Moviefone Editorial

Tag: eva-longoria

  • ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Interview: Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones

    TtZZkpOm

    Premiering on Prime Video December 3rd is the new Christmas comedy ‘Oh. What. Fun.’, which was directed by Michael Showalter (‘Wet Hot American Summer’).

    rdGAsEllzAzMrWAZt7goj6

    The film features an all-star cast that includes Michelle Pfeiffer (‘Batman Returns’), Felicity Jones (‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’), Chloë Grace Moretz (‘Kick Ass’), Dominic Sessa (‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’), Jason Schwartzman (‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’), Denis Leary (‘The Amazing Spider-Man’), Danielle Brooks (‘Peacemaker’), and Eva Longoria (‘The Pickup‘).

    (L to R) Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones star in 'Oh. What. Fun.'
    (L to R) Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones star in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones about their work on ‘Oh. What. Fun.’, Pfeiffer’s first reaction to the screenplay, making a Christmas movie from the mother’s point of view, Jones’ approach to her character, and her relationship with her mother.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Pfeiffer, Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Dominic Sessa.

    Related Article: 5 Things We Learned At The ‘Train Dreams’ Press Conference

    Michelle Pfeiffer in 'Oh. What. Fun.' Photo: Prime Video.
    Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Photo: Prime Video.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Michelle, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the idea of making a Christmas movie from the mother’s point of view?

    Michelle Pfeiffer: First, I was so excited to work with Michael Showalter. I think I would’ve done anything that he asked me to do, honestly, because everything he does is so brilliant and it’s all different too. So, I feel like he can tackle any genre of movie making. It wasn’t really on my bucket list to do a Christmas movie and I haven’t seen a ton of them. But it’s one of those things where you don’t even know there’s a story that needs to be told until you read it and you go, “Oh, of course.” It’s like women have just assumed these roles and these responsibilities throughout the generations and done it joyously because they love their families, and they want to be with them. But then I thought, “Wow, that’s so true.” There aren’t any Christmas movies about mothers who are basically the glue to the whole thing. So, I got very excited to do it, and I loved the relationship, the mother-daughter relationship with Channing, and for Claire, the inability to let things evolve. I think that’s the stress and the pressure that Felicity’s character is feeling, the pressure to stay what she was. Anyway, I love the movie.

    (L to R) Felicity Jones and Jason Schwartzman in 'Oh. What. Fun.' Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Felicity Jones and Jason Schwartzman in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Photo: Prime Video.

    MF: Finally, Felicity, can you talk about your character’s relationship with her mother, why she wants to be recognized by her, and creating that relationship on screen with Michelle?

    Felicity Jones: Well, it’s just a relationship that’s so true to life, that there’s so much love and there’s so much admiration and affection. But it’s almost like the relationship got a little bit stuck. I think Channing is a bit stuck and she needs to go from being a child to being an adult, even though she’s in her late ’30s. Somehow through the course of the film, she becomes a grown up. When Claire is no longer there, then suddenly, she has all the responsibilities that Claire has, the weight that Claire must hold and suddenly it’s on her shoulders. So, in that happening, she discovers empathy and goes, “Actually, it’s not easy being my mom, and maybe I don’t need to be quite so hard on her.”

    'Oh. What. Fun.' debuts on Prime Video December 3rd.
    ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ debuts on Prime Video December 3rd.

    What is the plot of ‘Oh. What. Fun.’?

    Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) makes the Christmas magic happen every year for her family, but her children and grandchildren don’t realize the effort it takes, until she goes missing.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Oh. What. Fun.’?

    • Michelle Pfeiffer as Claire Clauster
    • Felicity Jones as Channing Clauster
    • Chloë Grace Moretz as Taylor Clauster
    • Danielle Brooks as Morgan
    • Dominic Sessa as Sammy Clauster
    • Denis Leary as Nick Clauster
    • Havana Rose Liu as Lizzie Wang-Wasserman
    • Maude Apatow as Mae-bell
    • Devery Jacobs as Donna
    • Jason Schwartzman as Doug
    • Eva Longoria as Zazzy Tims
    • Joan Chen as Jeanne Wang-Wasserman
    • Rose Abdoo as Jane
    Michelle Pfeiffer in 'Oh. What. Fun.' Photo: Prime Video.
    Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Photo: Prime Video.

    List of Michelle Pfeiffer Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Michelle Pfeiffer Movies on Amazon

  • ‘The Pickup’ Press Conference With Eddie Murphy and More

    (L to R) Keke Palmer, Eddie Murphy, and Pete Davidson in 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Keke Palmer, Eddie Murphy, and Pete Davidson in ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Prime Video’s upcoming new action-comedy, ‘The Pickup‘, is set to start streaming on August 6th, 2025. The film stars Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, and Keke Palmer. In the movie, chaos unfolds after a routine cash pickup goes wrong.

