Moviefone Editorial

Tag: andy garcia

  • Where To Watch The Adrenaline-Fueled ‘Expen4bles’

    Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as “Easy Day”, Megan Fox as “Gina”, Dolph Lundgren as “Gunner Jensen,” Jacob Scipio as “Galan” Andy Garcia as “Marsh” in 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as “Easy Day”, Megan Fox as “Gina”, Dolph Lundgren as “Gunner Jensen,” Jacob Scipio as “Galan” Andy Garcia as “Marsh” in ‘Expend4bles.’ Copyright: EX4 Productions, Inc. 2022.

    Action stars Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone return for ‘Expend4bles’, and they’ve brought the team along for the ride. The film promises to be bigger and more explosive than before, return to its R-rating, and introduce a cast of new characters to the franchise.

    Where Can I Watch ‘Expend4bles’?

    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    ‘Expend4bles’ was released domestically on September 22, 2023. Prior to the movie’s release, standee posters for the film were revealed at CinemaCon in 2022, where attendees were treated to an exclusive viewing of the teaser trailer during Lionsgate’s presentation.

    Buy Tickets: ‘Expend4bles’ Movie Showtimes

    Currently, the movie can be found showing in some theaters, but it has already made its way to VOD. Available to rent for $19.99 or purchase for $24.99 on mainstream services such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Pay, YouTube, Vudu, and Microsoft.

    Where to Watch: ‘Expend4bles’ Online

    For those waiting on a home release, the movie will be released on UHD, Blu-Ray, and DVD on December 26, just barely missing the holidays. ‘Expend4bles’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes.

    Buy ‘Expend4bles’ on Amazon

    When Will ‘Expend4bles’ Be Available To Stream?

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Lionsgate, the studio behind the action franchise, recently signed a deal with Peacock and Roku to stream the films once it is finished with its theatrical run. However, there are no confirmed dates announced for when ‘Expend4bles’ will stream on Peacock or Roku.

    Viewers can also look to Starz once the movie is available for streaming.

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    The Newcomers

    Megan Fox, Andy García, and Jacob Scipio in 'The Expendables 4.'
    (L to R) Megan Fox, Andy García, and Jacob Scipio in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Almost 10 years since the third ‘Expendables,’ the fourth installment is Stallon’s final bow in the franchise as he passes the torch on to Jason Statham. As Barney’s past catches up with him, it is up to Christmas and new team members to carry out the team’s mission. Fox and Statham share the screen with witty banter and have nice chemistry, further exploring the character of Christmas.

    Joining the cast are Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Easy Day, Megan Fox as Gina, Tony Jaa as Decha, Iko Uwais as the film’s villain Suarto Rahmat, Andy Garcia as Marsh, Levy Tran as Lash, and Jacob Scipio as Galan.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Expend4bles’ 

    Bloodier Than Before

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'Expend4bles.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘Expend4bles.’

    The first two films in the franchise were rated R for its gore and violence, which, given its premise and action scenes, made sense. However, the third film, ‘The Expendables 3,’ got a PG-13 rating in order to capture a wider audience. This meant the film was essentially bloodless. Fans of the series were unhappy with the PG-13 rating and spoke out via social media for future films to return to its R rating.

    In the official red band trailer for ‘Expend4bles’, it opens with the title card, “We heard you loud and clear,” followed by fans’ comments asking for more blood and violence and to reinstate its R-rating. The video goes on to show endless action, accompanied by plenty of blood and gore, to satisfy the fans.

    In an interview with Mandatory, Sylvester Stallone says he believes the PG-13 rating was a miscalculation.

    “Absolutely unequivocally yes. I believe it was a horrible miscalculation on everyone’s part in trying to reach a wider audience, but in doing such, diminish the violence that the audience expects. I’m quite certain it won’t happen again.”

    Watch the official red band trailer for ‘Expend4bles’ below:

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    The official synopsis for ‘Expend4bles’ is below:

    “A new generation of stars join the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in Expend4bles. Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.”

    Who Is In The Cast of ‘Expend4bles’?

    Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Levy Tran, Jacob Scipio in 'The Expendables 4.'
    (L to R) Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Levy Tran, Jacob Scipio in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    The film sees the return of Sylvester Stallone (‘Samaritan‘) as Barney Ross, Jason Statham (‘Fast X’) as Lee Christmas, Dolph Lungren (‘Aquaman‘) as Gunner Jensen, and Randy Couture as (‘Phoenix‘) Toll Road. Joining the action franchise are Megan Fox (‘Jonah Hex‘) as Gina, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (‘Den of Thieves‘) as Easy Day, Tony Jaa (‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’) as Decha, Iko Uwais (‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’) as Suarto Rahmat, Andy Garcia (‘The Godfather Part III‘) as Marsh, Levy Tran (‘Secret Headquarters‘) as Lash, and Jacob Scipio (‘Bad Boys for Life‘) as Galan.

    'The Expendables 4' is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 22, 2023, by Lionsgate.
    ‘The Expendables 4’ is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 22, 2023, by Lionsgate.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Expend4bles’:

    To watch our exclusive interviews with the director and producers of ‘Expend4bles,’ please click on the video player below.

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  • Movie Review: ‘Pain Hustlers’

    Chris Evans as Brenner, Andy Garcia as Neel, and Emily Blunt as Liza in 'Pain Hustlers.'
    (L to R) Chris Evans as Brenner, Andy Garcia as Neel, and Emily Blunt as Liza in ‘Pain Hustlers.’ Cr. Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.

    Opening in theaters on October 20th before premiering on Netflix October 27th, ‘Pain Hustlers’ purports to offer a stylish and snappy look at pharma company workers looking to score off of greedy doctors and desperate cancer patients.

    Yet despite a decent cast that includes the likes of Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy Garcia and Catherine O’Hara, it never quite comes to life in compelling fashion, and no number of flippant music cues or breezy transitions can make it work.

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    Is ‘Pain Hustlers’ a good treatment of the opioid pain-pushing crisis?

    Chris Evans as Brenner, Andy Garcia as Neel, and Emily Blunt as Liza in 'Pain Hustlers.'
    (L to R) Chris Evans as Brenner, Andy Garcia as Neel, and Emily Blunt as Liza in ‘Pain Hustlers.’ Cr. Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.

    ‘Pain Hustlers’ suffers somewhat from being just the latest take on the ongoing opioid prescription drug crisis in the United States.

    We’ve already had the likes of the award-winning ‘Dopesick’ on Hulu and even Netflix has previously gone to this well for ‘Painkiller’, which arrived fairly recently. All that somewhat saddles this new attempt with baggage that it never asked for; and it feels like we’ve seen a lot of this story before.

