Cannes — In further evidence of a generally more robust high-end international sales market at this year’s Cannes Film Market, outside China at least, Studiocanal, has secured distribution in 70% of major territories worldwide on $25 million “Around the World,” its banner new animated feature.
Written by “Ice Age 2’s” Gerry Swallow and directed by Academy Award-nominated Samuel Tourneux (“Only Pidgeons Go To Heaven”) “Around the World” is produced with Studiocanal by Federation Entertainment’s Cottonwood Media in its first animated feature production.
Of major territories, Studicanal has closed Cis (Volga), Scandinavia (Svensk), and South Korea (JoyNCinema). Releases for France, Germany, the U.K. and Australia/New Zealand are guaranteed for “Around the World” given Studiocanal’s direct distribution territories.
Also clinched are Switzerland (Impuls), ex-Yugoslovia (Blitz), Portugal (Lusomundo), Greece (Spentzos), Middle East (Salim Ramia), Poland (Monolith) Eastern Europe (Vertical), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Vietnam (Blue Lantern) and Israel (Red Cape).
“We will probably...
Written by “Ice Age 2’s” Gerry Swallow and directed by Academy Award-nominated Samuel Tourneux (“Only Pidgeons Go To Heaven”) “Around the World” is produced with Studiocanal by Federation Entertainment’s Cottonwood Media in its first animated feature production.
Of major territories, Studicanal has closed Cis (Volga), Scandinavia (Svensk), and South Korea (JoyNCinema). Releases for France, Germany, the U.K. and Australia/New Zealand are guaranteed for “Around the World” given Studiocanal’s direct distribution territories.
Also clinched are Switzerland (Impuls), ex-Yugoslovia (Blitz), Portugal (Lusomundo), Greece (Spentzos), Middle East (Salim Ramia), Poland (Monolith) Eastern Europe (Vertical), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Vietnam (Blue Lantern) and Israel (Red Cape).
“We will probably...
- 5/23/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Cannes — Produced by Cottonwood Media and Studiocanal, written by “Ice Age 2’s” Gerry Swallow, and directed by Academy Award nominated Samuel Tourneux (“Only Pidgeons Go To Heaven”), $25 million animated feature “Around the World” had sparked offers from “from all over the world” by Wednesday evening at Cannes, said Anne Cherel, Studiocanal head of international current movies sales.
Weighing offers, Studiocanal looks to close 70%-80% of major territories by the end of the market, she added.
That looks set to make “Around the World” one of this year’s Cannes Film Market hits.
Studiocanal will distribute “Around the World” directly in France. It will also release the film, based on Jules Vernes’ timeless literary classic, in its direct distribution territories of Germany, the U.K. and Australia/New Zealand, unless it receives offers for the territories which it can’t refuse, Cherel said.
That may be possible. One of the biggest...
Weighing offers, Studiocanal looks to close 70%-80% of major territories by the end of the market, she added.
That looks set to make “Around the World” one of this year’s Cannes Film Market hits.
Studiocanal will distribute “Around the World” directly in France. It will also release the film, based on Jules Vernes’ timeless literary classic, in its direct distribution territories of Germany, the U.K. and Australia/New Zealand, unless it receives offers for the territories which it can’t refuse, Cherel said.
That may be possible. One of the biggest...
- 5/16/2019
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: French distribution and production force StudioCanal is launching sales in Cannes on $20M-budgeted, English-language animated film Around The World, and flight-themed thriller Black Box, starring Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent) and Marine Vacth (Young And Beautiful).
Despicable Me outfit Mac Guff is handling the animation on the former, an update of the Jules Verne classic Around The World in Eighty Days, this time featuring a marmoset and a con man frog who set off to achieve a record-breaking journey. The Cottonwood Media-produced project, which is one of the biggest new animated projects at this year’s Cannes market, already has positive feedback from buyers, I understand.
Script comes from Ice Age: The Meltdown scribe Gerry Swallow. Samuel Tourneux, Oscar-nominated for his 2008 short Even Pigeons Go to Heaven, is making his feature debut on the project, which is in pre-production.
StudioCanal head of sales Anne Chérel told us of the project,...
Despicable Me outfit Mac Guff is handling the animation on the former, an update of the Jules Verne classic Around The World in Eighty Days, this time featuring a marmoset and a con man frog who set off to achieve a record-breaking journey. The Cottonwood Media-produced project, which is one of the biggest new animated projects at this year’s Cannes market, already has positive feedback from buyers, I understand.
Script comes from Ice Age: The Meltdown scribe Gerry Swallow. Samuel Tourneux, Oscar-nominated for his 2008 short Even Pigeons Go to Heaven, is making his feature debut on the project, which is in pre-production.
StudioCanal head of sales Anne Chérel told us of the project,...
- 5/13/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Could have been assembled entirely from clips from other movies — mostly the Star Wars prequels — and would have been better if it had been. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): never hopeful about based-on-videogame movies
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Ah, so there’s my answer, once again.
I was wondering how that standard movie philosophy still applied to me. You know, that standard movie philosophy that is not only the stuff but the actual stuffing of 99 percent of wish-fulfillment genre fantasy movies for decades now. I approached Ratchet & Clank with great anticipation. Can I do anything? Can I be anything I want to be? Am I destined for greatness, to save the world or even the whole galaxy even if I am a foolhardy, thoughtless, unfocused screwup with almost nothing to my name but maybe some undisciplined smarts and outsized aspirations to grandeur?...
I’m “biast” (con): never hopeful about based-on-videogame movies
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Ah, so there’s my answer, once again.
I was wondering how that standard movie philosophy still applied to me. You know, that standard movie philosophy that is not only the stuff but the actual stuffing of 99 percent of wish-fulfillment genre fantasy movies for decades now. I approached Ratchet & Clank with great anticipation. Can I do anything? Can I be anything I want to be? Am I destined for greatness, to save the world or even the whole galaxy even if I am a foolhardy, thoughtless, unfocused screwup with almost nothing to my name but maybe some undisciplined smarts and outsized aspirations to grandeur?...
- 4/28/2016
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Jay Chandrasekhar is best known as one of the Broken Lizard comedy troupe and has directed some fairly high-profile movies and TV over the last few years. Perhaps his biggest film was the Dukes of Hazzard from a few years back which was a mixed bag to say the least.