    Moviefone was in attendance at a virtual press conference featuring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer, and director Tim Story. They shared behind-the-scenes details and lots of laughs while celebrating the upcoming release of their new film.

    Related Article: Eddie Murphy to Star as Ex-Superspy in New Action Comedy ‘Blue Falcon’

    1) Pete Davidson Calls ‘The Pickup’ An Old School Comedy

    Pete Davidson at the premiere of 'The PIckup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    Pete Davidson at the premiere of ‘The PIckup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    When asked to describe ‘The Pickup’, Pete Davidson relates it to an early 2000s movie, emphasizing that it really leans in on the fun side of things.

    Pete Davidson: I think it’s one of those fun, early 2000s old school action comedy, fast-moving. There’s not a dull moment. The story picks up literally from the jump, and it moves, and it’s an hour and 40 minutes of just fun. It’s just fun. You watch it with everybody. There’s someone in it for everyone to like, so I think it’s just a right down the middle fastball.

    2) The Cast of ‘The Pickup’ Is A Dream Come True For Director Tim Story

    (L to R) Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly, Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce, and Keke Palmer as Zoe in 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly, Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce, and Keke Palmer as Zoe in ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    With a cast like Eddie Murphy, Keke Palmer, Pete Davidson, and Eva Longoria, you cannot go wrong. Tim Story gushes over them, admitting this is a dream cast.

    Tim Story: It was like a dream come true. I want to say my career has a little bit been on trying to chase [Eddie Murphy] down and do a movie with him. And so when you get that, and then you can, you see him with Pete, and as many people have said, it’s the pairing that you didn’t realize you needed so much, and then you see them together, and then you had Keke. It was just a bag of riches that just kept coming out. It’s a movie of the 80s, and I’m an 80s comedy kind of kid, and I just felt like I had a dream come true.

    3) Keke Palmer Was Excited To Work With Pete Davidson Again, This Time Face-to-Face

    (L to R) Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson at 'The Pickup' virtual press conference.
    (L to R) Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson at ‘The Pickup’ virtual press conference.

    Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson have worked together in the past, but because of the pandemic, ‘The Pickup’ was actually the first time they were able to work together face-to-face.

    Keke Palmer: I worked with Pete before, so it was great to work with him again, and this time face-to-face because the last thing we did was a podcast during COVID. So we were really not near each other. It was during COVID, so they wouldn’t even let us say hi. We were just in between sheets of glass and so desperately wanting to do something, and this thing came along. I had a good time. It was really fun.

    4) Keke Palmer Says Watching Eddie Murphy Work Was A Masterclass

    (L to R) Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce and Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly in 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce and Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly in ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Keke Palmer, who is a comedic genuis herself, was extremely impressed watching Eddie Murphy work. She feels as if she has learned a lot from working alongside him.

    Keke Palmer: I was happy because I asked him his favorite movie that he’s ever done, and I was like, it was the same movie of mine that he’s ever done, which is ‘Nutty Professor’, because those characters that he made were so real. For years, when I was little, I was like, is that really Eddie? That’s not a real mama? Every single character was so truthful. It was comedy, but it was truthful, and I really do feel like working on ‘The Pickup’ prepared me for one of them days because I got to watch a masterclass of him continuously playing the truth. Every improvisation, every joke, the situation was the comedy, and he just always knew how to add to it in just the right way. It was an honor. I can’t wait to do it again.

    5) ‘The Pickup’ Script Is What Drew Eddie Murphy To The Film

    (L to R) Paige Butcher and Eddie Murphy at the premiere of 'The PIckup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Paige Butcher and Eddie Murphy at the premiere of ‘The PIckup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Eddie Murphy is a legend. Because of this he can pick and choose what projects he wants to work on. He claims it was the solid script of ‘The Pickup’ that made him want to be a part of it.

    Eddie Murphy: That the script was solid when I read it. Usually, these pieces take years to develop and you see a bunch of different drafts of the script. But this thing was like 90% there when I read it the first time. It was like, hey, this could work. Then we got Tim, and I was like, okay, well, we’re making this movie. It just came together really quick. The script being solid is why I jumped on it, so to speak.

    6) Keke Palmer Says Her ‘The Pickup’ Character Is More Of An Anti-Hero Than A Villain

    Keke Palmer as Zoe in 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    Keke Palmer as Zoe in ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    When asked if she was inspired by any other performances when crafting her character, Keke Palmer says that she wasn’t thinking about anyone in particular, and just wanted to be truthful to who she felt her character is.

    Keke Palmer: I was just wanting to play who I thought this character was, honestly, truthfully. She’s a villain, but she’s somebody that has a reason. In my mind, I felt like she was a bit of an anti-hero, and she’s honestly trying to get these guys on board with what she’s trying to do. There’s a bit of a romance that’s happening with Pete’s character, even if she’s not fully admitting it. And then there’s this feeling of she’s wanting Eddie’s character to believe in her. She’s looking for somebody to validate what she’s doing.