    You have the down-on-her-luck hero (Blunt’s Liza Drake) struggling to survive financially, juggling being a single mother to a troubled child (Chloe Coleman’s Phoebe) that has recently been suspended from school.

    Trying to make ends meet by waitressing in a sleazy gentleman’s club, she meets ambitious drug rep Pete Brenner (Evans) who spots a real talent for reading people in his chance first encounter with Liza.

    Soon, he’s recruited her for pharmaceutical company, Zanna, where he’s been trying to hit it rich even as their sales slide and the reputation nosedives. Yet when they crack the market and start earning big money, it all seems very familiar.

    And it’s not just the drug crisis stories that taint how you watch this one –– even ‘Dumb Money’ was more of a watchable narrative than ‘Pain Hustlers’. The movie mostly comes across as a cheaper version of previous hits that aims for the same targets but usually misses the mark.

    ‘Pain Hustlers’: how are the script and direction?

    'Pain Hustlers' director David Yates.
    ‘Pain Hustlers’ director David Yates.

    Adapted by Wells Tower from Evan Hughes’ book ‘The Hard Sell: Crime and Punishment at an Opioid Startup’, the movie suffers somewhat from a predictable and labored script.

    There are only so many times that the cast can creatively swear, or the film can throw in some zippy footage of things going right before you’re starting to become tired of it all.

    Before too long, you are guessing what the next twist will be, or how Liza and Pete will react to, say, being promoted or facing heat from the Feds.

    Emily Blunt as Liza and Chris Evans as Brenner in 'Pain Hustlers.'
    (L to R) Emily Blunt as Liza and Chris Evans as Brenner in ‘Pain Hustlers.’ Cr. Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.

    Even with David Yates in the director’s chair, a filmmaker clearly relishing the chance to make something other than a film about witches and wizards (he’s directed every ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Fantastic Beasts’ movie since 2007), the movie just comes across as tired and desperate, tap dancing away to try and distract you from the fact that it is following some very well-trod paths.

    Even cutting to documentary-style soundbites from some of the characters isn’t enough to hold the interest, and in the early going even deflates the story to a degree.

    Yates throws plenty of stylistic tricks at the screen, looking to dress up the fact there’s not too much to the concept, nor are the characters all that watchable. Which is even more surprising considering the people playing them.

    Related Article: Director David Yates Talks ‘Pain Hustlers’ and Working with Emily Blunt

    How are the performances in ‘Pain Hustlers’?

    Amit Shah as Paley, Emily Blunt as Liza and Chris Evans as Brenner in 'Pain Hustlers.'
    (L to R) Amit Shah as Paley, Emily Blunt as Liza and Chris Evans as Brenner in ‘Pain Hustlers.’ Cr. Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.

    Emily Blunt and Chris Evans are naturally the focus here, the biggest names on the roster (with apologies to Garcia) and producers behind the scenes.

    Blunt plays it mostly straight, while Evans chooses to crank up his native Boston accent for a showier performance, which initially makes sense. As their fortunes rise and fall, Blunt makes sure that Liza seems grounded, but neither of the leads is particularly worth focusing on.

    When they’re sharing the screen, they’re both perfectly fine, but they rarely rise above that level. Blunt’s chemistry with Coleman is solid and she raises her game whenever she is opposite O’Hara (who plays Liza’s ditzy mother Jackie, a woman with dreams of running her own homemade cosmetics business).

    To add to the issues, Blunt sometimes seems miscast, her acting dimmed through the not-always-convincing American accent she adopts as Liza.

    Emily Blunt as Liza in 'Pain Hustlers.'
    Emily Blunt as Liza in ‘Pain Hustlers.’ Cr. Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.

    Evans has no such issues, but he’s burdened with a character arc that rarely convinces, and it’s increasingly looking like he needs to make better choices since hanging up Captain America’s shield. Pete Brenner isn’t charismatic enough to make us want to follow his story, and the actor rarely finds much shade outside of the single gear he’s in.

    Around them, there are moments for the supporting cast to find a foothold, including Garcia as Dr. Neel, the cuddly-yet-ruthless rich guy at the center of Zanna, Jay Duplass as the slimy head of marketing at the company and Brian D’Arcy James as the sweaty Dr. Lydell, who becomes Liza’s first mark.

    ‘Pain Hustlers’ needed to show the same creativity that Liza and Pete unleash to score their first successes, and unfortunately it never stands out in an increasingly crowded pack.

    ‘Pain Hustlers’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What’s the story of ‘Pain Hustlers’?

    Liza Drake (Emily Blunt) is a blue-collar single mom who has just lost her job and is at the end of her rope.

    A chance meeting with pharmaceutical sales rep Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) puts her on an upwards trajectory economically but dubious path ethically as she becomes entangled in a dangerous racketeering scheme.

    Dealing with her increasingly unhinged boss (Andy Garcia), the worsening medical condition of her daughter (Chloe Coleman), and a growing awareness of the devastation the company is causing forces Liza to examine her choices.

    Who else is in ‘Pain Hustlers’?

    The movie’s cast also includes Jay Duplass, Brian D’Arcy James, Amit Shah, Valerie LeBlanc, Aubrey Dollar, Alex Klein, Britt Rentschler and Bella Winkowski.

    Catherine O'Hara as Jackie and Emily Blunt as Liza in 'Pain Hustlers.'
    (L to R) Catherine O’Hara as Jackie and Emily Blunt as Liza in ‘Pain Hustlers.’ Cr. Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.

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    Buy Tickets: ‘Pain Hustlers’ Movie Showtimes

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  • ‘Pain Hustlers’ Interview: Director David Yates

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    Opening in select theaters on October 20th before premiering on Netflix October 27th is the new crime drama ‘Pain Hustlers’ from director David Yates (‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,’ ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director David Yates about his work on ‘Pain Hustlers,’ what interested him about the subject matter, humanizing the characters with humor, and working with Emily Blunt.

    'Pain Hustlers' director David Yates.
    ‘Pain Hustlers’ director David Yates.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Yates and producer Lawrence Gray.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what interested you about this subject, and was it difficult humanizing characters whose actions are hurting other people?

