Movie Review: UglyDolls

UGLYDOLLS
Cast: Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe, Blake Shelton, Wanda Sykes, Gabriel Iglesias, Wang Leehom, Emma Roberts and Pitbull. Bebe Rexha, Charlie XCX, and Lizzo
Director: Kelly Asbury
Producers: Jane Hartwell, Robert Rodriguez, Oren Aviv
Release Date: May 3, 2019

Official Site

#UglyDollsMovie

Unconventionality rules in UGLYDOLLS, STXfilms' new animated musical adventure starring the acting and singing voices of Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe, Blake Shelton and Pitbull.

In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye. Here, the free-spirited Moxy (Clarkson) and her UglyDoll friends live every day in a whirlwind of bliss, letting their freak flags fly in a celebration of life and its endless possibilities. In this all-new story, the UGLYDOLLS will go on a journey beyond the comfortable borders of Uglyville. There, they will confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved, and ultimately discover that you don't have to be perfect to be amazing because who you truly are is what matters most.

The film is inspired by the unique and beloved global plush toy phenomenon launched in 2001 and features all new original songs from the cast of popstars.

Also starring in the voice cast of UGLYDOLLS are Wanda Sykes, Gabriel Iglesias, Wang Leehom, Emma Roberts, Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX and Lizzo.

An STXfilms and Alibaba Pictures presentation, UGLYDOLLS is directed by Kelly Asbury and will be released in theaters on May 3, 2019.

The original motion picture soundtrack will be released by Atlantic Records.

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Recently, the world of animation has stepped-up its game.  There are some really good, trip to the theater worthy, animated films being made these days.  Unfortunately, UglyDolls isn’t one of them. In the scheme of the good, the bad, and  the ugly,UglyDolls is heavy on the bad and ugly and very low on the good. Opt for a different family film this week, or take the kids to see the latest superhero movie out (again.)

From the get-go, UglyDolls seemed confused.  Moxy (Kelly Clarkson) opened the film with a song about how wonderful the day was going to be and how happy she was to be a part of the Uglywille community, but she’s also very sad that she may never be able to leave Uglywille to realize the dream of belonging to a child. Then, the town mayor, Ox (Blake Shelton) discourages Moxy from following her dream, seemingly to protect her from he real world.  But, in his efforts to protect Moxy, Ox pressures an unwilling Lucky Bat (Wang Leehom) into “counseling” Moxy against her plans to search for more.  … And that was just the first five minutes.

UglyDolls tried hard to make the correct points: self-esteem, inclusion, and tolerance, among others. But, then, one of the dolls crashed into a wall because she didn’t want to “be ugly” by wearing her corrective lenses, and the good messages are lost on the kids in the theater audience wearing corrective lenses.  It happened like that time and again.  Just as the story was going to make a positive point, it went sideways. UglyDolls was definitely not some of Kelly Asbury’s (the Director of the film) best work. If it wasn’t for Moxy’s can-do spirit and big heart, UglyDolls would have been entirely unwatchable.

The music was bad.  It was more like sung dialogue. There was nothing catchy about most of the songs.  No one will be humming the tunes after watching the movie. Maybe because many of the of the voice actors are singers, UglyDolls includes an entire soundtrack of original music.  The many musical numbers were over used and overdone.

Still, not all of it was horrible.  Ugly Dog (Pitbull, who doesn’t love Pitbull?) stole all of the scenes he was in.  Wage’s cynical voice (Wanda Sykes) added genuine and much needed humor. And there was a bit in a washing machine which was creative and original.

That said, skip it. Use the 88 minute run-time to do something else with the family this weekend.  Big kids will dislike the silly music and infantile use of color.  Little kids won’t understand any of the well-intentioned themes.  Parents will resent all of it. Uglydolls is playing everywhere starting May 3.

Movie Review: Disney Pixar's #Incredibles2

Incredibles 2
Release Date: June 15th 2018
Rated: PG
Directed by: Brad Bird
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Eli Fucile, Samuel L. Jackson
Social Media Channels: Web | Facebook | Twitter | Instragram

From the Academy Award®-winning creators of Finding Nemo comes the action-packed animated adventure about the mundane and incredible lives of a house full of superheroes. Bob Parr and his wife Helen used to be among the world's greatest crime fighters, saving lives and battling evil on a daily basis. Fifteen years later, they have been forced to adopt civilian identities and retreat to the suburbs where they live "normal" lives with their three kids, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. Itching to get back into action, Bob gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him to a remote island for a top secret assignment. He soon discovers that it will take a super family effort to rescue the world from total destruction.