    7) Pete Davidson Explains There Was A Lot Of Improv While Filming – A Lot Of Which Did Not Make The Final Cut Of The Movie

    (L to R) Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson at 'The Pickup' virtual press conference.
    (L to R) Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson at ‘The Pickup’ virtual press conference.

    When asked about improvising on set, Pete Davidson admits that he and Eddie Murphy had a lot of moments where they just went off, saying random things. A lot of them did not make the final cut, but they still think about them.

    Pete Davidson: Oh, a lot of stuff. I was saying some foul stuff. Some of it’s in there. Tim was very trusting to all of us. We would get one as scripted and then he would just let us have fun and go off. I think some of the best moments in the film are just us all messing around. That Marshawn Lynch one with the whole twin thing. Or Eddie when he was like, jiggle the back, make the back jiggle. That killed me. When you’re changing the tire, and you said like maybe to a passing car, I don’t read as white, that was hilarious. I just had a lot of fun, and I appreciated Tim’s trust. And it made the movie really easy and fun to film.

    8) Tim Story Says Editing The Comedy Of ‘The Pickup’ Was Easier Than One Might Think

    (L to R) Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, director Tim Story on the set of 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video
    (L to R) Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, director Tim Story on the set of ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video

    With a comedy like ‘The Pickup’ there must be a lot of improv, especially because of the cast. While one might think this would make it harder to edit, Tim Story says that he just respected the comedy rules.

    Tim Story: I’m a slave to the comedy rules. You put it together. If it works and an audience laughs, we keep it. If it doesn’t work, we get rid of it. That’s what’s fun. As you trim off all the fat, you end up with something that just makes it great. But that’s what’s also great about what you saw a lot between Eddie and Pete, and obviously Keke, is that they just give you these nuggets. But at the same time, what’s fun about it is they’re also very surgical. Once they lock into what makes the scene work, they just give you more of that.

    9) Eddie Murphy Reveals His First Impressions Of His Costars

    (L to R) Eddie Murphy and Tim Story at 'The Pickup' virtual press conference.
    (L to R) Eddie Murphy and Tim Story at ‘The Pickup’ virtual press conference.

    Eddie Murphy describes his first impressions of his ‘The Pickup’ costars, Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer.

    Eddie Murphy: My first impression wasn’t on the set with Pete. I knew him from the show, from SNL. And Keke, I didn’t know all the different stuff that Keke did. I’d seen that Pimp series that she did. I was like, that’s the girl from Pimp. She’s good. So when she got on the set, it was like, oh, wow, yeah, this girl is good. Then it was like, oh, she hosts this game show, too. Then I watched the game show, and it was a totally different human being. She has a persona that she does for the game show, and it’s a great game show host, but she’s nothing like that. And then she’s nothing like she is in the movie. Off camera, she’s nothing like any of the stuff that she does. So I’ve been tripping off of her. And she sings and all that. Actually, I was like that when I was her age.

    10) Eddie Murphy Praising Keke Palmer Makes Her Emotional

    Keke Palmer at the premiere of 'The PIckup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    Keke Palmer at the premiere of ‘The PIckup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Hearing Eddie Murphy praise her like this, makes Keke Palmer extremely emotional.

    Keke Palmer: I could cry, to be quite honest with you. There’s nothing better. Eddie is literally the blueprint. I remember watching ‘Trading Places’. Like I said, I’ve grown up on all his movies and his impact. He’s done things that they would never be done again. And to be around him and to also see how he’s had the longevities he’s had, and still reserve himself. When Eddie gets on stage, he’s performing. He’s giving you all he’s got. Then when he’s done, he’s got his family. He’s got his kids.

    nICdSB6XjrtX7OIsz3ENi5

    What is the plot of ‘The Pickup’?

    In the action-comedy The Pickup, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Pickup’?

    'The Pickup' premieres on Prime Video August 6th.
    ‘The Pickup’ premieres on Prime Video August 6th.

    List of Eddie Murphy Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Eddie Murphy Movies On Amazon

    w0QRNVJK

  • Movie Review: ‘The Pickup’

    (L to R) Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce and Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly in 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce and Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly in ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    ‘The Pickup’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

    Premiering on Prime Video August 6th is the new action comedy ‘The Pickup’, which was directed by Tim Story (‘Fantastic Four’).

    The film stars comedy legend Eddie Murphy (’48 Hrs.’ and ‘Beverly Hills Cop’), as well as Pete Davidson (‘The Suicide Squad’), Keke Palmer (‘Nope’), Eva Longoria (‘The Sentinel’), and Andrew Dice Clay (‘Blue Jasmine’).

