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  • ‘Lorne’ Exclusive Interview: Director Morgan Neville

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    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new documentary from Oscar winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (‘Man on the Run’) called ‘Lorne’, which chronicles the life and career of ‘Saturday Night Live’ creator Lorne Michaels.

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    'Lorne' director Morgan Neville.
    ‘Lorne’ director Morgan Neville.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Morgan Neville about his work on ‘Lorne’, the style of the documentary, making it funny, his unprecedented access to ‘Saturday Night Live’, the show’s darkest period, conducting the interviews, what he learned about Lorne from making the movie, and the future of the long running show.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    Related Article: Morgan Neville Talks Paul McCartney Documentary ‘Man on the Run’

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, the film plays almost like an ‘SNL’ parody of a celebrity biopic with animated sequences and Chris Parnell’s narration. Was that what you set out to do from the beginning or did you have to pivot when you realized you might not get what you need from Lorne Michaels himself?

    Morgan Neville: I think my intent in the beginning was, I want this to be funny. I didn’t know how exactly. But beyond that, I don’t entirely have a plan about what the film is going to be. I know it had all these great ingredients. I know Lorne’s story is interesting. He’s a fascinating character who rarely does interviews or shows people into his life. I know the show is fascinating. I knew there were lots of interesting things, but I didn’t know how it would fit together. When we started shooting, what you see in the beginning of the film is my first day of shooting, where the cameras come out, and then Lorne vanishes. I felt like one of the themes of the film is basically the theme of me making the film. You go from somebody who really doesn’t seem like he wants a film made about him to somebody who has made his peace with it and is willing to give us a glimpse inside. That was my experience of making the film. So, the idea of bringing Chris Parnell in is a way of channeling ‘SNL’, but also the ‘TV Funhouse’. I mean, it’s also something that I’ve done with a lot of my films. I want the subject of the film to help me decide how to tell the story, so it feels like the telling of it is related to the subject. So, I just kept thinking, well, what is the ‘SNL’ version of a documentary about Lorne? Not to say that because it’s funny that there’s no substance there. Because one thing I’m also proud of is how the emotion sneaks into the film quietly, in a way you’re not expecting. Lorne, in the beginning, is like, “Why is this guy even here? Why is he torturing this poor crew?” But then you understand a lot more about what makes him tick and he opens in that way.

    MF: The movie is very funny. Can you set out to make a funny documentary, or is that a result of the subject you are focusing on?

    MN: I think humor is one of the great under discussed things in documentary film. I think some of my favorite documentaries are funny in different ways. That could be anything from the films that inspired me to make documentaries, like ‘Sherman’s March’, ‘Roger & Me’, and ‘The Atomic Cafe’. I mean, all the documentaries that got me excited, that are funny in different ways. Even in films I’ve made, like, ‘Best of Enemies’ or ‘Won’t you be my Neighbor?’ There are some big laughs in those films, too. But I think humor is such a great way of letting the audience exhale and open themselves up in a way if they’re laughing. They’re way more receptive to what you might want to share with them. So, I love that, and why can’t documentaries be comedies sometimes? So, this was me intentionally in the beginning saying, “I do want this to be a funny film.” Because it’s a film, most people who are going to watch it are comedy fans. I’ve seen a lot of documentaries about comedy that are really depressing. There are a lot of dark stories in comedy. But I always wanted to remember the comedy part of it, too. ‘Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces’ was the first comedy documentary I did that was purely comedy, and this is the second. With both, I tried to balance the funny with some weight or gravitas at the same time.

    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.
    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about the unprecedented access that you had to Lorne and ‘Saturday Night Live’ and what did you learn about him as a person from your access?

    MN: I think people think of Lorne as sitting on a throne, deciding who makes it in comedy and who doesn’t make it, and that he is just sitting there, flipping his finger, and deciding the fate of people. I think Lorne sees himself as beleaguered, in the trenches, and worrying about next week’s show and making 100 phone calls to sponsors, network people, affiliates, agents, studios, and cast members to just keep all the plates in the air. So, it’s funny that everybody thinks Lorne is just sitting pretty. I think Lorne feels like he’s just barely making it, because I asked everybody in the film, “At what point do you think Saturday Night Live became a show that was not going to disappear?” Some people said, “Well, when the show reinvented itself after 1995 with Will Ferrell and that amazing cast, or maybe after 9/11, when it became a place where people came together and mourned and laughed together for the first time.” I asked Lorne that question, and he said, “Maybe this year.” You know, fifty years in! So, I think Lorne’s the last person to pat himself on the back and feel like, job well done, we don’t have to worry anymore. I think Lorne is thinking about, “When this cast gels, where’s it going to be in two years?” He’s thinking about things like that. “Oh, this writer I have who might want to leave, maybe I can get him to work on a TV show, and I can get him a development deal.” He’s constantly pulling levers to keep everything kind of bubbling along and that’s something, People don’t see him sweat, but I think he feels like he’s in the thick of it. I think it’s maybe part of why he made the film, is for people to understand that producing is a real job. It’s not just sitting back and collecting checks. It’s a lot of invisible things that people just don’t understand.