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I, like many other people, have been a very big fan of "The Incredibles". I remember watching and it made me so happy and excited; it made me want to be a super -even though I was already a grown woman. But I also kept waiting and waiting for part two because they leave you hanging in the end of part one. We waited (sort of) patiently and we finally got what we deserved, the part two. So, naturally, when I was invited to go see the screening for this movie to do a review, I didn't even blink before I agreed to it. So here I give you my humble and maybe a little biased opinion about the movie, but I will do my best to keep it neutral.

The movie starts exactly where part one ends and we see everything that happens immediately after, that was the first good point for me. Then they show you more of the home life of the Parrs and how they are getting along and surviving being supers in hiding. That's when things turn around because there's someone who wants to bring the supers back to the public and make them legal again. In the first movie, we see Mr. Incredible get hired and getting paid loads of money for doing his super hero stunts, but in this movie it's Elastigirl who is making the big bucks. She is so good and smooth, and of course, she has heart and puts it in all the things she does.

But, there's something lurking in the background that keeps sending her messages and she soon starts to try to figure out who the real enemy is. The way it was going was very similar to the first one about who the enemy would be, and I was starting to feel disappointed...but Pixar didn't let me down because then there was a twist in the end that I liked much better. Not going to ruing it here because I want you guys to enjoy it and figure it out on your own. 

I loved that there's more character development in this movie for Mr. Incredible for he had a few lessons to learn about being a little more humble and about what it really takes to be a good dad. It also taught Violet a few lessons about being a little more understanding and less, as Dash calls it, "Teenagery". But the real show stealer in this movie is Jack-Jack when he shows more of the powers he showed us towards the end of the first movie. But he's such a happy baby with some sass in him that makes him fantastic. We also get a little cameo of Edna, which is always hilarious.

The absolute best part of the movie was the focus on women and women power! I believe the point was to show that we women can do the same that men can. It's not about being better than them, it's about being equal and this movie showed just that. I hope it provides a good message to the little girls who are watching this, that we can be as super as boy can. 

I won't keep bragging about the movie, I will only ask you to please go watch the movie and enjoy it. It was absolutely worth the wait! I just hope there's a part three and that we don't have to wait another 14 years!

DreamWorks Animation Television Creates Two Original Kids Series for Amazon Prime Video

DreamWorks Animation Television Creates Two Original Kids Series for Amazon Prime Video

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny

to debut this year

Watch the brand new trailer for The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle:  https://youtu.be/dMUwTLe3kgg

DreamWorks Animation Television is creating two original kids series for Amazon Prime Video, beginning with the all-new The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle expected to premiere May 11, 2018 in the US, UK, Germany, India, and Japan. A second series inspired by the blockbuster franchise, Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, will have a global debut later this year in over 200 territories, also on Prime Video.

The world-famous talking moose and flying squirrel are back in The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, a serialized comedy about two goofball best friends who routinely find themselves thrust into harrowing situations but end up saving the day time and again. As Rocky and Bullwinkle's innocent and silly ambitions to become rock stars or find lost treasure end up dovetailing with Fearless Leader's sinister plans to take over the world, our heroes are set on a collision course with his notorious super spies Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale.

The series is executive produced by Scott Fellows (The Fairly OddParents, Big Time Rush) and Tiffany Ward, daughter of the original series producer Jay Ward, and features Tara Strong (The Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans Go!)  as the voice of Rocket J. Squirrel, Brad Norman (America’s Most Haunted) as Bullwinkle J. Moose, Ben Diskin (Hey Arnold!) as Boris Badenov, Rachel Butera (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Natasha Fatale, Piotr Michael (Impress Me, MADtv) as Fearless Leader and Daran Norris (The Fairly OddParents) as Narrator.