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly, Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce, and Keke Palmer as Zoe in 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly, Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce, and Keke Palmer as Zoe in ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    As a lifelong fan of Eddie Murphy, and especially his early action comedies like ’48 Hrs.’, ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and ‘The Golden Child’, I was very excited to see ‘The Pickup’, which is the legendary actor’s return to the genre he helped create. And while ‘The Pickup’ is not on the same level as Murphy’s past buddy cop movies or even classics like ‘Lethal Weapon’ or ‘Rush Hour’, the film does offer laughs and great chemistry between Murphy and co-star Pete Davidson.

    In a way, Murphy plays the opposite of what he played in previous buddy cop movies, no longer the young upstart (that’s Davidson now), he’s grown well into the older, grumpier role. He’s not exactly the straight man, and certainly has many funny moments himself, but works well reacting to Davidson, who brings his usual brand of humor. While we’ve seen Davidson play the “dumb but likable guy” in the past, his schtick still works and the actor has some very funny moments with Murphy.

    However, the direction is mediocre, and the third act crumbles under its own weight. Director Tim Story can handle the characters and the humor, but the action is standard at best. Actress Keke Palmer also has great chemistry with Murphy and Davidson, but her character has so many different twists and reveals, that it’s hard to completely believe her in the role. While enjoyable, the film does nothing to elevate the buddy cop genre and its success hinges on the chemistry between the two lead actors, which thankfully works.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, director Tim Story on the set of 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video
    (L to R) Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, director Tim Story on the set of ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video

    The movie begins by introducing us to Russell Pierce (Eddie Murphy), a veteran armored truck guard who is looking forward to celebrating his anniversary later that evening with his wife Natalie (Eva Longoria). Once at work and hoping to have an easy day, his boss (Andrew Dice Clay) informs him that he will be doing the day’s most difficult deliveries. In addition, he must also break in a new partner, slacker Travis Stolly (Pete Davidson), who the day before accidentally pulled a gun on a woman named Zoe (Keke Palmer) in a bank, and now thinks he’s in love with her.

    As Russell and Travis go about their deliveries, they are hijacked by thieves. While the two do their best to fend off the hijackers, they are eventually captured, and their kidnapper’s identity is revealed. Soon, Natalie is also captured, and Pierce and Travis are forced to work with the thieves to rob a casino. Now, Pierce and Travis must put their differences aside and work together to save Natalie, clear their names and stop the heist.

    Tim Story is a veteran director with many big films under his belt including the ‘Barbershop’ and ‘Fantastic Four’ franchises, but he is a journeyman filmmaker at best. His work here is adequate, but Story doesn’t offer anything to elevate this from your standard buddy cop movie, other than assembling a terrific cast, which does most of the heavy lifting. Except for one very fun set piece that features an armored car chase, most of the action sequences seem generic and don’t add much to the overall movie.

    The script from Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows works best when it is focusing on character and falls apart in the third act with all its twists and turns. If ‘The Pickup’ was just an homage to classic buddy cop movies, I think that would have worked, but the screenplay also pulls inspiration from Tony Scott’s ‘Unstoppable’ and heist movies like ‘Heat’ and ‘The Town’, and I think it was just too much for one movie to handle.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Keke Palmer, Eddie Murphy, and Pete Davidson in 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Keke Palmer, Eddie Murphy, and Pete Davidson in ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Eddie Murphy may have had one of the best runs in history of any actor’s early career. With hits like ’48 Hrs.’, ‘Beverly Hills Cop’, and ‘Coming to America’, Murphy was one of the biggest stars of his time. After a few movies that didn’t work, he was quickly back on top with ‘The Nutty Professor’ and ‘Shrek’ franchises and began making family movies, leaving the action-comedy genre behind. Which is what made his role in ‘The Pickup’ so appealing, because its Eddie Murphy returning to the genre he helped create.

    But this is not the Eddie Murphy we once knew. This is an older, wiser, and calmer Eddie Murphy, but when given the right moment is just as funny as ever. After giving a career defining performance in the criminally underrated ‘Dolemite Is My Name’, Murphy has appeared in below average comedies like ‘Coming 2 America’, ‘You People’ and ‘Candy Cane Lane’, and while those movies lowered the bar quite a bit, I can honestly say this is the best work Murphy has done since ‘Dolemite’. Murphy is also quite good adjusting to the older partner role, it’s almost like he’s playing the Nick Nolte character and Davidson is playing the Eddie Murphy character, to use ’48 Hrs.’ as an example.

    Murphy is at his best when he is playing the truthfulness of the moment and being funny without trying to be funny. He has great chemistry with all his co-stars including Longoria, but especially Davidson. As an old school Eddie Murphy fan, it was great to see him playing a cop again (sort of), and the actor is very good in his action and fight scenes.