    David Yates: First of all, I come from a country that has a public health system that’s universally accessible and free at point of use, and is geared towards helping people stay healthy. So it’s fascinating to me that a system exists that operates in a slightly different way. We knew nothing about the opioid crisis in the UK. I read Evan Hughes’ article, it was my introduction to something that had been going on for years and years in America. So it was shocking to me, and it felt immediately compelling to craft and build a story around Evan’s article. Secondly, I think it was really important, as we created our characters inspired by the story, to introduce the audience to characters that we could still empathize with and understand. A case in point is Dr. Lydell, who’s the dodgy doctor who writes all those prescriptions, and effectively kills a large number of people in doing so. But we didn’t want to fashion a monster, someone who just seemed like a villain. So Brian d’Arcy James plays him in such an interesting way. He’s a lonely guy, he’s going through a difficult divorce, and he doesn’t have many friends. So, we kind of have this portrait of a lost, middle-aged man who’s desperate for connection. But really, he’s doing tremendous harm. But there’s something poignant, quite broken and quite sad about him. That was what we wanted to do with most of our principal characters, to not turn them into villains or monsters. And Emily (Blunt), who plays Liza Drake, we love that character because she is ultimately aspirational, ambitious, a little bit greedy, but she has dreams. She wants to do the right thing, and she wants to do the right thing for her daughter. She wants to follow the path of the American dream, which we’re all presented with, to get us through the gates of the castle, to get us safe, secure, and successful. But in doing it, when the rules are broken, things can go wrong. So, we like the fact that Liza Drake is flawed. We like the fact that she is a little bit shady. That appealed to all of us, especially Emily, in creating that character.

    Related Article: ‘Pain Hustlers’ Teaser Trailer

    Emily Blunt as Liza in 'Pain Hustlers.'
    Emily Blunt as Liza in ‘Pain Hustlers.’ Cr. Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.

    MF: Finally, what was it like collaborating with Emily Blunt on set and what does she bring to a project like this?

    DY: She came to set every day absolutely prepped for the role. She knew exactly the corners of the scene that she really wanted to get underneath and find. She’d already sort of triangulated each moment before we even got to set. So she’s super prepped, which, for me as a director, is amazing because you’re ready to go on take one, to see a really fully composed performance. Then after a few takes, you might calibrate slightly and change slightly, but she’s super prepped and a great ambassador for the film. She’s a great supporter of the film, outside of the fact that she was carrying it in terms of an acting role. She was also championing what we were doing with our financiers, with Netflix, and with everybody else. She was a real asset to the movie in every sense. Not just carrying the film as an actor, but in just being by our side when we navigated the film through the inevitable hurdles that you have when you make a film.

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    What is the plot of ‘Pain Hustlers’?

    High school dropout Liza Drake (Emily Blunt) lands a job with a failing pharmaceutical start-up in a yellowing strip mall in Central Florida, where she soon finds herself at the center of a criminal conspiracy with deadly consequences

    Who is in the cast of ‘Pain Hustlers’?

    Chris Evans as Brenner, Andy Garcia as Neel, and Emily Blunt as Liza in 'Pain Hustlers.'
    (L to R) Chris Evans as Brenner, Andy Garcia as Neel, and Emily Blunt as Liza in ‘Pain Hustlers.’ Cr. Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.

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    Buy Tickets: ‘Pain Hustlers’ Movie Showtimes

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  • Movie Review: ‘Expend4bles’

    Megan Fox, Andy García, and Jacob Scipio in 'The Expendables 4.'
    (L to R) Megan Fox, Andy García, and Jacob Scipio in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Opening in theaters on September 22nd is ‘Expend4bles,’ which is the fourth movie in ‘The Expendables’ series and was directed by Scott Waugh (‘Act of Valor,’ ‘Need for Speed’).

    What is the plot of ‘Expend4bles’?

    Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables, led by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. When The Expendables are assigned a mission to stop a terrorist organization from smuggling nuclear warheads that will ignite a conflict between Russia and the U.S., new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

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    Who stars in ‘Expend4bles’?

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    Initial Thoughts

    ‘Expend4bles’ is a step up from the last film in the franchise and wisely takes the series back to its roots focusing on Barney Ross and Lee Christmas’s friendship. New recruits Megan Fox and 50 Cent infuse fresh blood into the franchise while director Scott Waugh creates some incredible action sequences including a motorcycle chase on a cargo ship.

    Story and Direction

    Director Scott Waugh and Andy Garcia on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Director Scott Waugh and Andy Garcia on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    2010’s original ‘The Expendables’ promised to bring legendary action stars like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Dolph Lundgren together with modern action stars like Jason Statham, Jet Li and Terry Crews in hopes that they would eventually take over the franchise. But as the sequels began to come out, adding more and more classic action stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, and Wesley Snipes, the idea of Stallone passing the series to Statham started to disappear. It was clear that this was Stallone’s franchise and he has no plans to retire.

    However, that has all changed for ‘Expend4bles,’ which finally see’s Stallone’s Barney Ross passing the baton to Statham’s Lee Christmas, who is joined by some returning members as well as some new faces. When an unknown villain from Barney’s past resurfaces and hires terrorist Suarto Rahmat (Uwais) to start a war between Russia and the U.S., CIA agent Marsh (Garcia) hires The Expendables to stop him. But when Barney goes missing and Christmas refuses to follow orders, Marsh replaces him as team leader with Gina (Fox), who is also Christmas’ girlfriend, and she leads the rest of the team on mission to bring down Rahmat. But when they are captured, it is up to Christmas, with the help of Barney’s old friend Decha (Jaa), to rescue his team and bring the mysterious villain, who is behind the scenes pulling the strings, to justice.

    While Stallone still has a major presence in the film, it was wise for the franchise to let his character step aside for Christmas and a new cast of characters to take the lead, which has breathed fresh life into the dying franchise. The tone of the film is off at times, still holding on to the over-the-top masculinity and silly humor of the past movies, but the new characters and explosive action are enough to overcome it.

    Director Scott Waugh, best known for his action-driven work on ‘Act of Valor,’ was a good choice to direct the fourth installment, as it feels more like the beginning of a new franchise than the end of an old one. Waugh allows the actors, especially Statham, to do what they do best, and complements their over-the-top characters with excellent action sequences including a fantastic motorcycle chase on a cargo ship.

    Related Article: Director Scott Waugh Talks ‘Expend4bles’ and the New and Returning Cast

    Jason Statham’s Movie

    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Make no mistakes, this is Jason Statham’s movie. The actor, who has played second banana to Stallone since the beginning of the franchise is finally given his moment to shine and carries the movie well. We get a chance to know Christmas a little better in this film, exploring his deep connection to Barney, and his new relationship with Gina. Statham has fun banter with Stallone, as well as a nice chemistry with Fox, and in the second act is given a ‘Die Hard’ like plot that works well with his character and the overall story of the film.