    MF: You mention in the film that the closest Lorne came to losing control of the show was in the mid- ‘90s, which culminated in the firing of Norm MacDonald. In discussing it with Lorne, did he express any regret in how that went down and being unable to protect Norm in the same way he has protected so many ‘SNL’ performers before and after?

    MN: I don’t think so. I love Norm’s comedy. But, let’s face it, Norm was asking for it and in the funniest way possible. Norm was warned again and again and again. So, I think Norm enjoyed poking the bear, and I don’t think Norm felt like Lorne was to blame for any of that. I think the other person in that equation was Jim Downey, the legendary writer who started in season two, and was on and off the show for decades, who I interviewed in the documentary. Jim, at that time, was running ‘Weekend Update’ with Norm, and the two of them were thick as thieves, and they were the ones who were enjoying poking the bear. When Norm got fired, Jim got fired too, but Lorne quietly got Jim back the next year. I think Lorne both felt a loyalty to Jim, and really wanted to protect Jim. Norm was going to be fine. Lorne told the bosses, “Okay, I’ll let them go,” and then quietly rehired Jim, and helped Norm land his next thing. Again, it’s something that made Lorne incredibly unhappy to have to go through, but he is the king of the long game. You may lose the battles, but he always wins the war.

    John Mulaney in 'John Mulaney: Baby J' Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney in ‘John Mulaney: Baby J’ Photo: Netflix.

    MF: Of all the interviews you conducted, who had the most insight into Lorne and was there anyone you wanted to interview but were unable to?

    MN: I mean, the only person I really wanted to interview who said no was Dan Aykroyd, and he had said he was just talked out from doing documentary interviews, which is fine. I get it. But at the same time, for a film like this, you could interview so many people, and I interviewed even more than I normally like to. I normally don’t like to interview a ton of people for a film because I want there to be a smaller chorus of voices. But even here, I could have interviewed another fifty people for this film easily. So, I wanted people from different chapters of his life, people like Howard Shore, who he met at camp as a 14-year-old to Rosie Shuster, his first wife he met in high school who became one of the original writers on ‘Saturday Night Live’. But one of my favorites was John Mulaney because he is both, such a great talker, but also a real student of Lorne’s. They’re friends, but I think John has studied Lorne, and I think when they’re together, John constantly peppers Lorne with questions, and he’s collecting as much information about Lorne as he can. So, I think he was ready to talk. I think he loved talking about Lorne. I think we did, like, a two-hour interview, and I said, “Well, I think that’s good,” and he was like, “Well, let’s keep going.” So we went for another hour, and then when we did the round table, he said, “Oh, I want to do that.” So, I got him together with Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, and Fred Armisen. But I think Mulaney was probably the MVP of talking about Lorne.

    MF: Finally, I get the sense from the film that Lorne Michaels is ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’ is Lorne Michaels, and that there is no retiring for him. He’ll leave the show when he must and it may go on for a while, but that will be the end of the show as we currently know it. What is your sense of the future of the series and how long do you think it will go on without Lorne Michaels at the helm?