    As for his part, Pete Davidson certainly brings charisma and his own brand of charm to the role. The character was clearly tailor made for Davidson and he is completely believable in the role. The actor has a funny chemistry with Murphy, who he clearly looks up to and they make a great comedy team. Davidson’s “likable dumb guy” does begin to wear thin at times, but at least Murphy is there to even in out.

    It’s very difficult to talk about Keke Palmer’s role in this movie without giving away spoilers. I’ll just say that she is a terrific and funny actress that was perhaps miscast here. Her role takes on many different forms throughout the film and because of that, her performance is uneven. She has a strong emotional monologue in the third act, but her character’s conclusion left me scratching my head.

    Eva Longoria is a lot of fun as Russell’s feisty wife, and she is great opposite Murphy, but doesn’t have a lot to do till the third act. Finally, for 80’s stand-up comedy fans, you will not want to miss seeing Eddie Murphy share a scene on the big screen with fellow comedic legend Andrew Dice Clay!

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce and Eva Longoria as Natalie Pierce in 'The Pickup'. Photo: Prime Video
    (L to R) Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce and Eva Longoria as Natalie Pierce in ‘The Pickup’. Photo: Prime Video.

    ‘The Pickup’ is your standard buddy cop movie but the performances and chemistry between Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson elevates it from being too generic. While not a home run, the movie is funny and filled with action, and will be enjoyable for fans of the genre and Eddie Murphy, who isn’t exactly at his all-time best here, but certainly his best in recent years.

    nICdSB6XjrtX7OIsz3ENi5

    What is the plot of ‘The Pickup’?

    In the action-comedy The Pickup, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Pickup’?

    • Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce
    • Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly
    • Keke Palmer as Zoe
    • Eva Longoria as Natalie Pierce
    • Ismael Cruz Cordova as Miguel
    • Jack Kesy as Banner
    • Andrew Dice Clay as Clark
    • Marshawn Lynch as Chop Shop
    'The Pickup' premieres on Prime Video August 6th.
    ‘The Pickup’ premieres on Prime Video August 6th.

    List of Eddie Murphy Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Eddie Murphy Movies On Amazon

    w0QRNVJK

  • ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Casts Kumail Nanjiani and More

    Kumail Nanjiani in 'The Big Sick.'
    Kumail Nanjiani in ‘The Big Sick.’ Photo: Amazon Studios.

    Preview:

    • Kumail Nanjiani is the latest addition to ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 4.
    • The series stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.
    • Season 4 has just started shooting.

    If there’s one thing that ‘Only Murders in the Building’ is known for despite its confounding, twisty murder mysteries, it’s the starry main and guest cast it is always able to attract.

    Anchored by a crime-solving trio of amateur sleuth podcasters played by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. The three are more normally found solving –– and occasionally being falsely implicated in –– murders at the swanky Arconia apartment building in New York where they all live.

    And for the latest, fourth season of the show, the cast is expanding once again, this time to include Kumail Nanjiani, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria and Molly Shannon, as reported by Variety.

    Related Article: ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Gets Theatrical for a Smart, Knowing Third Season

    What’s the story of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 4?

    Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu's 'Only Murders In The Building'.
    (L to R) Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.

    Most details of the plot for the fourth season are themselves a mystery right now, though in keeping with the show’s tradition, the main crime was set up at the end of the third season.

    In the finale of the last batch of episodes, we’re re-introduced to Sazz (Jane Lynch) the longtime friend and former stunt double of TV actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin).

    Sazz warns Charles that she has to talk to him privately, and while she’s waiting in his apartment, she is fatally shot by someone who presumably thought they were murdering Charles. Cue the dramatic sting!

    As they try to figure out what Sazz was mixed up in, Season 4 will see our heroes headed to Los Angeles.

    Here’s what show co-creator and executive producer John Hoffman told Us Weekly about the new season:

    “It is something we haven’t done before. So I’m excited about that. The joy of working on the show is rare and I think everyone working on the show knows that’s rare. So the instinct and inclination is that there’s room here — certainly in what we’re looking at and thinking about for season 4 — to explore something new.”

    Who are the new guest stars playing in ‘Only Murders in the Building’?

    Meryl Streep as Loretta in Hulu's 'Only Murders in the Building.'
    Meryl Streep as Loretta in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.

    So far, all we know is that the newcomers will be integral to the story for the new season, but beyond that, only Molly Shannon’s character has been revealed: she’s playing a high-powered Los Angeles businesswoman who gets drawn into the mystery.

    Alongside the new faces, Meryl Streep will return as actor Loretta Durkin, who formed a love connection with Martin Short’s Oliver Putnam in Season 3.

    Has ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 4 started shooting?