    The New Recruits

    Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as “Easy Day”, Megan Fox as “Gina”, Dolph Lundgren as “Gunner Jensen,” Jacob Scipio as “Galan” Andy Garcia as “Marsh” in 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as “Easy Day”, Megan Fox as “Gina”, Dolph Lundgren as “Gunner Jensen,” Jacob Scipio as “Galan” Andy Garcia as “Marsh” in ‘Expend4bles.’ Copyright: EX4 Productions, Inc. 2022.

    The film introduces four new Expendables members, and each one really has a chance to shine. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson plays Easy Day, and he fits in well with Lundgren and Couture’s returning characters and is a solid addition to the ensemble. Actress Levy Tran also makes an impression as Lash. Her character forms a deep connection with Toll Road and she has some fun scenes with Randy Couture. Another standout is Jacob Scipio who plays Galan, the son of Galgo, Antonio Banderas’ character from ‘The Expendables 3.’ It’s a nice bridge to the previous film, and Scipio is delightful doing his best Banderas impression.

    But of all the new cast members, it’s really Megan Fox that steals the show, as the actress commands the screen as Gina. It seems like Fox was born to be an action star, and I don’t know why she doesn’t star in every action movie, she’s that good! She completely holds her own in scenes with Stallone, and especially Statham, and is as fun to watch in the action sequences as any of her co-stars.

    While the series has featured female Expendable members in the past like Ronda Rousey’s Luna, Gina is a fully formed character, and is as respected as a member of the team as any of the other male counterparts. In fact, the movie sets up that she is such a badass, she is the natural choice to lead the team when Barney and Christmas are unable. Kudos to the filmmakers for creating such a strong female character and casting an actress who can handle the action as well as Fox does.

    Returning Favorites

    Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Dolph Lundgren, and director Scott Waugh on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Dolph Lundgren, and director Scott Waugh on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    While his role is limited, it’s always great seeing Sylvester Stallone on screen. He clearly has an understanding of who this character is, and again, has some fun scenes with Statham. But I was also impressed at how all the characters were given something to do and room to grow, while no one was left behind.

    Dolph Lundgren’s Gunner, who had been the most unpredictable member of the team in past installments, is now a loyal teammate and the unofficial philosopher of the group. Randy Couture has always been the most forgettable member of the Expendables, Toll Road, but in this movie has more time to explore his character’s humor and a new friendship with Tran’s Lash.

    The Villains and Other Misfires

    Tony Jaa in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Tony Jaa in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    Actor Iko Uwais plays the main antagonist Suarto Rahmat and is very good in his action sequences, but he’s not as strong a villain as Jean-Claude Van Damme or Mel Gibson in past installments. Those villains had personal connections to Barney and his team, and without that emotional connection, Uwais’ performance feels empty. There is an attempt made to connect the “mystery big bad” to Barney’s past, it’s a reveal I won’t spoil but it’s pretty obvious from the beginning who the mystery villain is and it won’t come as a surprise to the audience the way it was intended.

    The movie also fails the most when it is trying to shoehorn in humor, which usually does not work and falls flat. A few fun one liners are expected in any good action movie, but there are entire scenes dedicated to comedy, that just don’t feel needed for this type of movie.

    Final Thoughts

    ‘Expend4bles’ feels like a fresher installment of the franchise than the last one, and is a good start to a new series, if that is the direction they choose to go in. Director Scott Waugh brings a terrific action sensibility and creates some mind-bowing sequences. Stallone tees up the film well for Statham, who does a good job taking the reins, and new additions like Fox, Jackson, Scipio and Tran prove that there is still life left in this aging franchise.

    ‘Expend4bles’ receives 7.5 stars out of 10.

    'The Expendables 4' is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 22, 2023, by Lionsgate.
    ‘The Expendables 4’ is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 22, 2023, by Lionsgate.

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    Buy Tickets: ‘Expend4bles’ Movie Showtimes

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  • ‘Expend4bles’ Interview: Director Scott Waugh

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    ‘Expend4bles,’ which is the fourth film in ‘The Expendables’ franchise and was directed by Scott Waugh (‘Act of Valor,’ ‘Need for Speed’), opens in theaters on September 22nd.

    What is the plot of ‘Expend4bles’?

    Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables, led by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. When The Expendables are assigned a mission to stop a terrorist organization from smuggling nuclear warheads that will ignite a conflict between Russia and the U.S., new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

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    Who stars in ‘Expend4bles’?

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Scott Waugh about his work on ‘Expend4bles,’ the challenges of joining a franchise already in progress, if Sylvester Stallone is really passing the series over to Jason Statham, Lee Christmas going all ‘Die Hard’, shooting a motorcycle chase on a cargo ship, why he enjoyed working with Megan Fox, and how ‘The Expendables 3’s Antonio Banderas almost returned for the new movie.

    Levy Tran and director Scott Waugh on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Levy Tran and director Scott Waugh on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Waugh and producers Kevin King-Templeton and Les Weldon.

    Moviefone: To begin with, as a filmmaker, can you talk about the challenges of joining a movie series already in progress and coming in to direct the fourth installment of a popular franchise like ‘The Expendables’?

    Scott Waugh: Well, I think the challenge is you never want to deviate from the brand. The fans love ‘The Expendables.’ They love the tone of ‘Expendables.’ It’s a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I always say it’s an escapism type of movie. You leave our dark world we live in and pay money to go somewhere else and have some fun. That’s ‘Expendables’. So for me, what I really was focused on the whole time was how do I bring something fresh and fun, but throwback to the original movie? So we were extremely hyper-focused on going back to the original movie and maintaining that core cast and the fun of it, tonally getting back on message, getting back to rated R, and getting back to the fun violence. But then I wanted to elevate the action and the fights, and take it to a new level. That’s when we brought in the Hong Kong fight team that I worked with on ‘Hidden Strike’ and really just tried to elevate all of that.

    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    MF: The movie introduces the idea of Barney Ross handing over the team to Lee Christmas, and in a way, Sylvester Stallone handing the franchise over to Jason Statham. Can you talk about that theme in the movie and was Stallone cool with the idea of taking a back seat to Statham and the rest of the crew?

    SW: I think the idea that Stallone’s passing this to Statham is exciting. Stallone still amazes me, his physical capability at his age. It’s still unbelievable to me. I’m 53 and busted up, and somehow he is in his late seventies and can still do it. But I think for Sly, he’s in a place in his life where time is super important to him. Being on the full run of an ‘Expendables’ movie takes up a lot of his time and I fully respect that. Jason’s my age and really is still excited about continually working a lot. So it was a natural pass. Now, I’ll say, I definitely don’t think Sly is out of the brand. I think Sly will always be a part of it. He’s the starter of ‘The Expendables’ and the original director. So I think it’s new blood with the old.