The problem with most of Chandrasekhar’s films and a problem which The Babymakers also suffers from is that they seem in a major hurry to get to the next joke and don’t allow the audience breathing room with the characters. As a result they always feel more like some kind of endurance contest than an actual comedic narrative. During The Babymakers you can see that there was potential for a laugh out loud comedy but the pace is one of two major flaws that meant I only sniggered intermittently throughout the film.
The story focuses on Tommy and...
The problem with most of Chandrasekhar’s films and a problem which The Babymakers also suffers from is that they seem in a major hurry to get to the next joke and don’t allow the audience breathing room with the characters. As a result they always feel more like some kind of endurance contest than an actual comedic narrative. During The Babymakers you can see that there was potential for a laugh out loud comedy but the pace is one of two major flaws that meant I only sniggered intermittently throughout the film.
The story focuses on Tommy and...
- 11/23/2012
- by Chris Holt
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Chicago – One of the questions we’re never suppose to ask the married couple without kids is, ‘when are you going to have kids?’ There might be specific reasons that it’s none of your damn business. Surprisingly, there is a whole so-called comedy based on this question and answer. Olivia Munn goes kid hatching in ‘The Babymakers.’
Rating: 2.0/5.0
No matter how you slice the subject of infertility, it simply isn’t the right story line for a comic romp, especially an unfunny one. Two members of Broken Lizard, the cult comedy group – Kevin Heffernan and Jay Chandrasekhar (who also directs) – give themselves up filming and supporting a domestic tale about a couple who cannot conceive. It becomes a heist film, because what they need to steal is so unlikely that it hardly bears mentioning. Okay, it’s seminal fluid from a sperm bank. That will have ‘em rolling in the aisles.
Rating: 2.0/5.0
No matter how you slice the subject of infertility, it simply isn’t the right story line for a comic romp, especially an unfunny one. Two members of Broken Lizard, the cult comedy group – Kevin Heffernan and Jay Chandrasekhar (who also directs) – give themselves up filming and supporting a domestic tale about a couple who cannot conceive. It becomes a heist film, because what they need to steal is so unlikely that it hardly bears mentioning. Okay, it’s seminal fluid from a sperm bank. That will have ‘em rolling in the aisles.
- 8/4/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
You know that comedian at open mic night who provides too many tangential details in his set up and takes forever to get to the simplest of punchlines? This is the movie equivalent. With its thoroughly modern concept, The Babymakers follows a husband (Paul Schneider) who has to break into a sperm bank in order to get back his last viable batch of swimmers and impregnate his wife (Olivia Munn). It’s a fantastic spin on heist stories, and with Jay Chandrasekhar at the helm, there’s a sense of comedic prowess, but the movie itself gets bogged down in its gag set ups, leaving little room for pay off. There are some great moments, but the difficulty in making a story revolving around a sperm bank heist is that, as writers Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow most likely found out early on, it’s not all that hard to break into a sperm bank. It...
- 8/3/2012
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
The Babymakers
Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
Written by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow
USA, 2012
In the final shot of The Babymakers, a toddler cries in agony and anguish, a feeling that will be shared by most people who subject themselves to this woefully unfunny exercise in stupidity. The best you can hope for is a light chuckle or snicker, though they may end up being pity laughs, as there are too many decent actors and actresses you’ll pity for being stranded in this loud, obnoxious farce. The premise—after a married couple fails to conceive a child, the husband decides to steal an old sperm sample of his so he can be the one who impregnates his wife—is ignored in favor of meandering, pointless gags and subplots.
Paul Schneider plays Tommy, the frustrated hopeful father whose sperm have become confused, thus making it difficult to get his wife,...
Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
Written by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow
USA, 2012
In the final shot of The Babymakers, a toddler cries in agony and anguish, a feeling that will be shared by most people who subject themselves to this woefully unfunny exercise in stupidity. The best you can hope for is a light chuckle or snicker, though they may end up being pity laughs, as there are too many decent actors and actresses you’ll pity for being stranded in this loud, obnoxious farce. The premise—after a married couple fails to conceive a child, the husband decides to steal an old sperm sample of his so he can be the one who impregnates his wife—is ignored in favor of meandering, pointless gags and subplots.
Paul Schneider plays Tommy, the frustrated hopeful father whose sperm have become confused, thus making it difficult to get his wife,...
- 8/3/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Chicago – The comedy troupe Broken Lizard conquered the film world with their first feature, “Super Troopers” in 2001. Over the next decade, they followed up with the popular “Club Dread” (2004) and “Beerfest” (2008). Broken Lizard performers Kevin Heffernan and Jay Chandrasekhar (who also directs) go domestic in the new film “The Babymakers.”
This latest release features Heffernan and Chandrasekhar in supporting roles, with Paul Schneider and Olivia Munn playing a couple trying to breed, but finding too many obstacles along the way. The solution? Break into a sperm bank where Schneider’s character made some deposits, and withdraw his specimen to save the day. Part heist film, part upper middle class fantasy, the Broken Lizard members add their own quirky sensibility to the mix of this high concept comedy.
Kevin Huffernan as Wade and Paul Schneider as Tommy in ‘The Babymakers’
Photo credit: Millennium Entertainment
Broken Lizard began in 1990 at Colgate University in New York state.
This latest release features Heffernan and Chandrasekhar in supporting roles, with Paul Schneider and Olivia Munn playing a couple trying to breed, but finding too many obstacles along the way. The solution? Break into a sperm bank where Schneider’s character made some deposits, and withdraw his specimen to save the day. Part heist film, part upper middle class fantasy, the Broken Lizard members add their own quirky sensibility to the mix of this high concept comedy.
Kevin Huffernan as Wade and Paul Schneider as Tommy in ‘The Babymakers’
Photo credit: Millennium Entertainment
Broken Lizard began in 1990 at Colgate University in New York state.
- 8/1/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Watch 2 new clips from Millennium Films' The Babymakers, starring Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider Millennium Entertainment sends out the comedy to theaters on August 3rd, 2012. Also in the cast of the Jay Chandrasekhar comedy are Aisha Taylor, Jay Chandrasekhar, Noureen DeWulf, Constance Zimmer, Nat Faxon, Kevin Hefferman, Miles Fisher, Rick Overton and Desi Lydic. Paul Gaulke, Gerry Swallow write. In The Babymakers, a man who fails to get his wife pregnant hatches a plan to steal his deposit from the sperm bank he used several years back.