    Since you ask, yes! The cameras started filming a few days ago, with Steve Martin posting a picture of himself, Short and Gomez relaxing in chairs on set.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C3-4ss8Psgk/?hl=en

     

    When will ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 4 be on screens?

    Given that it has only just kicked off filming, we won’t expect the show to return until later in the year at the earliest. If it keeps to previous season premiere dates, it may well launch in August.

    Selena Gomez as Mabel, Martin Short as Oliver and Steve Martin as Charles in Hulu's 'Only Murders in the Building.'
    (L to R) Selena Gomez as Mabel, Martin Short as Oliver and Steve Martin as Charles in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Only Murders in the Building’:

    Buy Steve Martin Movies On Amazon

    FZEds5ui

  • Movie Review: ‘Flamin’ Hot’

    Jesse Garcia in 'Flamin' Hot.'
    Jesse Garcia in ‘Flamin’ Hot.’ Photo by Emily Aragones. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

    Premiering on Hulu and Disney+, ‘Flamin’ Hot’ tells the compelling true story of Richard Montañez, a man who rose from a life of struggle and struck with a great idea for an untapped market in the chip industry, made his life dreams come true.

    0kI6vTN4O7gdYl091yiKd1

    What’s the story of ‘Flamin’ Hot’?

    The movie tells the story of Montañez (Jessie Garcia), who was born in an East Los Angeles barrio community to Mexican-American parents in the late 1950s. He was gifted with a smart mind, an ambitious soul, and a dream for a better life. He dropped out of school in his mid-teens –– one of his greatest regrets –– only to discover that without a high school diploma or college education, the only jobs he could get were window washers and gas station attendants. This was not what he wanted for himself or his future.

    It was his perseverance that eventually landed him a janitor gig at a local Frito-Lay factory. On the job, his inquisitive mind wanted to learn more about how the snacks were made, and about the machines and the production line, which made his colleagues and his supervisors suspicious. Who was this man who dared to think he was somebody he wasn’t and who wanted more out of his life?

    While his coworkers told him that his chances of getting a meeting with the CEO were about the same as flying to the moon, Montañez wanted to make sure his ideas got the top. He ultimately would spend years toiling away on the factory floor before the opportunity finally presented itself, when PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico (Tony Shalhoub) was on-site for a factory tour. Amazingly, the man with no formal education and no business marketing training or tools managed to get a moment of facetime with the boss, who was intrigued enough to ask for a formal presentation. The rest is history, Montañez’ ideas leading to him joining the executive ranks at the company.

    Tony Shalhoub and Matt Walsh in 'Flamin' Hot.'
    (L to R) Tony Shalhoub and Matt Walsh in ‘Flamin’ Hot.’ Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

    Who else is in ‘Flamin’ Hot?

    The cast also includes Annie Gonzalez as Judy Montañez, Richard’s wife, Dennis Haysbert as Richard’s mentor at Frito-Lay, Clarence C. Baker, Matt Walsh as his boss, Lonny Mason, Bobby Soto as Richard’s friend Tony Romero and Emilio Rivera as his father, Vacho Montañez.

    Eva Longoria on set of 'Flamin' Hot.'
    Eva Longoria on set of ‘Flamin’ Hot.’ Photo by Anna Kooris. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

    Breaking stereotypes

    While there was some debate in 2021 as to whether Montañez’s story truly holds up (Frito-Lay has cast doubt on the tale as it stands, as reported in this LA Times piece) there’s no denying that he did have a role to play in expanding the flavors of the company’s products to appeal to Latino audiences. And it doesn’t diminish the power of the movie itself.

    Longoria might be making her movie directorial debut here, but she brings a wealth of experiences from both in front of and behind the camera –– an extensive acting resume, and work both producing and directing all sorts of TV series, from the dramatic likes of ‘Grand Hotel’ to the more comedic tones of ‘Black-ish’ and ‘Jane the Virgin’, which blends both together.

    Here, she whips through Montañez’s narrative, touching on the important parts and never leaving out the love he shows for his family and the struggles he and his wife went through. And the movie even nods to how Montañez had to hustle in less-than-legal fashion early on, while disrupting and disputing common misconceptions about Mexican culture in particular. This is a story of determination and enthusiasm, with a supporting family that belies the standard TV and movie representation of Latino culture as gang bangers or immigrants.

    Highlights for ‘Flamin’ Hot’ include the charming lead performance from Garcia as Montañez, narrating his life story in a manner that keeps you interested, and working well off of Linda Yvette Chávez’s script.

    Jesse Garcia and Dennis Haysbert in 'Flamin' Hot.'
    (L to R) Jesse Garcia and Dennis Haysbert in ‘Flamin’ Hot.’ Photo by Anna Kooris. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

    Haysbert also gets a solid arc as Clarence, the gruff, genius engineer who maintains the machines at the plant where Montañez sweeps the floors. Spotting something in the ambitious man, he mentors him towards success, even as he longs to be on the executive level himself and is frustrated that some of the people he has trained have been promoted above him. His and Richard’s relationship is far more equal and warmer, the sheer enthusiasm and openness of Montañez’s approach breaking through Clarence’s barriers and proving a boon for them both.