    Related Article: ‘Expend4bles’ Red Band Trailer

    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in 'The Expendables 4.'
    Jason Statham as Lee Christmas in ‘The Expendables 4.’

    MF: The second act of the film sees Lee Christmas taking on a group of bad guys by himself and it seemed a little ‘Die Hard’ inspired. Can you talk about that sequence and was that what you were going for?

    SW: So look, the story itself is a revenge and redemption story, and it does come around the character of Lee Christmas. So I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a Christmas story, but it definitely leans on his character because of what his character’s going through. But there is this wonderful moment in the end of act two that I really feel like, does the franchise have the boldness to do what you think they might do? I don’t want to give away the plot, but we do something that will really make your eye drop. I’m not going to give it away, but I’ll just say this, it stays on message with the brand.

    Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Dolph Lundgren, and director Scott Waugh on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Dolph Lundgren, and director Scott Waugh on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    MF: There is an incredible action sequence involving a high speed motorcycle chase that takes place on a cargo ship. Can you talk about choreographing and shooting that scene?

    SW: I come from motocross. I was super excited about trying to bring something fresh to the ship because I’m like, “What can we do on the ship because it’s a ship?” I’m like, “What about a motorcycle chase on the ship?” That’s how we designed this whole thing. Then the exciting part was I go, “Man, we got to do something super cool. We need to bring in somebody like Robbie Maddison and do some badass X Games jumps and get that quintessential moment in the movie.” Luckily, we were able to get Robbie to come in and do the big jump for us. I think it’s just one of those moments that hopefully makes you smile because it’s so crazy, so cool, and so Christmas.

    Megan Fox as Gina in 'Expend4bles.'
    Megan Fox as Gina in ‘Expend4bles.’

    MF: While there have been female Expendable members in past movies, Megan Fox’s Gina is different because she is also a team leader and receives the same level of respect as Ross and Christmas. Can you talk about the importance of creating a female character who is really on the same level as the strongest Expendable members?

    SW: Look, I think it was definitely a part of the script when I came in with Megan’s character, Gina, and I really enjoyed the fact that there was a female character that was on equal ground and was badass. It’s incredible working with somebody like Megan because she doesn’t give herself enough credit. I was working with her. I’m like, “You’re so physically talented,” and I think she’s a wonderful actress and she fits in so well with the rest of the guys because she can hold her own weight. She doesn’t take any shit from any of the guys, and I just love that. That’s why I think she just fits in with those type of big personalities.

    Jacob Scipio as Galan in 'Expend4bles.'
    Jacob Scipio as Galan in ‘Expend4bles.’

    MF: Finally, actor Jacob Scipio plays Galan, the son of Antonio Banderas character, Galgo from ‘The Expendables 3.’ But I understand that originally Banderas was set to return but you just couldn’t work out his shooting schedule, is that correct?

    SW: That’s exactly it. When I read it, I was expecting Antonio was coming in. Then when they said, “We can’t make it work out with Antonio’s schedule,” I was like, “But the character’s so great and he’s so important throughout all those moments.” So I thought about it. I came back to the producers and I said, “What if we make it his son? Galgo was his father. Galan is the new character and Galan could be just like his dad with the same personality.” So that’s when we came up with that character and then we casted Jacob and he did a great job.

    Director Scott Waugh and Andy Garcia on the set of 'Expend4bles.'
    (L to R) Director Scott Waugh and Andy Garcia on the set of ‘Expend4bles.’ Photo credit: Yana Blajeva.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Expend4bles’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Expend4bles’ Movie Showtimes

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  • Movie Review: ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’

    Diane Keaton as Diane, Mary Steenburgen as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Jane Fonda as Vivian in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Diane Keaton as Diane, Mary Steenburgen as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.

    The sequel to 2018’s ‘Book Club,’ which is entitled ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ opens in theaters on May 12th and is once again directed and co-written by Bill Holderman.

    What is the plot of ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter?’

    Four older best friends, Diane (Diane Keaton), Vivian (Jane Fonda), Sharon (Candice Bergen) and Carol (Mary Steenburgen), take their book club to Italy for the fun girls’ trip they never had in their youth to celebrate Vivian’s upcoming marriage. But when things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure that will change all of their lives forever.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter?’

    ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ stars Oscar-winner Diane Keaton (‘Annie Hall,’ ‘The Godfather’) as Diane, Oscar-winner Jane Fonda (‘Klute,’ ’80 For Brady’) as Vivian, Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen (‘Melvin and Howard,’ ‘Back to the Future Part III’) as Carol, and Oscar-nominee Candice Bergen (‘Gandhi,’ ‘Carnal Knowledge’) as Sharon, as well as Oscar-nominee Andy Garcia (‘The Godfather Part III’) as Mitchell, Don Johnson (‘Knives Out’) as Arthur, Craig T. Nelson (‘The Incredibles’) as Bruce, and Giancarlo Giannini (‘Man on Fire’).

    Initial Thoughts

    The result is a very predictable comedy that is still funny and overall entertaining thanks to the colorful characters and excellent performances from the four leading actresses.

    Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, Diane Keaton as Diane and Jane Fonda as Vivian in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, Diane Keaton as Diane and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.
    Credit: Riccardo Ghilardi / © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

    The Sequel’s Story and Direction

    ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ begins during the COVID lock-down and shows our characters dealing with the pandemic by continuing their book club through Zoom. The pandemic soon ends and the four friends are reunited in person, but all their lives have changed. Vivian (Fonda) is now engaged to Arthur (Johnson), Diane (Keaton) is in a serious relationship with Mitchell (Garcia), Sharon (Bergen) has retired from being a Judge, and Carol (Steenburgen) is having issues with her husband (Nelson), while her restaurant closes due to the pandemic.

    When Carol is reminded that they all planned to take a trip to Italy together back in their youth, she suggests that they travel there now to celebrate Vivian’s upcoming marriage. As one can imagine, high jinks ensue. While there is not a lot of the actual book club featured in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ that’s okay, as the character-driven story and the performances of the lead actresses is enough to keep the film moving, funny, and compelling. However, it is also very predictable, and there are not a lot of real surprises in the movie.

    For example, the opening scene actually gives away the ending, if you can recognize which of the lead actresses’ voice is the narrator, and spoiler alert … you definitely can! Another predictable moment comes when Carol, who is having issues with her husband coincidentally runs into her old boyfriend in Rome. Sparks fly as you can imagine, but if you guessed that nothing happens between them and she eventually makes up with her husband, you’d probably be on to something.