- 7/24/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch 2 new clips from Millennium Films' The Babymakers, starring Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider Millennium Entertainment sends out the comedy to theaters on August 3rd, 2012. Also in the cast of the Jay Chandrasekhar comedy are Aisha Taylor, Jay Chandrasekhar, Noureen DeWulf, Constance Zimmer, Nat Faxon, Kevin Hefferman, Miles Fisher, Rick Overton and Desi Lydic. Paul Gaulke, Gerry Swallow write. In The Babymakers, a man who fails to get his wife pregnant hatches a plan to steal his deposit from the sperm bank he used several years back.
- 7/24/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Millennium Entertainment will work with Tugg to expand the release platform for its comedy "The Babymakers," directed by Jay Chandrasekhar. While Millennium will release the film day and date August 3 on VOD and in 10 major markets, fans can request additional screenings in their areas. “We saw an enthusiastic response from audiences in SXSW for The Babymakers and, through Tugg, look to broaden the movie’s fan base in direct and innovative ways,” said Millennium Entertainment CEO Bill Lee. “Tugg’s curatorial platform enhances the fan experience, strengthening the film’s VOD and theatrical prospects throughout the county by targeting markets with strong want-to-see.” "Babymakers" is the story of a husband who resorts to robbing a sperm bank to impregnate his wife. Written by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow, the film stars Chandrasekhar, Olivia Munn, Paul Schneider, Aisha Tyler, Kevin Heffernan, Wood...
- 7/2/2012
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Watch the red band trailer for Jay Chandrasekhar's The Babymakers, starring Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider Jay Chandrasekhar helms as well as scripting the comedy alongside Gerry Swallow and Peter Gaulke. In The Babymakers, Schneider stars as a guy who, after failing to get his wife pregnant (Olivia Munn), hatches a plan to rob a sperm bank where he'd made a deposit several years before. Also in the cast of the Millennium Entertainment film are Aisha Taylor, Jay Chandrasekhar, Noureen DeWulf, Constance Zimmer, Nat Faxon, Kevin Hefferman, Miles Fisher, Rick Overton and Desi Lydic.
- 6/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch the red band trailer for Jay Chandrasekhar's The Babymakers, starring Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider Jay Chandrasekhar helms as well as scripting the comedy alongside Gerry Swallow and Peter Gaulke. In The Babymakers, Schneider stars as a guy who, after failing to get his wife pregnant (Olivia Munn), hatches a plan to rob a sperm bank where he'd made a deposit several years before. Also in the cast of the Millennium Entertainment film are Aisha Taylor, Jay Chandrasekhar, Noureen DeWulf, Constance Zimmer, Nat Faxon, Kevin Hefferman, Miles Fisher, Rick Overton and Desi Lydic.
- 6/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The Babymakers directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and scripted by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow, gets its first trailer. Schneider stars as a guy who, after failing to get his wife pregnant (Olivia Munn), hatches a plan to rob a sperm bank where he'd made a deposit several years before. Aisha Taylor, Jay Chandrasekhar, Noureen DeWulf, Constance Zimmer, Nat Faxon, Kevin Hefferman, Miles Fisher, Rick Overton and Desi Lydic form the rest of the main cast of the Millennium Entertainment-distributed comedy which finds release on August 3rd.
- 6/1/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The Babymakers directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and scripted by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow, gets its first trailer. Schneider stars as a guy who, after failing to get his wife pregnant (Olivia Munn), hatches a plan to rob a sperm bank where he'd made a deposit several years before. Aisha Taylor, Jay Chandrasekhar, Noureen DeWulf, Constance Zimmer, Nat Faxon, Kevin Hefferman, Miles Fisher, Rick Overton and Desi Lydic form the rest of the main cast of the Millennium Entertainment-distributed comedy which finds release on August 3rd.
- 6/1/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See the first poster for Jay Chandrasekhar's The Babymakers, starring Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider From the producers of Super Troopers and Beerfest comes The Babymakers, helmed by Jay Chandrasekhar form the script by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow. The funny story tells of a guy (Paul Schneider) who, after failing to get his wife pregnant (Olivia Munn), hatches a plan to rob a sperm bank where he'd made a deposit several years before. Also in the cast are Aisha Taylor, Jay Chandrasekhar, Noureen DeWulf, Constance Zimmer, Nat Faxon, Kevin Hefferman, Miles Fisher, Rick Overton and Desi Lydic. Millennium Entertainment sends the comedy to theatres on August 3rd.
- 5/17/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See the first poster for Jay Chandrasekhar's The Babymakers, starring Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider From the producers of Super Troopers and Beerfest comes The Babymakers, helmed by Jay Chandrasekhar form the script by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow. The funny story tells of a guy (Paul Schneider) who, after failing to get his wife pregnant (Olivia Munn), hatches a plan to rob a sperm bank where he'd made a deposit several years before. Also in the cast are Aisha Taylor, Jay Chandrasekhar, Noureen DeWulf, Constance Zimmer, Nat Faxon, Kevin Hefferman, Miles Fisher, Rick Overton and Desi Lydic. Millennium Entertainment sends the comedy to theatres on August 3rd.
- 5/17/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Millennium Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to the Jay Chandrasekhar-directed comedy The Babymakers. The film, which had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in March, will receive a July 3 release on Ultra VOD followed by a platform theatrical release July 27. Olivia Munn, Paul Schneider, Aisha Tyler, Kevin Heffernan, Wood Harris, Constance Zimmer, M.C. Gainey, Nat Faxon and Chandrasekhar star in the story of a man who recruits a group of friends to steal his old deposit from a sperm bank when he is unable to get his wife pregnant. Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow
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- 4/11/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jay Chandrasekhar’s twist on the bank heist film, The Babymakers, takes a somewhat clever and fun premise and buries it under muffled performances, piles of unfunny jokes, and a complete disregard for clarity of theme. The film is packed with all of the markers that we’ve come to expect from current Hangover and Apatow-inspired comedy – it’s raunchy and dirty and even occasionally offensive – but there’s no bite or originality behind any of it, it just feels tired and wrung out. Chandrasekhar’s shtick has worn thin since his best and ballsiest comedy, Super Troopers, and lensing a flick from writers Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow (best known for stuff like Black Knight and Say It Isn’t So) hasn’t done him any favors. The film centers on happily married pair Tommy (Paul Schneider) and Audrey (Olivia Munn) who decides it’s high time to conceive a baby. After...