Later in 2018, Prime Video will premiere Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, an epic adventure series from Emmy Award-winning executive producers Mitch Watson (All Hail King Julien) and Elliott Owen (All Hail King Julien), and Lane Lueras (The Adventures of Puss in Boots). When four panda kids stumble upon a mystical cave beneath Panda Village, accidentally absorbing the chi of ancient and powerful kung fu warriors known as the Four Constellations, they must realize a destiny to save the world from an evil force. Meanwhile, Po finds himself faced with his biggest challenge yet -- teaching this ragtag band of kids how to wield their newfound powers.

Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny marks the first time an original series from DreamWorks Animation Television will be made available to Prime Video customers worldwide. Since 2013, DreamWorks has launched 17 series around the globe, garnering 17 Emmy Awards since inception. DreamWorks was recently nominated for 23 2018 Daytime Creative Arts Emmys.

• The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, expected to premiere May 11, 2018 in the US, UK, Germany, India, and Japan.
• Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, will have a global debut later this year

Movie Review: Blue Sky Studios' #Ferdinand

FERDINAND
Animation, in 3D
Release: December 15, 2017
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
Cast: John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Iglesias, Bobby Cannavale, David Tennant, Anthony Anderson, Flula Borg, Sally Phillips, Boris Kodjoe, Jerrod Carmichael, Raúl Esparza, Karla Martínez, Miguel Ángel Silvestre.

FERDINAND Official Channels: 
SITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
#Ferdinand

FERDINAND tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can't judge a bull by its cover.

From Blue Sky Studios and Carlos Saldanha, the director of "Rio" and inspired by the beloved book "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, "Ferdinand" is a heartwarming animated comedy adventure with an all-star cast that includes John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Anthony Anderson and many more.

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If you read Ferdinand the Bull as a kid, you will recall that it’s a relatively short book. When I heard that it was being turned into a feature-length film, I wondered where there would be enough material for that. And would the true-blue message of the story in the book be lost in the conversion. I was happily surprised by most of this week’s new animated movie, Ferdinand.

First, the positive message of the great big bull with the heart of gold has translated well onto the big screen.  Thankfully, Ferdinand is still the same floral-inclined bull that people remember from their childhoods.  Ferdinand seems funny and ever altruistic.  He puts others’ needs in front of his own and he loves his family.  The positive messages of the film seemed effortless and genuine. Nothing preachy about Ferdinand.

The animals are also cute.  Along with Ferdinand and his bull friends, three hedgehogs and a goat round-out the farm (or is it a ranch?).  John Cena’s (as Ferdinand) voice fits well onto the giant Ferdinand, but the best voice work was,  by far, that of Kate McKinnon (as Lupe).  The movie was about the bull, but the best and funniest scenes were Lupe’s scenes.  McKinnon, it seems, can do no wrong in comedy.

Now, I was a little disappointed with the quality of the animation.  It seemed flat to me. In 2017, Blue Sky (the studio) could have done more.  The colors seemed muted and the movement felt two-dimensional.  Nowadays, animation seems to want to convince an audience that it is more than drawings on a sheet, but Ferdinand missed the “wow factor.” The animation looked average.

Also, at a one hour and forty-eight minute run time, Ferdinand is too long! What should be a ten-minute long animated short is morphed into a feature length film by adding a lot of filler. There are all kinds of animal hijinks and a musical montage to lengthen the run time of the movie. (At one point, the bulls are even in a meat packing plant.) The filler lacks the same heart and message of the original story. And the bit with some horses was really obnoxious. 

All in all, Ferdinand is an okay film. Parents should be able to tolerate the movie and kids will like the cute animals. It isn't remarkable, but the positive message makes it a good holiday film for the whole family. Ferdinand is playing everywhere today. 

Spies In Disguise Starring Will Smith & Tom Holland!

Fox Animation, Chernin Entertainment and Blue Sky Studios have announced the voice casting for their upcoming animated film SPIES IN DISGUISE.

SPIES IN DISGUISE is a buddy comedy set in the high octane globe-trotting world of international espionage. Will Smith (Men in Black) voices Lance Sterling, the world's most awesome spy. Cool, charming and super-skilled, saving the world is his occupation. And nobody does it better.

Almost the exact opposite of Lance is Walter, voiced by Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming). Walter is a great mind but perhaps not a great socializer. What he lacks in social skills though, he makes up for in smarts and invention: Walter is the scientific genius who invents the gadgets Lance uses on his missions.