    So the movie is littered with extremely predictable moments but to the credit of director Bill Holderman and the cast, none of that really matters. The heart of the movie are the relationships between these four women, and the slightly outrageous characters each one of them has created, which is where the humor stems from. It’s clear that Holderman realizes that, as he keeps the focus mostly on the leading ladies, their characters, and the beautiful locations of Italy, as nothing else in the movie really matters at all. In that sense, Hollderman has the freedom to allow the other characters, situations, and minor plot points to go to the wayside as the only thing that is important is our four main characters, their friendship, and their experiences together.

    Diane Keaton stars as Diane, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Diane Keaton stars as Diane, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

    Related Article: Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen Talk ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’

    Italy is a Character in the Movie

    ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ shot on location in Italy in some of the country’s most famous locations, and Hollderman takes full advantage of it. Italy is definitely its own character in the movie, and cinematographer Andrew Dunn shoots the actresses with beautiful vistas and famous Italian locations behind them like the Pizza della Rotonda, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. It adds a layer of excitement to the project, and also grounds the film in a certain reality, even in the movie’s most ridiculous or predictable moments.

    Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Diane Keaton as Diane and Candice Bergen as Sharon in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Diane Keaton as Diane and Candice Bergen as Sharon in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

    Keaton, Fonda, Bergen and Steenburgen

    But the movie only works because of the carefully created characters performed by the four excellent leading actresses. You can tell that they all really like working with each other, as it shines through their performances and relationships with each other on screen. It also helps that each actress was perfectly cast and plays a character similar to their own onscreen personas.

    Diane Keaton plays Diane (that can’t be a coincidence), a neurotic woman still looking for love, not unlike an older version of Annie Hall. Fonda plays Vivian, an older woman trying to hold on to her youth and beauty, which is almost the same exact character as she recently played in ’80 For Brady.’ Bergen plays Sharon, a bawdy career women fearful of retirement, reminiscent of her classic TV character Murphy Brown. And Steenburgen plays Carol, a free spirited women, who still loves her husband, but is looking for some excitement in her life, which in line with characters she’s played in the past in films like ‘Back to the Future III.’ None of this is meant as a criticism, but rather just to say that the actresses play characters they are well suited for and because of that, create very memorable performances.

    In a film like this, it’s easy for one or two of the lead actresses to get less screen time than the others, but that is not the case here. While in some ways the story is told from Keaton’s character’s point of view, all of the main characters have nice arcs and each actress is given time to shine. Keaton and Fonda’s characters find their true voices before the end of the movie, and the two actresses share a very nice emotional scene together. Steenburgen’s Carol has a full arc too, and in many ways her story is the heart of the movie. But Bergen surprisingly has the best comedic moments and is very funny in the film, especially when she is squaring off with Giancarlo Giannini.

    , Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Diane Keaton stars as Diane, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

    The Men

    Speaking of which, Giancarlo Giannini, best known for action dramas like ‘Man on Fire’ and ‘Casino Royale,’ is very funny as an Italian police captain that has it out for Bergen’s Sharon, and in turn her friends. But again, his “change of heart” in the third act is another example of the film’s predictability. But overall, while they have very little screen time, the male actors are very good in the movie and support their female counterparts quite well, without ever drawing the attention away from them.

    Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, and Craig T. Nelson all have great chemistry with their significant others, Keaton, Fonda, and Steenburgen, respectively. While Garcia and Johnson both play “nice guys,” Nelson has a little more to do playing the “hapless nice guy,” although again, his character’s turn in the end was about as predictable as they come.

    Final Thoughts

    In the end, even the movie’s predictability can’t stop the film from being fun and entertaining, thanks to the character-driven story and outstanding performances from Keaton, Fonda, Bergen, and Steenburgen, not to mention the beautiful locations. It may not be for everyone, but I know my mom is going to love this movie!

    ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

    Diane Keaton stars as Diane, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in "Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Diane Keaton stars as Diane, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in “Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Riccardo Ghilardi / © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Book Club’ on Amazon

    ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ is produced by Focus Features, Makeready, and Fifth Season. It is set to release in theaters on May 12th, 2023.

  • ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ Cast Interviews

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    Opening in theaters on May 12th is the sequel to 2018’s ‘Book Club’ entitled ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ which is once again directed and co-written by Bill Holderman.

    What is the plot of ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter?’

    Four elderly best friends (Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen) take their book club to Italy for the fun girls’ trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter?’

    ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ stars Oscar-winner Diane Keaton (‘Annie Hall,’ ‘The Godfather’) as Diane, Oscar-winner Jane Fonda (‘Klute,’ ’80 For Brady’) as Vivian, Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen (‘Melvin and Howard,’ ‘Back to the Future Part III’) as Carol, and Oscar-nominee Candice Bergen (‘Gandhi,’ ‘Carnal Knowledge’) as Sharon, as well as Oscar-nominee Andy Garcia (‘The Godfather Part III’) as Mitchell, Don Johnson (‘Knives Out’) as Arthur, Craig T. Nelson (‘The Incredibles’) as Bruce, and Giancarlo Giannini (‘Man on Fire’).

    Moviefone recently had the honor of speaking with Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen about their work on ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ the friendship between their characters, working together, shooting on location in Italy, and what audiences can expect from the new movie.

    Jane Fonda stars as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Jane Fonda stars as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Riccardo Ghilardi / © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Fonda, Bergen and Steenburgen, as well as writer Erin Simms, and director Bill Holderman.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to moviegoers sitting down to watch this film for the first time to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about to have?

    Candice Bergen: Well, it’s more of a film than it seems. It’s a very lighthearted film, but at the same time, it’s inspiring. It’s moving, and you come away from it feeling more about friendship than you did before.

    Jane Fonda: Be prepared to laugh a lot and maybe cry a little. And you certainly want to book a ticket to Italy.

    Mary Steenburgen: I mean, it’s some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever see in a country that all of us deep down inside either want to go to or have already fallen in love with. It was so beautifully shot, and it’s about something real. It’s about real friends, and funnily enough, in real life, we really are friends.

    Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, Diane Keaton as Diane and Jane Fonda as Vivian in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, Diane Keaton as Diane and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.
    Credit: Riccardo Ghilardi / © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

    MF: Jane, can you talk about Vivian’s nervousness regarding her upcoming marriage and how this trip to Italy with her friends really helps her find her true voice again?

    JF: Very well said. I don’t want to give anything away. There is a wedding. It’s not what people are going to expect. There’s a big surprise, and I do think that it’s the experience that she’s had during this trip with her friends that allows her to accept that big surprise.

    Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Diane Keaton as Diane and Candice Bergen as Sharon in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Diane Keaton as Diane and Candice Bergen as Sharon in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

    MF: Mary, Carol is looking for some excitement in her life, and it’s her suggestion that she and her friends take a trip to Italy. Can you talk about that and the way this vacation really changes her life?

    MS: I mean, Carol, my character is a chef that’s had quite a bit of success. At the very beginning of the film, her restaurant, which has been her lifelong dream, has had to close because of COVID. So I think I’m a little lost and I come across this journal that I’d written in when I was a young woman. I realized that the four of us had planned this trip to Italy and we never made it. So I just think it’s time. We’re reading the book, ‘The Alchemist,’ that talks about fulfilling your destiny, listening to the beat of your own heart and going for your dreams. So I just say we have to go, and we do.

    Diane Keaton as Diane, Mary Steenburgen as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Jane Fonda as Vivian in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Diane Keaton as Diane, Mary Steenburgen as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.

    MF: Finally, Candice, can you talk about how Sharon is coming to terms with her recent retirement, and how this trip gives her an opportunity to finally cut loose with her friends?

    CB: She does. She cuts loose in a gondola and it was really fun. In fact, it’s the first time she’s been retired and she can be with her friends, and be in Italy and give herself to that trip wholeheartedly. Because she no longer has the burden of being a judge on her shoulders.

    Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen and Jane Fonda star in 'Book Club: The Next Chapter.'
    (L to R) Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen and Jane Fonda star in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter.’

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Book Club’ on Amazon

    ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ is produced by Focus Features, Makeready, and Fifth Season. It is set to release in theaters on May 12th, 2023.

  • First Trailer for the ‘Father of the Bride’ Reboot

    Andy Garcia and Adria Arjona
    (L-R) Andy Garcia as Billy and Adria Arjona as Sophie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and HBO Max’s ‘Father of the Bride.’ Photo Credit: Claudette Barius. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    When you think of the movie ‘Father of the Bride’, you’re likely to picture the 1991 movie in which Steve Martin’s George Banks stresses out upon learning that his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) is getting married. Cue plenty of hijinks, wise advice from wife Nina (Diane Keaton) and accented craziness from Martin Short’s wedding planner Franck Eggelhoffer.

    You might also picture the 1995 sequel, in which revolves around plenty of pregnancy chaos. Now, though, current audiences may well be inclined to think of the new HBO Max update, which stars the likes of Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan and ‘Morbius’ Adria Arjona, and gives the story a Latin flavor.

    Directed by Gary Alazraki, and written by Matt Lopez, this new ‘Father of the Bride’ focuses on married couple Billy (Garcia) and Ingrid (Estefan), who are surprised when their eldest daughter Sofia (Arjona) comes home to Miami for a visit. But the surprises just keep coming when she announces a new boyfriend, Adan (Diego Boneta) — who is also now her fiancé — and their plans for a quick-turnaround wedding and a new life together in Mexico, where Adan’s family is from.

    Sofia’s quickfire revelations keep Billy and Ingrid from making their own disclosure (that they’re calling quits on their marriage), but both agree to delay the news and play the loving couple for the benefit of the family.

    Old-fashioned Billy is at first opposed to the wedding, but he is eventually swayed… well, as long as his opinions as father of the bride carry the most weight in all things matrimonial. A prominent architect and family man, Billy feels his hard-fought success and dedication to his heritage earn him the right to call the shots. After all his achievements, why is he suddenly seen as the bad guy?

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    The same could also be said for Adan’s equally headstrong father, Hernan (Pedro Damián), who soon arrives with his own traditions and family pride in tow… plus a giant yacht which makes Billy wonder if he’s a Bond villain.

    With both iron-willed fathers vying to take charge of the festivities, it becomes a prideful game of one-upmanship, as cultures clash, generations take sides and competing traditions collide. Family relationships are tested, along with the couple at the center of it all, as the roller coaster ride of wedding planning races toward the altar.

    It all sounds very much of a piece with the other versions – and should anyone start decrying that the Steve Martin version should not be remade, don’t forget that that isn’t even the original version of this story. There was a run of movies in the 1950s, all drawn from a 1949 novel by Edward Streeter (to which this new one also owes a debt).

    And after all, what’s a wedding without something old, something new, something borrowed and… something blue? (We’re not sure whether there’s a lot of swearing since it’s a family movie, but you never know. Maybe just people in blue clothing).

    With Matt Walsh, Isabela Merced, and Chloe Fineman also in the cast, ‘Father of the Bride’ walks down the aisle to HBO Max on June 16th.

    Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona and Diego Boneta
    (L-R) Andy Garcia as Billy, Gloria Estefan as Ingrid, Adria Arjona as Sophie and Diego Boneta as Adan in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and HBO Max’s ‘Father of the Bride.’ Photo Credit: Claudette Barius. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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  • Andy Garcia Talks ‘Big Gold Brick’

    Andy Garcia in 'Big Gold Brick.'
    Andy Garcia in ‘Big Gold Brick.’

    Opening in theaters, on digital, and On Demand beginning February 25th is the new movie ‘Big Gold Brick,’ which marks writer and director Brian Petsos’ feature film debut.

    The movie stars Academy Award nominee Andy Garcia (‘The Godfather Part III’) as the eccentric Floyd Deveraux, who is involved in a car accident with fledgling writer Samuel Liston (Emory Cohen). Floyd soon takes Samuel under his wing as his biographer, and introduces him to his wife and children, before his deepest secrets are revealed.

    In addition to Garcia and Cohen, the cast also includes Megan Fox (‘Jonah Hex’), Lucy Hale (‘Borrego’), and Oscar Isaac (‘Dune’).

    Acting legend Andy Garcia has been making movies for almost forty years! He’s appeared in such classic films as ‘The Untouchables,’ ‘Black Rain,’ ‘Internal Affairs,’ ‘When a Man Loves a Woman,’ ‘Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead,’ ‘Night Falls on Manhattan,’ and ‘Smokin’ Aces.’

    He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards for playing Vincent Mancini in Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Godfather Part III,’ but may be best known for his role as Terry Benedict in Steven Soderbergh‘s ‘Ocean’s Eleven,’ ‘Ocean’s Twelve,’ and ‘Ocean’s Thirteen.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking to Andy Garcia about his work on ‘Big Gold Brick,’ as well as his thoughts on Frances Ford Coppola’s recently released director’s cut of ‘The Godfather Part III.’

    The iconic actor discussed his new film, his unusual character, working with Oscar Isaac, the difference between performing in a comedy or a drama, and his reaction to ‘Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.’

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    You can read the full transcript of our interview with Andy Garcia about ‘Big Gold Brick’ below, or watch our interviews with Garcia, Lucy Hale, Emory Cohen and writer/director Brian Petsos by clicking on the video player above.