- 3/15/2012
- by Kate Erbland
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
In The Babymakers, a bumbling idiot (played by Super Troopers actor Kevin Heffernan) does a Stooge-like swim on a floor covered in semen. That just about sums up what this lazy, downright stupid comedy is about: a steady stream of unfunny sperm jokes that goes nowhere.
The presence of Heffernan, Nat Faxon, and actor-director Jay Chandrasekhar will likely lure fans of Broken Lizard’s brand of raunchy irreverence, but don’t be fooled into suffering through an atrocious script written instead by Strange Wilderness offenders Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow. (Yes, “Swallow” for those whose minds are similarly in the gutter.)
“Parks and Recreation” alum Paul Schneider delivers his lines with a smirk of disbelief and earns the most laughs, except they mostly come from his perfect physical timing, not the farcical situations involving his character Tommy. Just a simple look or gesture had the theater busting up. And, as...
The presence of Heffernan, Nat Faxon, and actor-director Jay Chandrasekhar will likely lure fans of Broken Lizard’s brand of raunchy irreverence, but don’t be fooled into suffering through an atrocious script written instead by Strange Wilderness offenders Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow. (Yes, “Swallow” for those whose minds are similarly in the gutter.)
“Parks and Recreation” alum Paul Schneider delivers his lines with a smirk of disbelief and earns the most laughs, except they mostly come from his perfect physical timing, not the farcical situations involving his character Tommy. Just a simple look or gesture had the theater busting up. And, as...
- 3/12/2012
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
If you thought that “Knocked Up” was too mature a take on impending fatherhood, then “Babymakers” just might be the movie for you. Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, it follows the comical misadventures of a husband who is reluctant to discover whether or not his sperm is “confused” – and if so, how he’ll handle getting his wife pregnant. Marginally more sophisticated than Chandrasekhar’s efforts with the comedy troupe Broken Lizard, “Babymakers” starts off solidly before getting sidetracked by set pieces that take over the entire narrative – and ultimately reveal how little of one there was in the first place.
Paul Schneider (“Water for Elephants”) plays Tommy Macklin, a husband who agrees to start a family with his wife Audrey (Olivia Munn) but soon discovers that tons of tries don’t make a difference if you’re incapable of conceiving. Citing his efforts five years prior when he successfully donated sperm for “beat off money,...
Paul Schneider (“Water for Elephants”) plays Tommy Macklin, a husband who agrees to start a family with his wife Audrey (Olivia Munn) but soon discovers that tons of tries don’t make a difference if you’re incapable of conceiving. Citing his efforts five years prior when he successfully donated sperm for “beat off money,...
- 3/11/2012
- by Todd Gilchrist
- The Playlist
After failing to get his wife pregnant, a guy (Paul Schneider, Parks and Recreation) recruits his pals to steal the deposit he left at a sperm bank years ago. If that doesn’t set you up for the kind of movie “The Babymakers” is going to be then I don’t know what will.
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
Writers: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow
Starring: Olivia Munn, Paul Schneider, Kevin Heffernan
“The Babymakers” turned out to be my first big surprise for SXSW this year. Going into it I knew very little about the film except that the premise had comedic value…and that Olivia Munn is unbelievably hot. Directed by Jay Chandraskhar, who you may remember from such classics as ‘Super Troopers’ and ‘Dukes of Hazzard’, the film actually turned out to be one of the funniest I’ve seen in a long while. The director introduced the film along with star Kevin Hefferman,...
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
Writers: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow
Starring: Olivia Munn, Paul Schneider, Kevin Heffernan
“The Babymakers” turned out to be my first big surprise for SXSW this year. Going into it I knew very little about the film except that the premise had comedic value…and that Olivia Munn is unbelievably hot. Directed by Jay Chandraskhar, who you may remember from such classics as ‘Super Troopers’ and ‘Dukes of Hazzard’, the film actually turned out to be one of the funniest I’ve seen in a long while. The director introduced the film along with star Kevin Hefferman,...
- 3/10/2012
- by feeds@themoviepool.com (Gabriel Barboza)
- Cinelinx
Sound On Sight will once again be covering the SXSW Film Festival this year, making it our second time attending. 130 feature films will screen at the Austin, Texas fest taking place March 9-17, including 65 World Premieres, 17 North American Premieres and 10 U.S. Premieres. As previously announced, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods will have the honours of opening the festival, and now they have released the full list of films – and it’s looking pretty amazing. Enjoy!
Narrative Feature Competition
This year’s 8 films were selected from 1,112 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere. Films screening in Narrative Feature Competition are:
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin
When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted.
Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail (World Premiere)
Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths,...
Narrative Feature Competition
This year’s 8 films were selected from 1,112 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere. Films screening in Narrative Feature Competition are:
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin
When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted.
Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail (World Premiere)
Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths,...
- 2/3/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Iggy Pop and Debbie Harry, shot by Bob Gruen in 1977
Rock 'N' Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen
screens as part of 24 Beats per Second
SXSW Film has just announced its features lineup for the 2012 edition, running March 9 through 17. We already knew that the Opening Night Film would be Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods. For its Closing Night Film, the festival will host the world premiere of of Emmett Malloy’s documentary Big Easy Express (more below). The lineup, with descriptions from the festival:
Narrative Feature Competition
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin. When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted. Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail. (World Premiere)
Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths, Screenwriters: Richard B. Phillips, Megan Griffiths, Story by: Richard B. Phillips & Chong Kim.
Rock 'N' Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen
screens as part of 24 Beats per Second
SXSW Film has just announced its features lineup for the 2012 edition, running March 9 through 17. We already knew that the Opening Night Film would be Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods. For its Closing Night Film, the festival will host the world premiere of of Emmett Malloy’s documentary Big Easy Express (more below). The lineup, with descriptions from the festival:
Narrative Feature Competition
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin. When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted. Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail. (World Premiere)
Eden
Director: Megan Griffiths, Screenwriters: Richard B. Phillips, Megan Griffiths, Story by: Richard B. Phillips & Chong Kim.
- 2/1/2012
- MUBI
With Sundance 2012 Film Festival over, the next big one on the horizon is South by Southwest, which we’ll be heavily covering. The biggest chunk of the line-up has been announced today, which has some great premieres including 21 Jump Street, Tiff and Sundance hit The Raid, Will Ferrell‘s Casa de mi Padre, the documentary Girl Model (which we liked at Tiff), as well as the next from Broken Lizard, The Babymakers. There are many other promising titles included and you can see them all below. Check back for our coverage for the fest, kicking off March 9th.