But when events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can't learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril.

Directed by Nick Bruno & Troy Quane, SPIES IN DISGUISE is a Fox Animation production, with Blue Sky Studios and Chernin Entertainment. The project is based on Pigeon: Impossible, an original animated short film by Lucas Martell.

SPIES IN DISGUISE hits theaters everywhere on January 18, 2019!

Lance Sterling, debonair secret agent extraordinaire (voiced by Will Smith). Photo Credit: Blue Sky Studios

Walter, the scientific genius who creates Lance's gadgets (voiced by Tom Holland). Photo Credit: Blue Sky Studios

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About Twentieth Century Fox Film
One of the world's largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of the studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios.

Movie Review: Open Road Films' #TheNutJob2

The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature
STARRING: Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph, Jackie Chan, Isabela Moner and Bobby Cannavale
GENRE: Animated Comedy/All-Family
RATING: PG (Anticipated)

When the evil mayor of Oakton decides to tear down Liberty Park and build an amusement park in its place, Surly, Buddy, Andie and the rest of the animals are suddenly homeless! Surly tries to fight back, but realizes it’s not going to be easy.
The mayor has got an animal control squad patrolling the park… Precious has been dognapped by the mayor’s hyperactive daughter… And Surly has offended Mr. Feng, an adorable city mouse with deadly kung-fu skills.
Surly realizes that he has to put aside his differences with the animals and get everybody to work together in order to defeat the mayor, rescue Precious, and save Liberty Park… Before it’s too late.

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The Nut Job 2 : Nutty By Nature...  because, I guess, The Nut Job did well financially, and, apparently, that is all it takes to proliferate bad animated movies. And because, as parents, we will take our children to see the only animated feature available at a movieplex, despite the quality. Don't take your children to see The Nut Job 2. Take them to see anything else. 

I didn't care for The Nut Job. The characters are unlikeable. The script lacked wit or humor. I was rooting against what were supposed to be the "lovable ragtag motley crew of park critters." Not even The A list cast of voice actors could redeem the first installment.  It was all bad. 

Take the first installment and add a villainous, too dark, too political Mayor (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) and, if it's possible, the second installment is even worse than the first. 

This new movie is very political for a family feature. The Mayor is portrayed as a money-grubbing, egotistical windbag. I appreciate when family features try to impart decent values on children. This Mayor, and all of his despicable behavior did not feel like a genuine effort to promote good values. It felt forced and overdone, serving to alienate the audience more than educating it. I hated the Mayor, and every scene he, or his cronies, were in. So, I tuned it out. And there was nothing likable enough to re-engage me into the story after the Mayor's scenes.

The only positive aspect of the entire feature was Mr. Feng (voiced by Jackie Chan.) Jackie Chan is, in all things, a professional. Chan has a genuinely likable personality and a voice which sounds good coming out of a tiny city mouse. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough of Mr. Feng to save the rest of the film. 

The characters are, once again, unlikable. The themes are too dark for families. Visually, it was unimpressive. The plot seemed convoluted and uninteresting. If Hollywood is going to cater to families, it should really cater to families and put-out better quality entertainment. 

If there is still some doubt, and you must go see The Nut Job 2 : Nutty By Nature for yourself, you can catch it when it opens everywhere this Friday.

Movie Review: DreamWorks Animation's The Boss Baby - #TheBoss

THE BOSS BABY
Animation, in 3D
Release: March 31, 2017
Directed by: Tom McGrath
Written by: Michael McCullers (based on the award-winning picture book by Marla Frazee)
Producer: Ramsey Ann Naito
Cast: Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow, Miles Bakshi

THE BOSS BABY Official Channels: Site | Facebook | HASHTAG: #TheBossBaby

DreamWorks Animation and the director of Madagascar invite you to meet a most unusual baby. He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and stars in the animated comedy, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby. The Boss Baby is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. With a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby is an authentic and broadly appealing original comedy for all ages.

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When it comes to animated features, there are "kid" movies, there are "adult" movies and there are "family" movies.  The goal, I'm guessing, is to make "family" animated movies, or movies that the whole family can enjoy together, but making a "family" film is a tricky balance. The Boss Baby, opening this week, is undoubtedly a "kid" movie.  