    Shalhoub, meanwhile, is good value in a relatively small (but still crucial) role as Frito-Lay’s CEO, one of the people who inspires Richard to dream bigger. And he’s the focus of quick, funny scenes where Richard imagines how the company’s executives get the job done, the stuffed suits transforming into gangsters who threaten each other in cartoony voices provided by Richard.

    This is the sort of movie that gets made a lot, but far more rarely about people who look like Richard Montañez and his family, which is all the more remarkable. And while it’s regrettable that Disney’s Searchlight decision opted to push it to Hulu, it has a chance to reach a wider audience than a limited engagement in theaters.

    Director Eva Longoria and DP Federico Cantini on set of 'Flamin' Hot.'
    (L to R) Director Eva Longoria and DP Federico Cantini on set of ‘Flamin’ Hot.’ Photo by Emily Aragones. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

    Not as tasty

    It’s not a perfect movie –– you can certainly see moments where the budget outstripped the ambition of Longoria and her team, with some dodgy wig moments and scenes that could have been excised without losing any of the flavor of the film.

    An engaging, funny and charming story well told, ‘Flamin’ Hot’ sometimes feels like it needed to be a limited series rather than a movie, so full of incident was its subject’s life.

    But if it serves to inspire just one or two people to go the extra mile in chasing their dreams, it’ll be a worthwhile movie, while entertaining even if you’re not searching for a new direction in life.

    ‘Flamin’ Hot’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

    Jesse Garcia and Eva Longoria on the set of 'Flamin' Hot.'
    (L to R) Jesse Garcia and Eva Longoria on the set of ‘Flamin’ Hot.’ Photo by Emily Aragones. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Flamin’ Hot’:

    Buy Eva Longoria Movies On Amazon

    ‘Flamin’ Hot’ is produced by Franklin Entertainment and Searchlight Pictures, and is scheduled for release on Hulu and Disney+ on June 9th.

  • Eva Longoria to Direct ‘Flamin’ Hot’ About Cheetos Snack Creator

    Eva Longoria to Direct ‘Flamin’ Hot’ About Cheetos Snack Creator

    Eva Longoria in Overboard
    Lionsgate

    Eva Longoria is hungry for some Cheetos.

    Longoria has signed on to direct “Flamin’ Hot,” the Fox Searchlight biopic about Richard Montanez, who created the spicy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos snack, according to Deadline.

    The story will follow Richard Montanez as he rises from humble beginnings to achieve the American Dream. He got his start picking grapes in Southern California before working as a janitor at Frito-Lay, where he came up with his billion-dollar idea.

    His creation, inspired by the flavors of his community, revitalized the company and disrupted the food industry, creating a pop culture phenomenon that continues today.

    Deadline reports Longoria beat out multiple directors for the job after impressing producer DeVon Franklin and Fox Searchlight with her authentic approac.

    Longoria has previously directed numerous television episodes and is attached to helm “24/7” starring Kerry Washington.

  • On the Latest Ms. Moviefone Show, the Stars of ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold’ Go Exploring

    On the Latest Ms. Moviefone Show, the Stars of ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold’ Go Exploring

    Ms. Moviefone (our very own Grae Drake) is back with a new episode of “The Ms. Moviefone Show” in which she hunts for The Lost City of Movie Showtimes with the stars of “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” — Isabela Moner, Eva Longoria, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Peña, and Jeff Wahlberg. Who is up for the challenge and who will fail miserably? Watch below to find out!

    “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” is in theaters now.

     

  • Eva Longoria Set for Directorial Debut and Starring Role in ’24-7′

    Eva Longoria Set for Directorial Debut and Starring Role in ’24-7′

    Eva Longoria in Overboard
    Lionsgate

    Eva Longoria Baston has plans to be both in front of and behind the camera.

    The “Overboard” actress will soon make her feature directorial debut, but that’s apparently not enough. Longoria Baston will direct, star in, and produce the upcoming comedy “24-7,” THR reports. Her co-stars so far include Kerry Washington.

    Longoria Baston will be working from a script written by Sarah Rothschild. The story focuses on a group of female accountants trying to solve a fraud case and save their jobs before of a group of their male co-workers manages to do so. Character details haven’t been revealed, but our guess is that Longoria Baston and Washington are likely playing accountants.

    Both actresses will double as producers on the Universal Pictures flick. Longoria Baston will produce through UnbeliEVAble Entertainment with Ben Spector, while Washington produces through Simpson Street. FiegCo Entertainment’s Paul Feig and Jessie Henderson are also set to produce.

