Theatrical Trailer

Related Posts

Tambor Says that Arrested Development Film is a Go

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