It isn't a bad "kid" movie, as far as I could tell. The kids I brought with me enjoyed the concept of having a kid in charge.  The plot, pitting puppies against babies, was cute for kids.  There is a lot of kid, gross-out humor.   Alec Baldwin (as the voice of the Boss Baby) has some dialogue which speaks to children. The script is full of things that kids wish they could say aloud, but don't. 

The colors are vibrant. The music is cool. All in all, it's a harmless kid story for children of any age. 

Parents, on the other hand, should not expect to like it.  I sat through the film, but twenty minutes in, I was over the whole thing. Baldwin's jerky voice started to wear on me, even as a cute-looking baby.  There were several voice actors playing babies, but they weren't, I think, used to their full potential. 

And there are few animated features that are worthy of going past a ninety minute run-time. The Boss Baby isn't one of them. There are a few draggy parts in the middle. I think I dozed-off for eight to ten minutes. 

Still, The Boss Baby is enough fun for children that parents can survive the extended run-time.  Some years are great for animated moves. 2017 looks like it's going to be slow for original, entertaining animated features that the whole family can enjoy. So, when the kids have to get out of the house, The Boss Baby isn't a bad fix.  Take them to see The Boss Baby now playing everywhere.

#Houston Grab Passes to #TheBossBaby @ Edwards Greenway 3/25

THE BOSS BABY
Animation, in 3D
Release: March 31, 2017
Directed by: Tom McGrath
Written by: Michael McCullers (based on the award-winning picture book by Marla Frazee)
Producer: Ramsey Ann Naito
Cast: Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow, Miles Bakshi
THE BOSS BABY Official Channels
SITE: http://www.dreamworks.com/thebossbaby/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thebossbaby
HASHTAG: #TheBossBaby

DreamWorks Animation and the director of Madagascar invite you to meet a most unusual baby. He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and stars in the animated comedy, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby. The Boss Baby is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. With a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby is an authentic and broadly appealing original comedy for all ages.

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Grab your passes to see The Boss Baby by clicking on the movie poster below:

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

#Seattle Grab Passes to #TheBossBaby @ Regal Thornton Place Stadium 3/25

THE BOSS BABY
Animation, in 3D
Release: March 31, 2017
Directed by: Tom McGrath
Written by: Michael McCullers (based on the award-winning picture book by Marla Frazee)
Producer: Ramsey Ann Naito
Cast: Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow, Miles Bakshi
THE BOSS BABY Official Channels
SITE: http://www.dreamworks.com/thebossbaby/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thebossbaby
HASHTAG: #TheBossBaby

DreamWorks Animation and the director of Madagascar invite you to meet a most unusual baby. He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and stars in the animated comedy, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby. The Boss Baby is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. With a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby is an authentic and broadly appealing original comedy for all ages.

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Grab your passes to see The Boss Baby by clicking on the movie poster below:

These tickets are on a first-come, first-served not guaranteed basis. Arrive early to secure your seats.

Movie Review: SPC's The Red Turtle

The Red Turtle
Release Date: February 10th at Sundance Cinemas Houston
MPAA Rating: PG
Runtime: 80 min.

Through the story of a man shipwrecked on a tropical island inhabited by turtles, crabs and birds, The Red Turtle recounts the milestones in the life of a human being.

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I loved this film. It’s simplicity and refreshing animation do a fabulous job of taking the most basic plot imaginable and turning it into a magical fable without uttering a single word throughout the entire film. It won't be for everyone, I can see that clearly. For me, the wide variety of creatures such as crabs, birds, fish, frogs, centipedes, bats, and of course clusters of baby turtles are a crucial part that tickles your imagination and breathes life into the story. None of these creatures speaks — in fact, there’s not a single line of dialogue in the entire movie… yet it feels so alive. This is an exceedingly gorgeous film that is rich with emotion and commands that you led your heart to its story. A beautiful example of what animation as a medium is capable of and what it can achieve that live-action storytelling cannot

The first-time feature from Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit is an animated film co-produced by Japan’s storied Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away), but possesses none of Ghibli’s stylistic hallmarks. But the plot isn’t what’s exciting about The Red Turtle, nor is it the source of the film’s power.