    MN: I think Lorne is not going to run the show for another fifty years, but he wants it to continue, and I think it will continue, just because, for no other reason, the IP of ‘SNL’ is very valuable, and people still watch and will continue to watch. It’s one of the last places where we come together to watch things. You know, it’s like sports and ‘Saturday Night Live’. There aren’t a lot of places where we all come together to watch things. So, I think there are a lot of reasons why it will continue. I just don’t think it’ll be the same, because, in part, Lorne’s not doing it, but also because I can’t imagine it continuing to be as wasteful as it is. I mean, Lorne says that in the film. It’s made wastefully, but that’s because by being wasteful, you get to discover more things. He’s producing way more than he needs for a week. So, if you’re able to throw out a third of all your work every week and just pick the best two thirds, it makes it better. But it’s also kind of crazy to know you’re going to throw out a third of all your work every week. I also don’t think there’s one person to fill Lorne’s shoes, which are impossible to fill. But I think the thing about Lorne is he’s managing two different ways. He’s managing down, which is him with the writers and the cast, and all of that, which he’s great at. You hear all those stories of how he works with cast members. But the other part of his job is he’s managing up. So, dealing with the network people, and the sponsors, and affiliates, and studios, and all of that, in a way that is invisible, and is a very different skill than dealing with writers. So, you know, part of me feels like it would take at least two people to do his job.

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    What is the story of ‘Lorne’?

    ‘Lorne’ is an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers.

    Who appears in ‘Lorne’?

    'Lorne' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Lorne’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    List of Morgan Neville Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lorne’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Morgan Neville Movies on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘Lorne’

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new documentary ‘Lorne’, which was directed by Morgan Neville (‘Man on the Run’) and chronicles the life and career of ‘Saturday Night Live’ creator Lorne Michaels.

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    Related Article: Morgan Neville Talks Paul McCartney Documentary ‘Man on the Run’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.
    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.

    Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville accomplishes the near impossible by capturing the illusive Lorne Michaels in the new film ‘Lorne’. The documentary, which is very funny, is almost an ‘SNL’ parody of celebrity biopics with pitch perfect narration from alum Chris Parnell and TV Funhouse style animation.

    Neville was given unprecedented behind the scenes access to Michaels and ‘Saturday Night Live’ and lifts the curtain to show how the sausage is really made. With interviews from ‘SNL’ alum like Tina Fey, John Mulaney, Kristen Wiig and Mike Myers, the movie explores Michaels’ career, the history of the show, and how ‘SNL’ is really made.

    Story and Direction

    'Saturday Night Live's Studio 8H.
    ‘Saturday Night Live’s Studio 8H. Photo: NBC.

    Director Morgan Neville is no stranger to documenting famous people, as his last film, ‘Man on the Run’ was centered on Paul McCartney. But the opening scene of ‘Lorne’ makes one think that Neville has finally met his match in Lorne Michaels. The ‘SNL’ creator seems surprised and annoyed that he even agreed to having a documentary crew follow him around, and virtually disappears once the movie begins.

    This forces Neville to pivot quickly and results in a movie that is closer to an ‘SNL’ parody of a documentary, which makes for a very funny movie. Some of the techniques that Neville uses to offset the loss of his subject include focusing on interviews with ‘SNL’ cast and alum instead and incorporating cartoons and narration. Those choices, whether out of desperation or not, transform the film from a standard celebrity documentary to a truly funny and entertaining experience on its own terms.

    But despite his best efforts, the film eventually does breakdown Michaels’ defenses and gives an honest and in-depth look behind the curtain at the man that created a comedic industry. In fact, Neville’s access to ‘Saturday Night Live’ was astounding and gives a rare never-before-seen look at exactly how the show is really made with glimpses into the writer’s room, pitch meetings, guest meetings, rehearsals, and finally choosing the sketches for that episode.

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    In addition to chronicling how the show is made week to week, the film also goes through Michaels’ personal history, the beginnings of his career, how he created the show, ‘SNL’s ups and downs including his exit in 1980, his return in 1985, almost losing the show in the 90s, and the various cast changes, as well as his film career, which includes writing ‘Three Amigos’ and producing ‘Wayne’s World’.

    Morgan Neville is the best documentarian working today and has made some of the finest documentaries in recent years including the Oscar winning ‘20 Feet from Stardom’, ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’, and ‘Man on the Run’. But ‘Lorne’ might be his best work yet, cracking the code on one of the most important figures in entertainment history.

    Celebrity Interviews

    John Mulaney and Tina Fey at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney and Tina Fey at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    While reluctant at first, Lorne Michaels does eventually sit down for several interviews and is surprisingly open, despite his reputation for being guarded. However, his insight into his past and the inner workings of the show are delivered cryptically and in a very Lorne Michaels way. But we do get a rare look at his lakeside hideaway retreat in an undisclosed area of Maine, as well as his rigorous late-night schedule.