    Moviefone: To begin with, how would you describe this movie to our audience?

    Andy Garcia: It’s a very unique movie and encompasses many different genres, twists and turns in a way that’s unique to Brian (Petsos), the writer and director. This is his absurdity and sense of humor. What I can tell you, is that I play a gentleman who has an encounter, an accident with someone on the street, and hits him with his car. That relationship happens because of that, what ensues after that, as I begin to try to take him to heal and I bring him home to my house to get him well, because I feel responsible.

    But that relationship quickly turns into other needs that I have, I would say. In that process, the relationship begins to formulate and take different turns. It’s very hard to explain the nature of what it is because immediately you’ll start anticipating things that, certainly, I don’t want you to anticipate.

    MF: I thought Floyd was a perfect role for you as an actor. Did you recognize that when you first read the screenplay, and what was your approach to playing this character?

    AG: Thank you. I mean, I’d recognize something because, obviously, I got all the way through the script and said, “What the hell did I just read?” I called Oscar Isaac, who had sent it to me, who was a producer on it and was going to play a part in it. He had worked with Brian Petsos on several shorts they did together.

    So, I was aware of their relationship and the shorts. I said, “Oscar, this is really a bizarre script, and I’m trying to figure out what it’s all about and who this guy is.” I think, we started talking and I said, “Is it this? Is it that?” He would say something like, “Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know how you see that, but maybe.” Then finally I said something like, “I think it’s like that.” He said, “Yeah, that’s it.” I went, “Oh, okay. I’ll do it.”

    Oscar Isaac in 'Big Gold Brick.'
    Oscar Isaac in ‘Big Gold Brick.’

    MF: You have a wonderful scene in the movie with Oscar Isaac, what was it like acting opposite him?

    AG: Well, we’ve worked together before. We did a movie a while back ago called, ‘For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada.’ Listen, Oscar’s an actor I admire, tremendously. He’s A wonderful actor. We’ve only had wonderful times working together in the past. We had a desire to work together and to work together, yet again. So, whenever I’m with him, we have a good time, and it was a joy. His character is so inspired, and the juxtaposition of putting Floyd in this man’s world there and how Floyd deals with it, also gives insight into how comfortable Floyd is in the most unique and dangerous situations.

    MF: Can you talk about working with Emory Cohen on Floyd and Samuel’s unusual relationship?

    AG: Well, Emery was great. He came on the first scene we did, where already I could tell that he was locked into a very specific character that he was committed to, and a state of mind and a state of angst. Also, the physical choices with the hair and all that. My job is to support that idea and engage in that idea, and have Floyd have to deal with it. I said, “Okay, I got this guy I just hit with a car,” and then he brings him home and then he goes, “Oh, you’re a writer.” Then the movie begins. Anyway, it’s a movie that encompasses so many different genres.

    (L to R) Andy Garcia and Emory Cohen in 'Big Gold Brick.'
    (L to R) Andy Garcia and Emory Cohen in ‘Big Gold Brick.’

    MF: As an actor, is there a difference for you between doing comedy and drama?

    AG: Well, I mean, it’s an art form. The sense of comedy and understanding how it works, and the timing of it all, and the choices you can make, depending on the tone of the comedy, have many different styles. But they always have to, I feel, be rooted in a real sense of truth, which it makes it even more poignant when you laugh. So, with Brian, that came from Second City and an improv background. I studied with a lot of people earlier out in my career and did a lot of improvisational theater.

    So, we had a nice way of language, that if I would say, “Let me try something” and then I would just do it. Then, he would engage and laugh, and that’s part of the creative process, I think, it’s important, whether it’s a comedy or drama. Because you just want to take all the raw material you can to the cutting room and let the movie then tell you, even if the director goes, “I want it to be this.” The movie over here is going, “No, no, no, no. You got to go over here, because that’s the take you should use.” Then you go, “Yeah. Okay.”

    MF: Finally, I was curious if you’ve had an opportunity to see ‘Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone,’ which is Frances Ford Coppola’s director’s cut of ‘The Godfather Part III’ that was recently released. What were your thoughts on his new version of the film?

    AG: I thought it was beautiful. I loved the movie the first time. I love it again the second time. I was aware of the sort of narrative structures and choices he made, to take out and restructure, which I thought was great. To me, that was a great privilege, obviously, to be a part of that world and to share that time with Francis.

    So, like I said, I really enjoyed it, but more importantly to me, if this is what Francis wants to do, and that’s what he perceives, he’s the man. So, I want him to be happy and content. You know what I mean? And finish the ideas that he originally wanted to do. That’s what’s most important thing as a filmmaker, to leave that legacy the way he wanted to leave it.

    Because he explained a lot, why the first version came out and sense of time and all that stuff. So, I think it’s great. There’s the 50th anniversary of ‘The Godfather’ happening this week at Paramount. They’re naming a street after Francis. Unfortunately, I’m leaving town and I’m going to miss it, but I’ll be there in spirit, for sure. He’s a very special man and a very special director.

    Director Frances Ford Coppola at the 50th Anniversary of 'The Godfather' event and historic street naming ceremony the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, CA on February 22nd, 2022. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.
    Director Frances Ford Coppola at the 50th Anniversary of ‘The Godfather’ event and historic street naming ceremony at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, CA on February 22nd, 2022. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.
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  • Watch an exclusive clip from ‘Words on Bathroom Walls’

    Watch an exclusive clip from ‘Words on Bathroom Walls’

    In this exclusive clip from ‘Words on Bathroom Walls,’ we see Adam (Charlie Plummer) apologize to Maya (Taylor Russell), and tell her that he’s afraid of what he may see or hear in the future. That’s because Adam sometimes sees or hears things that aren’t there due to a mental illness.

    Here’s the official synopsis:

    WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS tells the story of Adam (Charlie Plummer), who appears to be your typical young adult – a little unkempt with raging hormones and excited about a future pursuing his dream of becoming a chef. Expelled halfway through his senior year, Adam is diagnosed with a mental illness that he keeps secret at his new school. Living in constant fear of being exposed, Adam finds a soulful, comforting connection in Maya (Taylor Russell), an outspoken and fiercely intelligent girl who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition. With the love and support of his newfound romance and family, Adam is hopeful for the very first time that he can see the light and triumph over the challenges that lie ahead. The film also stars Andy Garcia, AnnaSophia Robb, Beth Grant, Devin Bostick, Lobo Sebastian, with Molly Parker and Walton Goggins.

    ‘Words on Bathroom Walls’ will be in theaters on August 21.

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