Narrative Feature Competition
This year’s 8 films were selected from 1,112 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere. Films screening in Narrative Feature Competition are:
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin
When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted.
Narrative Feature Competition
This year’s 8 films were selected from 1,112 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere. Films screening in Narrative Feature Competition are:
Booster
Director/Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin
When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted.
- 2/1/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
South by Southwest, the annual festival held in Austin, TX, has just released its 2012 film lineup. Headliners include Joss Whedon's anticipated horror flick, "The Cabin in the Woods," (previously announced), '80s reboot "21 Jump Street" and black comedy "Killer Joe." Also on the list are "The Babymakers" starring Paul Schneider and Olivia Munn, and "Small Apartments" with the surprising trio of Billy Crystal, James Caan and Johnny Knoxville. You can check out the rest of the bigger headliners and feature films below. For the full list, head to SXSW.com. Headliners 21 Jump Street Directed by: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, Screenplay by: Michael Bacall, Story by: Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill Police officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) get sent back to high school as undercover cops in the action-comedy 21 Jump Street. Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, with Ice Cube (World Premiere) Big Easy...
- 2/1/2012
- by Alex Suskind
- Moviefone
Attendees of South by Southwest 2012 are in for a treat. 130 feature films will screen at the Austin, Texas festival taking place March 9-17. Among them are 65 World Premieres, 17 North American Premieres and 10 U.S. Premieres. The organization already announced [1] Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's The Cabin in the Woods would open the festival (the movie is phenomenal [2]) and today the majority of the remaining line up has been revealed. One of the highlights is the unbelievably smart and hilarious 21 Jump Street, directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller. Both of those are World Premieres. Other highlights include The Hunter, Killer Joe, The Babymakers, frankie goes boom, God Bless America, The Imposter, The Raid, Bernie and Casa de mi Padre just to name a few. After the jump, read descriptions of all the films that have been announced so far. Before I copy and paste the rest of the list, a few minor notes.
- 2/1/2012
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
Brilliant First Red Band Trailer For Jay Chandrasekhar’s The Babymakers Kicks Off With A Lot Of Love
Jay Chandrasekhar and all of the Broken Lizard guys are complete geniuses, and whilst The Babymakers may not be an official Broken Lizard film, written instead by the writing team of Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow (Ice Age: The Meltdown), the film looks like another brilliant one starring the comedy team.
Directed by Chandrasekhar, The Babymakers is led by Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl) and Olivia Munn (Soderbergh’s upcoming Magic Mike), with all of the Broken Lizard guys – Chandrasekhar, Kevin Hofferman, Paul Soter, Steve Lemme, and Erik Stolhanske – filling out the supporting cast, along with some other Broken Lizard regulars.
The first red band trailer has hit the net, via Collider and Film School Rejects, and it is pretty damn awesome. Schneider and Munn star as a couple trying and failing to get pregnant when they discover Schneider’s swimmers are a little on the slow side.
Directed by Chandrasekhar, The Babymakers is led by Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl) and Olivia Munn (Soderbergh’s upcoming Magic Mike), with all of the Broken Lizard guys – Chandrasekhar, Kevin Hofferman, Paul Soter, Steve Lemme, and Erik Stolhanske – filling out the supporting cast, along with some other Broken Lizard regulars.
The first red band trailer has hit the net, via Collider and Film School Rejects, and it is pretty damn awesome. Schneider and Munn star as a couple trying and failing to get pregnant when they discover Schneider’s swimmers are a little on the slow side.
- 12/27/2011
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
[1] In a weird way, it seems appropriate that the first footage from Jay Chandrasekar's The Babymakers would leak over the holidays. After all, the season is about family, and this film is ostensibly about starting a family. Of course, this being a film from the guy who directed Beerfest, what it really ends up being about is a lot of semen jokes. Hooray. Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider star as a married couple who want to start a family but are having trouble conceiving. When the husband learns that it's because he is infertile, he enlists his friends and an Indian mob hitman (Chandrasekar) to help him break into a sperm bank and steal back a deposit he made years ago. This seems to be a rough cut of a promotional trailer rather than a finished theatrical trailer, so keep that in mind as you make your judgment. Watch the Nsfw trailer after the jump.
- 12/26/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
If you woke up this morning and felt you needed to see a trailer frothing over with semen jokes, it’s as if the planets have aligned to tell you that you need more therapy and that the redband trailer for Babymakers has poked its little head out onto the internet. This is the Broken Lizard movie that isn’t a Broken Lizard movie. Instead of the gang from Beerfest trying to impregnate everyone, it stars Olivia Munn and Paul Schneider (Away We Go, Lars and the Real Girl) as a couple who have trouble conceiving. Fortunately, Schneider’s character donated a bunch of great sperm years ago. Unfortunately, it’s all gone, so he has to try to steal some of it back. Good old Kevin “Farva” Heffernan is on board as the sidekick, and Jay Chandrasekhar is directing and playing an Indian mafia killer (complete with genuine Indian accent!). As...
- 12/26/2011
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
After their flop The Slammin’ Salmon, the comedy troupe Broken Lizard (behind Super Troopers and Beerfest) are back with a new film. The Babymakers is directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and with a promo red band trailer arriving today, it actually looks like it could be a return to form. The highlight for me is seeing Paul Schneider nab a lead comedy role, after loving him in everything from early David Gordon Green films (George Washington, All the Real Girls) to other dramas (Bright Star, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Away We Go) to having success on prime-time TV with Parks and Recreations.
He is joined by TV personality Olivia Munn, which I haven’t been impressed with, but hopefully this and her role in Steven Soderbergh‘s Magic Mike this summer will change by mind. They play a couple who needs some working sperm to have a baby,...
He is joined by TV personality Olivia Munn, which I haven’t been impressed with, but hopefully this and her role in Steven Soderbergh‘s Magic Mike this summer will change by mind. They play a couple who needs some working sperm to have a baby,...
- 12/24/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Olivia Munn is set to star in The Baby Makers, according to Variety.
The film will also star Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation) as a man who finds out he can longer have a child. He decides to rob the sperm bank he once donated to so he can have a child of his own.
No word yet on who Munn would play, but we could guess it would probably be a mom of some sort.
The film will be directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and the screenplay is from Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow.