The story is of a man who awakes alone apparently shipwrecked on a deserted island. Despite several attempts to flee, his plans are foiled by a large red turtle. Later, this turtle transforms into a beautiful red-haired woman, and the two live out their years together and have a child. It is such a clean and honest story, that by the end you have fully invested yourself in the film and cannot believe you have reached the end.

Personally, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this film and was excited to write the review for it. It is such a breath of fresh air in an overly saturated and commercialized genre of film.

Coming Soon: Trolls Digital HD, Blu-ray & DVD - #DreamWorksTrolls

BRING HOME HAPPY WITH DREAMWORKS TROLLS ON DIGITAL HD JAN. 24 AND BLU-RAY™ & DVD FEB. 7

  DREAMWORKS TROLLS PARTY EDITION INCLUDES NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN SING-ALONG, DANCE-ALONG “PARTY MODE”, AND IS PACKED WITH FUN, COLORFUL EXTRAS, PERFECT FOR YOUR FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT!

LOS ANGELES, CA (Jan. 10, 2016) – A hit with audiences and critics alike, DreamWorks Animation’s TROLLS, is the “feel-good” movie of the year receiving an outstanding audience reaction with a coveted “A” CinemaScore® and a Certified Fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.com. DreamWorks TROLLS, the fresh, music-filled adventure packed with humor and heart dances onto Digital HD on Jan. 24 and Blu-ray™ and DVD on Feb. 7 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
  The colorful, richly textured Troll Village is full of optimistic Trolls, who are always ready to sing, dance and party. When the comically pessimistic Bergens invade, Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious, curmudgeonly Branch (Justin Timberlake) set off on an epic journey to rescue her friends.  Their mission is full of adventure and mishaps, as this mismatched duo try to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.
  From Shrek franchise veterans Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After) and Walt Dohrn (Shrek 2, Shrek the Third),TROLLS features the voice talents of Golden Globe® nominee Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, The Accountant), Grammy and Emmy® Award winner and Golden Globe® Award nominee Justin Timberlake (Friends with Benefits, Shrek the Third), Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award nominee Zooey Deschanel (“New Girl”), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad, How to Train Your Dragon), Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award winner Christine Baranski (“The Good Wife,” How the Grinch Stole Christmas), Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Grammy Award nominee Gwen Stefani (“The Voice”), Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award nominee John Cleese (Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After), Emmy® Award winner James Corden (“The Late Late Show with James Corden”, Into the Woods), Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award winner Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent, “Arrested Development”) and Ron Funches (“Undateable,” Get Hard).

“The movie’s message, and it’s a lovely one, is that we all have a wild-haired, beaming doll of happiness inside. ‘Trolls’ will put you in touch with yours,” proclaims Owen Gleiberman of Variety. 

Give your new year an optimistic start with TROLLS PARTY EDITION on Blu-ray™ February 7, 2017 and Digital HD January 24. Exclusive to TROLLS BLU-RAY PARTY EDITION – take your Trolls Party to the next level with four interactive Party Mode features where you can use your remote to engage with the on-screen fun. Shower the screen with glitter during party scenes, drop cupcakes when things get scary, high-five Cloud Guy, join Mr. Dinkles for “OH SNAP” moments and much more! 

ABOUT DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE® Magazine for five consecutive years. In 2013, DreamWorks Animation ranked #12 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 31 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Puss In Boots, and The Croods.

ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film. TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions as well as all third party distribution partners on DVD, Blu-ray™, 4K Ultra HD, Digital HD, and VOD (video-on-demand). Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets and digital stores throughout the world.