    You really come to understand that Michaels is a creature of habit, basically living the same schedule for fifty years, even eating at the same handful of New York restaurants and ordering the same meals for decades. People often wonder why ‘SNL’ has such a strange schedule, working late into the night and into the early morning most days. It’s because of Lorne, that’s his schedule, the show just adopted it.

    Neville assembles a fantastic group of Lorne’s friends and former ‘SNL’ cast members including Steve Martin, Paul Simon, John Mulaney, Tina Fey, Conan O’Brien, Seth Meyers, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, and Mike Myers.

    John Mulaney had the most insight about Lorne, while Tina Fey acted like she didn’t really know him at all. But the most fascinating exchange was watching an intimate dinner between Michaels and friend Steve Martin.

    My one critique is I do wish Neville had interviewed more of the earlier cast members, as there seemed to be a focus on only cast members from the last 25 years. Where was Chevy Chase and Bill Murray? Where was Dana Carvey and Adam Sandler? What about Will Ferrell? But this may just be a result of who was available and not by design.

    Final Thoughts

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Lorne’ is a brilliant documentary that delivers a rare look at an almost mythic figure in popular culture and gives true insight without damaging the myth. At the same time, for fans of ‘Saturday Night Live’ or comedy in general, the movie is a must see that really dissects how the series became an institution and why it is still going strong after fifty years.

    ‘Lorne’ receives a score of 90 out of 100.

    'Lorne' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Lorne’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    What is the story of ‘Lorne’?

    ‘Lorne’ is an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers.

    Who appears in ‘Lorne’?

    • Lorne Michaels as Himself
    • Tina Fey as Herself
    • Maya Rudolph as Herself
    • John Mulaney as Himself
    • Andy Samberg as Himself
    • Bill Hader as Himself
    • Fred Armisen as Himself
    • Conan O’Brien as Himself
    • Chris Rock as Himself
    • Jimmy Fallon as Himself
    • Seth Meyers as Himself
    • Kristen Wiig as Herself
    • Mike Myers as Himself
    • Steve Martin as Himself
    • Paul Simon as Himself
    'Lorne' director Morgan Neville.
    ‘Lorne’ director Morgan Neville.

    List of Morgan Neville Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lorne’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Morgan Neville Movies on Amazon

     

  • Kristen Wiig Joins Jonah Hill in New Comedy ‘Cut Off’

    (Left) Kristen Wig attends the Academy’s 2017 Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 11, 2017. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Jonah Hill, Oscar®-nominee for Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, arrives for the 84th Annual Academy Awards® from Hollywood, CA February 26, 2012. Credit/Provider: Heather Ikei / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    (Left) Kristen Wig attends the Academy’s 2017 Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 11, 2017. Credit/Provider: Aaron Poole / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Jonah Hill, Oscar®-nominee for Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, arrives for the 84th Annual Academy Awards® from Hollywood, CA February 26, 2012. Credit/Provider: Heather Ikei / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Preview:

    • Kristen Wiig is joining Jonah Hill in his new comedy ‘Cut Off’.
    • They’ll play spoiled siblings who get a rude awakening.
    • Hill co-wrote and will direct the movie for Warner Bros.

    Kristen Wiig and Jonah Hill have proved they can make people laugh both separately and, in the case of several movies and memorable ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch “Liza Minnelli Tries to Turn Off a Lamp”, together.

    So it makes sense that Hill, embarking on a new co-writing/directing project, ‘Cut Off’, would seek to reunite with Wiig.

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    Variety brings word that Wiig will indeed co-star with Hill in the comedy, which will find them as wealthy adults who get a rude awakening.

    Related Article: Cameron Diaz to Join Keanu Reeves in Jonah Hill’s New Movie ‘Outcome’

    What’s the story of ‘Cut Off’?

    (L to R) Jonah Hill as Ezra and Lauren London as Amira in 'You People'. Photo: Tyler Adams/Netflix © 2023.
    (L to R) Jonah Hill as Ezra and Lauren London as Amira in ‘You People’. Photo: Tyler Adams/Netflix © 2023.

    ‘Cut Off’, which Hill wrote alongside regular collaborator Ezra Woods, will see Wiig and Hill playing wealthy siblings whose parents turn off the money faucet and force their adult kids to support themselves.

    The movie hit news sites earlier this year as one of those set to receive $10 million in California production tax credits, against a budget that nears $50 million.

    Where else can we see Kristen Wiig and Jonah Hill?