It should start filming this summer in Los Angeles.
...
The film will also star Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation) as a man who finds out he can longer have a child. He decides to rob the sperm bank he once donated to so he can have a child of his own.
No word yet on who Munn would play, but we could guess it would probably be a mom of some sort.
The film will be directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and the screenplay is from Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow.
It should start filming this summer in Los Angeles.
...
- 6/7/2011
- by alyssa@mediavine.com (Alyssa Caverley)
- Reel Movie News
Olivia Munn (Date Night, Iron Man 2) has landed the lead female role in The Baby Makers, Variety has reported.
Munn will star opposite Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl), Jay Chandrasekhar (The Dukes of Hazzard), Kevin Heffernan (Management), Steve Lemme (Club Dread) and Paul Soter (Super Troopers) in the indie comedy.
The Baby Makers follows a married couple who can’t conceive, prompting the husband (Schneider) to enlist his friends’ help to rob a Pasadena sperm bank where he made a deposit as a young man.
Chandrasekhar is attached to direct from a script written by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow, with production expected to begin later this summer in Los Angeles.
Munn, who was recently confirmed for Aaron Sorkin’s HBO pilot, will be seen next in The Weinstein Company’s I Don’t Know How She Does It.
Munn will star opposite Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl), Jay Chandrasekhar (The Dukes of Hazzard), Kevin Heffernan (Management), Steve Lemme (Club Dread) and Paul Soter (Super Troopers) in the indie comedy.
The Baby Makers follows a married couple who can’t conceive, prompting the husband (Schneider) to enlist his friends’ help to rob a Pasadena sperm bank where he made a deposit as a young man.
Chandrasekhar is attached to direct from a script written by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow, with production expected to begin later this summer in Los Angeles.
Munn, who was recently confirmed for Aaron Sorkin’s HBO pilot, will be seen next in The Weinstein Company’s I Don’t Know How She Does It.
- 6/7/2011
- by Jamie Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Olivia Munn is apparently tired of just being known for G4’s Attack of the Show and The Daily Show, according to the latest from Variety. In addition to roles in the upcoming film, I Don’t Know How She Does It, with Sarah Jessica Parker and an HBO pilot from Aaron Sorkin that’s tentatively titled More As This Story Develops, she’ll also be showing up in the indie comedy, The Babymakers.
In the Jay Chandrasekhar directed comedy, a guy (Paul Schneider) is having problems getting his wife pregnant so he decides to get some of his buddies together and break into a sperm bank where he provided a sample in the past. Munn will play the guy’s wife.
The script for The Babymakers was written by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow, and production is expected to start this summer in Los Angeles.
Munn, who once again...
In the Jay Chandrasekhar directed comedy, a guy (Paul Schneider) is having problems getting his wife pregnant so he decides to get some of his buddies together and break into a sperm bank where he provided a sample in the past. Munn will play the guy’s wife.
The script for The Babymakers was written by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow, and production is expected to start this summer in Los Angeles.
Munn, who once again...
- 6/7/2011
- by Marty Shaw
- Boomtron
[1] Al Pacino is in talks to star in Imagine, playing an aging rocker who "decides to change his life after discovering a letter written to him by John Lennon." The note inspires him to reach out to his biological son, whom he's never met. Imagine will be the directorial debut of Dan Fogelman, the screenwriter behind Tangled and the upcoming Crazy Stupid Love. Fogelman has written the script for Imagine as well. At one point, Steve Carrell was attached to play the son. He's since dropped out of the role, though he remains involved as a producer. Which means we get to talk about who might be a good fit to fill the part -- who do you think could play Pacino's son? [Variety [2]] After the jump, Olivia Munn shacks up with Paul Schneider and a trio of Italians join Woody Allen's Italian movie. Whether or not you think Olivia Munn is funny,...
- 6/7/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Olivia Munn, known for TV's "Attack of the Show!" and her stint as correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," is set to star in Broken Lizard's upcoming comedy "The Baby Maker," which Jay Chandrasekhar will direct.
Variety says the film focuses on a married couple struggling to conceive. Paul Schneider plays the husband, who comes up with a plan to rob a sperm bank he used to visit as a young man. Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow penned the script.
For Munn, this won't be the first Broken Lizard flick she's appearing in. She recently showed up in the gang's "The Slammin' Salmon." Her big-screen acting credits also include "Iron Man 2," "Date Night" and the upcoming "Freeloaders."...
Variety says the film focuses on a married couple struggling to conceive. Paul Schneider plays the husband, who comes up with a plan to rob a sperm bank he used to visit as a young man. Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow penned the script.
For Munn, this won't be the first Broken Lizard flick she's appearing in. She recently showed up in the gang's "The Slammin' Salmon." Her big-screen acting credits also include "Iron Man 2," "Date Night" and the upcoming "Freeloaders."...
- 6/7/2011
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
Olivia Munn ("The Daily Show") has scored the female lead in the indie comedy "The Baby Maker" for Alliance Films/Im Global reports Variety.
The Broken Lizard comedy troupe, the group behind "Super Troopers" and "Club Dread", are behind this with Jay Chandrasekhar ("Super Troopers") directing from a script by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow ("Ice Age: The Meltdown").
The story follows a married couple who can't conceive, prompting the husband (Paul Schneider) to enlist his friends' help to rob a sperm bank where he made a deposit as a young man.
Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske and Kevin Heffernan are all expected to co-star. Shooting kicks off this summer in Los Angeles.
The Broken Lizard comedy troupe, the group behind "Super Troopers" and "Club Dread", are behind this with Jay Chandrasekhar ("Super Troopers") directing from a script by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow ("Ice Age: The Meltdown").
The story follows a married couple who can't conceive, prompting the husband (Paul Schneider) to enlist his friends' help to rob a sperm bank where he made a deposit as a young man.
Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske and Kevin Heffernan are all expected to co-star. Shooting kicks off this summer in Los Angeles.
- 6/7/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The Baby Maker comedy, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar will star Olivia Munn in Broken Lizard comedy "The Daily Show" correspondent Olivia Munn joins the comedy which follows a married couple who can't conceive. This prompts the husband (Paul Schneider) to enlist his friends' help and rob a sperm bank where, as a young man, he made a deposit. Jay Chandrasekhar ("Super Troopers") of Broken Lizard will direct is set to direct from the script by Gerry Swallow and Peter Gaulk. Other Broken Lizard members are obviously expected to return including Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske and Kevin Heffernan. Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions is producing alongside Automatik Entertainment's Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Chandrasekhar and his Aaron Behl.