Dreams are meant to be chased. #DreamWorksTrolls pic.twitter.com/wlHUd9pTk6

— DreamWorks Trolls (@Trolls) January 11, 2017

Kubo and The Two Strings Coming to Digital HD 11/8 & Blu-ray 11/22 - #KuboMovie

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FROM ANIMATION STUDIO LAIKA, CREATORS OF THE

ACADEMY AWARD^®-NOMINATED MOVIES CORALINE, PARANORMAN, AND THE BOXTROLLS,

COMES AN ALL-NEW EPIC QUEST ADVENTURE

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

(click to pre-order)

AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL HD NOVEMBER 8, 2016
AND ON BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK AND DVD NOVEMBER 22, 2016
FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

“THE BEST ANIMATED MOVIE OF THE YEAR.
A WILDLY INVENTIVE, MAGICAL ADVENTURE.
EXTRAORDINARY, EXCITING, AND NOT TO BE MISSED.”
– Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood

“AN ANIMATED MASTERPIECE.”
– David Fear, Rolling Stone

“A NEW CLASSIC! AN AMAZING JOURNEY!”
– Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun-Times

Universal City, California, September 21, 2016 – A young boy with a magical gift sets out on a thrilling quest to discover his family’s legacy in LAIKA’s newest film, Kubo and the Two Strings.  The latest masterpiece from the animation studio behind the Academy Award^®-nominated films Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrollscomes to Digital HD on November 8, 2016 and Blu-ray^™ 3D, Blu-ray^™, DVD and On Demand on November 22, 2016 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed as “an exquisite, beautiful film,” (Scott Mantz,Access Hollywood) Kubo and the Two Strings has captivated audiences of all ages, earning an extraordinary 97% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the best-reviewed films of the year!

From acclaimed animation studio LAIKA comes an all-new epic adventure starring the voice talents of Academy Award^® winners Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar). Young Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of Game of Thrones) mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning fantastical tales. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo journeys on an action-packed quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father, discover his own magical powers, and reunite his family.

Kubo and the Two Strings stars an all-star supporting voice cast including George Takei (Star Trek), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (The Man in the High Castle), and Academy Award^® nominees Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter), Brenda Vaccaro (Johnny Bravo), and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The Blu-ray 3D^™, Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital HD are packed with exciting behind-the-scenes bonus content, featuring the filmmakers and incredible voice cast, that allows viewers to dive even deeper into the magical story.

Bonus Features Exclusive to Blu-ray^™ 3D Combo Pack & Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack 

·       Introduction by Director/Producer Travis Knight:  Director/Producer Travis Knight introduces “Kubo’s Journey.”

·       Mythological Monsters:  The filmmakers and crew discuss the new techniques they used to create the terrifying antagonists. Learn how each monster differed in scale, design, and execution.

·       Braving the Elements:  A particularly challenging aspect of filming was animating water and rain effects. Discover how LAIKA was able to animate water in the context of a stop-motion film.

·       The Redemptive and Healing Power of Music:  Learn how traditional and contemporary musical styles were combined by Academy Award^®-winning composer Dario Marianelli (Atonement) to infuse the film with such a heartfelt sound. 

·       Epilogue by Director/Producer Travis Knight:  Director/Producer Travis Knight discusses what attracted LAIKA to Kubo and the Two Strings.

Bonus Features on Blu-ray^™ 3D Combo Pack & Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack and DVD

·       Japanese Inspiration:  The LAIKA creative team and the cast discuss the inspirations for the story.

·       Corners of the Earth:  Filmmakers and crew discuss the challenges of the varied landscapes and locations in Kubo and the Two Strings.

·       The Myth of Kubo:  Cast and filmmakers discuss the story at the core of Kubo and the Two Strings.

·       Feature Commentary with Director/Producer Travis Knight

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Hashtag: #KuboMovie

TECHNICAL INFORMATION –BLU-RAY^™ 3D:

Street Date: November 22, 2016

Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Selection Numbers: 62183121

Layers: BD-50

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1

Rating: Rated PG for thematic elements, scary images, action and peril

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

Sound: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/Dolby 2.0 DVS², Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1

Run Time: 1 Hour 41 Minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION - BLU-RAY^™:

Street Date: November 22, 2016

Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Selection Numbers: 62174366

Layers: BD-50

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1

Rating: Rated PG for thematic elements, scary images, action and peril

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

Sound: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/Dolby 2.0 DVS², Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1

Run Time: 1 Hour 41 Minutes  

TECHNICAL INFORMATION - DVD:

Street Date: November 22, 2016

Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Selection Numbers: 62174363

Layers: Dual

Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1

Rating: Rated PG for thematic elements, scary images, action and peril

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Dolby Digital 2.0², Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

Run Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes

About Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE – www.uphe.com) is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios. Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.