    The project’s executive producers include Sara Scott and Christine Sun for Universal, Will Rack for UnbeliEVAble, and Pilar Savone for Simpson Street.

    [via: THR]

  • Eva Longoria Joins ‘Dora the Explorer’

    Eva Longoria Joins ‘Dora the Explorer’

    Pantelion Films

    The upcoming live-action retelling of beloved kids TV series “Dora the Explorer” is set to be a family affair: Eva Longoria has joined the flick as Dora’s mom.

    The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop that Longoria will be playing Eva, mother of Isabela Moner’s titular character. While the animated Nickelodeon series focused on Dora’s adventures as a young girl, this new film will pick up with our heroine as a teen, about to enter high school.

    Dora’s relationship with her parents serves as another driving plot point. Here’s the film’s official logline to explain how:

    Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots (her best friend, a monkey), Diego, and a rag tag group of teens on a Goonies-esque adventure to save her parents and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost Inca civilization.

    That’s a lot of plot to pack into one film, but thankfully, James Bobin — who helmed the delightful 2011 reboot “The Muppets” — is sitting in the director’s chair. We’re cautiously optimistic that this odd-on-paper reimagining can succeed under his guidance.

    In addition to Moner and Longoria, “Dora” also stars Eugenio Derbez, Nicholas Coombe, Madeleine Madden, Adriana Barraza, and Temuera Morrison. It’s shooting now in Australia, and due in theaters on August 2, 2019.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]

  • E! Producer Says She Was Fired for Eva Longoria’s Red Carpet Interview

    E! is having such a rough time lately, they may just remove the exclamation point.

    According to the New York Times, E! freelance producer Aileen Gram-Moreno filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming she was unfairly terminated (and replaced by a male producer who was given a higher title).

    Gram-Moreno had been with E! since 1990 and had worked part-time on its red carpet shows for the past 12 years. She said her firing was specifically tied to her allowing Eva Longoria‘s anti-E! clip to air during the Golden Globes 2018 coverage.

    As the NY Times explained, interviews often happen simultaneously on the red carpet, and E! can’t air all of them live, so some interviews are recorded and then run a bit later. After Debra Messing called out E! in support of former E! News host Catt Sadler, E! execs were apparently concerned about more red carpet call-outs.

    Seen Around - September 2016 - New York Fashion Week: The Shows - Day 2Gram-Moreno’s filing claims that she was then directed to review more interviews before airing. “They said, if there’s any mention of Catt in the preshow, make sure you flag it,” she told the NY Times. “You’re censoring celebrities; it’s just not a good idea in my humble opinion. But it wasn’t my decision.”

    She said there were so many prerecorded interviews that it was close to impossible to fully vet everyone, and she didn’t get a chance to listen to all of the clip of Eva Longoria’s interview alongside Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. Gram-Moreno said the decision to air the clip had already been made before she heard what Longoria said about Catt Sadler.

    In her interview with Ryan Seacrest, Longoria had said, “We support gender equity and equal pay, and we hope that E! follows that lead with Catt as well. We stand with you, Catt.”

    Gram-Moreno knew that kind of thing wasn’t supposed to air, so — once she realized what happened — she texted an apology to her executive producer, who replied that it probably couldn’t have been avoided. However, five days later, she got a call from an EP who said she was fired from all of her upcoming red carpet gigs, including the SAG Awards, the Grammys, and the Oscars. She said the EP told her it was because she let the Catt Sadler mention go through.

    E! Entertainment president Adam Stotsky told the New York Times there was no effort to censor celebs, and if there had been, the clips of Debra Messing, Sarah Jessica Parker, and others wouldn’t have been broadcast. He admitted that they did want to know ahead of time about any other mentions of Catt Sadler. “We don’t agree with Debra Messing’s assertion. We’re not in the business of being a megaphone for an inaccurate story.” (Doesn’t that suggest he was interested in blocking their opinions from air?)

    75th Annual Golden Globe Awards - ArrivalsStotsky told the NY Times there was no increase in the number of prerecorded interviews. He said Gram-Moreno’s job was to “screen all of the assets completely and obviously she failed to do that.” He said she was not invited back for more red carpet coverage after a “pattern of poor performance,” saying the Golden Globes incident was just the final straw.

    Gram-Moreno’s lawyer said there had never been any complaints about her performance after 12 years of E! red carpet coverage, and she was given a performance-based raise five years ago.

    Meanwhile, E! is still chugging along with Ryan Seacrest as host of red carpet coverage, despite the allegations against him by his former stylist. It remains to be seen if fewer major stars talk to him on the red carpet, and if any criticism of E! actually makes it to air.

    The Oscars air Sunday, March 4 on ABC, with preshow coverage on E! all day long.

    Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.