- 6/7/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The Baby Maker comedy, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar will star Olivia Munn in Broken Lizard comedy "The Daily Show" correspondent Olivia Munn joins the comedy which follows a married couple who can't conceive. This prompts the husband (Paul Schneider) to enlist his friends' help and rob a sperm bank where, as a young man, he made a deposit. Jay Chandrasekhar ("Super Troopers") of Broken Lizard will direct is set to direct from the script by Gerry Swallow and Peter Gaulk. Other Broken Lizard members are obviously expected to return including Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske and Kevin Heffernan. Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions is producing alongside Automatik Entertainment's Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Chandrasekhar and his Aaron Behl.
- 6/7/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The Baby Maker comedy, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar will star Olivia Munn in Broken Lizard comedy "The Daily Show" correspondent Olivia Munn joins the comedy which follows a married couple who can't conceive. This prompts the husband (Paul Schneider) to enlist his friends' help and rob a sperm bank where, as a young man, he made a deposit. Jay Chandrasekhar ("Super Troopers") of Broken Lizard will direct is set to direct from the script by Gerry Swallow and Peter Gaulk. Other Broken Lizard members are obviously expected to return including Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske and Kevin Heffernan. Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions is producing alongside Automatik Entertainment's Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Chandrasekhar and his Aaron Behl.
- 6/7/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Olivia Munn is set to star in a film entitled The Baby Makers , Variety reports. The plot will feature a Paul Schneider ( Lars and the Real Girl , George Washington and, formerly, "Parks and Recreation") as a man who, upon learning that he can no longer conceive a child, decides to rob a sperm bank that he once donated to. Munn's role is currently unspecified, but could very likely be the part of the would-be mom. The film, aiming to shoot this summer in Los Angeles, will be directed by Jay Chandrasekhar ( Super Troopers , Beerfest , The Dukes of Hazzard ) and has been scripted by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow ( Black Knight , Say It Isn't So ). Update: Variety has corrected their original story which claimed that the film would be produced by Broken...
- 6/6/2011
- Comingsoon.net
We reported [1] on the last round of casting for Celeste and Jesse Forever just the other day, when Emma Roberts, Ari Graynor and Chris Messina joined the cast of the film that follows Rashida Jones (who co-wrote) and Andy Samberg as a couple who tries to maintain their friendship while still living in the same house during their divorce. Now Elijah Wood has signed on as well; THR [2] says he'll be "Celeste’s business partner, a metrosexual who tries to be her 'saucy gay friend.'" I'm not sure if that means the character is gay, or if he's a straight guy who tries to play that role with Celeste (Rashida Jones). Either way, I'll be happy to see Elijah Wood do outright comedy, since we don't often see him in that mode on the big screen. After the break, Colin Hanks continues his hot streak and Paul Schneider breaks his lizard.
- 5/28/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
I have to admit to feeling kind of sorry for Paul Schneider. While Parks and Recreation started becoming a much better show in its second season, its recently completed third season was a revelation that turned the program into must-watch television. What does this have to do with Schneider? His run as City Planner Mark Brendanawicz ended with second season finale. Not to worry, though. The actor has landed on his feet and has taken a role with another group of very funny comedians. Variety reports that Schneider has been cast in the lead role of the next Broken Lizard film, The Baby Makers. The troupe's first film since 2009's The Slammin' Salmon, Jay Chandrasekhar will be returning to the director's chair and will be using a script written by Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow. In the film, Schneider will play a married man who is having trouble conceiving a...
- 5/27/2011
- cinemablend.com
Total Recall
John Cho ("Star Trek," "Harold and Kumar") has joined the cast of Sony’s remake of "Total Recall" which begins shooting Monday in Toronto.
Cho will play McClane, the smooth-talking rep for Rekall Industries who tempts Colin Farrell’s Douglas Quaid to implant fantastic memories into his brain. [Source: EW]
My Mother's Curse
Colin Hanks has joined the Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand-led road movie "My Mother's Curse" for Paramount and Skydance Productions. Filming begins in June.
Hanks will play the husband of Rogen's high school sweetheart (Yvonne Strahovski). The pair let Rogen and Streisand crash in their house after they get caught in a blizzard. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter]
21 And Over
Miles Teller has signed on to star in the comedy "21 And Over" for Mandeville Films and Relativity Media. "The Hangover" writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore penned and will direct.
The story follows two childhood friends drag their straight-arrow buddy out...
John Cho ("Star Trek," "Harold and Kumar") has joined the cast of Sony’s remake of "Total Recall" which begins shooting Monday in Toronto.
Cho will play McClane, the smooth-talking rep for Rekall Industries who tempts Colin Farrell’s Douglas Quaid to implant fantastic memories into his brain. [Source: EW]
My Mother's Curse
Colin Hanks has joined the Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand-led road movie "My Mother's Curse" for Paramount and Skydance Productions. Filming begins in June.
Hanks will play the husband of Rogen's high school sweetheart (Yvonne Strahovski). The pair let Rogen and Streisand crash in their house after they get caught in a blizzard. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter]
21 And Over
Miles Teller has signed on to star in the comedy "21 And Over" for Mandeville Films and Relativity Media. "The Hangover" writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore penned and will direct.
The story follows two childhood friends drag their straight-arrow buddy out...
- 5/27/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
In the energetic sequel "Ice Age: The Meltdown", youngsters may fret over whether the animal heroes will reach their new home safely, parents may wonder how all this melting ice pack parallels the current concerns over global warming, and 20th Century Fox Animation may have to figure out what to do with the bounty undoubtedly flowing its way from boxoffice and DVD coffers. Ray Romano again heads the voice cast, reunited with John Leguizamo and Denis Leary from the original 2002 "Ice Age".
The story gets under way with the zany sloth Sid (Leguizamo) running a day camp for young animals. His old buddies -- the mature woolly mammoth Manny (Ray Romano) and the dryly witty saber-toothed tiger Diego (Leary) -- make Sid realize that he is really quite unsuitable as any kind of role model. Con artist armadillo Fast Tony Jay Leno) alerts the various breeds that a global warming will imminently melt the enormous glacial dam that protects their valley. Oceans of water will flood the landscape, thus they must embark on a trek toward safety. It is at this point that the very good CGI effects are never more impressive, as the enormous scope of their changing environmental habitat is revealed.
The charm of the original film was its endearing character development, mixing humor with personality traits with real dimension (not all that unlike Romano's former smash-hit TV sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond"). This lifts "Meltdown" above many other animated efforts. Along their trip, each of the three leads gets a story arc: Manny may be the last of his species, that is until Ellie (Queen Latifah) shows up, a mammoth who thinks she's an opossum, like her sidekicks Crash Seann William Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck). Sid, the Rodney Dangerfield of sloths, finds respect in a fun midnight-cult sequence. And Diego struggles to face a long-held fear.
In most respects, this sequel is better than the original. No human characters appear this time, so it's a more seamless animal tale. Although Diego's tiger is more of a pussycat here, the film's overall story line, complete with predatory prehistoric alligator creatures, is more involving. Even clocking in 11 minutes longer than "Ice Age", director Carlos Saldanha (who received co-director credit on the original) has made a vivid and entertaining (and educational?) family film that never flags.
Highlights include the tender depiction of Ellie's life-changing moment when she recognizes her childhood home is now completely melted; a rousing all-vulture version of "Food, Glorious Food" from "Oliver!"; and, last but hardly least, Scrat, the unspeaking squirrel/rat, back from the first film with more silly screen time. He is still risking life and limb on sheer, frozen cliffs above and below icy water in pursuit of that elusive acorn. Scrat's intermittent sequences are episodic, like chapters of an old serial -- and like those old serials, the kids will eat it up.
ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox Animation presents a Blue Sky Studios production
Credits:
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Screenwriters: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow, Jim Hecht
Story by: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow
Producer: Lori Forte
Executive producers: Christopher Meledandri, Chris Wedge
Art director: Thomas Cardone
Character designer: Peter de Seve
Music: John Powell
Editor: Harry Hitner. Voices: Manny: Ray Romano
Sid: John Leguizamo
Diego: Denis Leary
Ellie: Queen Latifah
Crash: Seann William Scott
Eddie: Josh Peck
Lone Gunslinging Vulture: Will Arnett
Fast Tony: Jay Leno
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 91 minutes...
The story gets under way with the zany sloth Sid (Leguizamo) running a day camp for young animals. His old buddies -- the mature woolly mammoth Manny (Ray Romano) and the dryly witty saber-toothed tiger Diego (Leary) -- make Sid realize that he is really quite unsuitable as any kind of role model. Con artist armadillo Fast Tony Jay Leno) alerts the various breeds that a global warming will imminently melt the enormous glacial dam that protects their valley. Oceans of water will flood the landscape, thus they must embark on a trek toward safety. It is at this point that the very good CGI effects are never more impressive, as the enormous scope of their changing environmental habitat is revealed.
The charm of the original film was its endearing character development, mixing humor with personality traits with real dimension (not all that unlike Romano's former smash-hit TV sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond"). This lifts "Meltdown" above many other animated efforts. Along their trip, each of the three leads gets a story arc: Manny may be the last of his species, that is until Ellie (Queen Latifah) shows up, a mammoth who thinks she's an opossum, like her sidekicks Crash Seann William Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck). Sid, the Rodney Dangerfield of sloths, finds respect in a fun midnight-cult sequence. And Diego struggles to face a long-held fear.
In most respects, this sequel is better than the original. No human characters appear this time, so it's a more seamless animal tale. Although Diego's tiger is more of a pussycat here, the film's overall story line, complete with predatory prehistoric alligator creatures, is more involving. Even clocking in 11 minutes longer than "Ice Age", director Carlos Saldanha (who received co-director credit on the original) has made a vivid and entertaining (and educational?) family film that never flags.
Highlights include the tender depiction of Ellie's life-changing moment when she recognizes her childhood home is now completely melted; a rousing all-vulture version of "Food, Glorious Food" from "Oliver!"; and, last but hardly least, Scrat, the unspeaking squirrel/rat, back from the first film with more silly screen time. He is still risking life and limb on sheer, frozen cliffs above and below icy water in pursuit of that elusive acorn. Scrat's intermittent sequences are episodic, like chapters of an old serial -- and like those old serials, the kids will eat it up.
ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox Animation presents a Blue Sky Studios production
Credits:
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Screenwriters: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow, Jim Hecht
Story by: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow
Producer: Lori Forte
Executive producers: Christopher Meledandri, Chris Wedge
Art director: Thomas Cardone
Character designer: Peter de Seve
Music: John Powell
Editor: Harry Hitner. Voices: Manny: Ray Romano
Sid: John Leguizamo
Diego: Denis Leary
Ellie: Queen Latifah
Crash: Seann William Scott
Eddie: Josh Peck
Lone Gunslinging Vulture: Will Arnett
Fast Tony: Jay Leno
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 91 minutes...
- 3/31/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warmed by the success of the animated Ice Age, nominated for an Oscar as best animated feature film, 20th Century Fox has signed the film's director, Chris Wedge, to a five-year, multipicture exclusive deal. Ice Age, Wedge's feature debut following the 1998 Oscar-winning short film Bunny, has taken in more than $378 million worldwide and moved more than 25 million combined DVD/VHS units. Wedge and Blue Sky Studios -- the animation company behind Ice Age that Wedge co-founded in 1987 -- are at work on their second digitally animated film, Robots, for Fox. That project, penned by veteran comedy scribes Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, will be designed by illustrator William Joyce. Voice talent is expected to sign on to Robots in the coming weeks. In addition to Robots, Wedge will executive produce a sequel to Ice Age that writing duo Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow are penning.
- 2/28/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warmed by the success of the animated Ice Age, nominated for an Oscar as best animated feature film, 20th Century Fox has signed the film's director, Chris Wedge, to a five-year, multipicture exclusive deal. Ice Age, Wedge's feature debut following the 1998 Oscar-winning short film Bunny, has taken in more than $378 million worldwide and moved more than 25 million combined DVD/VHS units. Wedge and Blue Sky Studios -- the animation company behind Ice Age that Wedge co-founded in 1987 -- are at work on their second digitally animated film, Robots, for Fox. That project, penned by veteran comedy scribes Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, will be designed by illustrator William Joyce. Voice talent is expected to sign on to Robots in the coming weeks. In addition to Robots, Wedge will executive produce a sequel to Ice Age that writing duo Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow are penning.
- 2/28/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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