    Kristen Wiig in 'Palm Royale', now streaming on Apple TV+.
    Kristen Wiig in ‘Palm Royale’, now streaming on Apple TV+.

    Wiig, who most recently reprised the voice role of Lucy in Illumination’s ‘Despicable Me 4’, will be back on screens in the second season of Apple TV+ series ‘Palm Royale’, which returns next year.

    Before that, she’ll be seen as a quirky cat lady in the movie based on popular kids’ series ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’. That lands in theaters on September 26th.

    She’s also attached to a variety of movie projects, including romantic comedy ‘Epiphany’, which will find her as broke fashionista heiress who races against time to marry rich and save herself from financial ruin.

    Hill was last seen in Netflix comedy ‘You People’ and has been busy behind the cameras. He’s directed ‘Outcome’, which follows Hollywood star Reef (Keanu Reeves) as he is forced to confront his problems and atone for his past after being threatened by bizarre video footage that resurfaces.

    That movie, which Hill also wrote with Ezra Woods, co-stars Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer. It has yet to lock down a release date.

    When will ‘Cut Off’ be on screens?

    ‘Cut Off’ doesn’t seem to share the money worries of its protagonists –– Warner Bros. is providing the backing and has already secured a July 17th, 2026 release date for the movie, signaling that studios are really hoping big summer comedies can make a comeback.

    Jonah Hill as Ezra in 'You People'. Photo: Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023.
    Jonah Hill as Ezra in ‘You People’. Photo: Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023.

    Selected Movies and TV Shows Featuring Jonah Hill:

    Buy Jonah Hill Movies on Amazon

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  • Kristen Wiig and Bill Murray Starring in ‘Epiphany’

    (Left) Bill Murray in 'Lost in Translation'. Photo: Focus Features. (Right) Kristen Wiig in 'Wonder Woman 1984'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (Left) Bill Murray in ‘Lost in Translation’. Photo: Focus Features. (Right) Kristen Wiig in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Kristen Wiig and Bill Murray are aboard new comedy ‘Epiphany.’
    • ‘Palm Springs’ director Max Barbakow is overseeing the movie.
    • Mitch Glazer wrote the script.

    Do you see Kristen Wiig and Bill Murray as a couple? While it certain seems unlikely on paper, it’s hardly the first time that Hollywood has tried to put together people of differing ages.

    And in the case of new comedy movie ‘Epiphany,’ the unlikeliness of the union is both being leaned into and mined for laughs.

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    According to Variety, ‘Saturday Night Live’ veterans (albeit of very different eras) Kristen Wiig and Bill Murray have already worked on the movie, which was directed by Max Barbakow, who rose to prominence with the excellent Andy Samberg/Cristin Milioti time-loop comedy ‘Palm Springs’ and more recently made Josh Brolin/Peter Dinklage sibling comedy ‘Brothers.’

    Unlike his previous movies which he at least co-wrote, ‘Epiphany,’ which is now in the post-production stage, comes from a script by Mitch Glazer.

    That name should ring bells to anyone with a passing knowledge of Murray’s filmography, since Glazer met the actor years ago during Murray’s ‘SNL’ days, and the two became close friends while working on ‘Scrooged,’ which Glazer wrote with Murray starring.

    Since then they’ve worked together off and on –– Glazer produced ‘Lost in Translation’ and wrote 2015 comedy ‘Rock the Kasbah’ for the actor.

    Related Article: The 10 Best Kristen Wiig ‘SNL’ Characters, Ranked

    What’s the story of ‘Epiphany’?

    (L to R) Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Epiphany’ follows Favorite Ives (Wiig), an heiress and fashionista who has blown through her entire fortune and is forced to take up a challenge: marry a rich husband in two weeks or lose everything and end up on the street.

    Her desperate search for a big-money mark slams her into eccentric math savant and billionaire Oz Bell (Murray). Favorite needs Oz’s money and Oz craves Favorite’s spirit and spontaneity. Can this unlikely couple find something more?

    ‘Epiphany’: The Director Speaks

    Andy Samberg in 'Palm Springs'. Photo: Hulu / Neon.
    Andy Samberg in ‘Palm Springs’. Photo: Hulu / Neon.

    In a statement carried by Variety, Barbakow had this to say about working on the movie:

    “It’s a rare, delightful experience when a story takes you on a journey that all at once manages to make you laugh, make you feel, and hold a mirror up to the wonderful absurdities of everyday life. It’s even more delightful when your spirit guides are Bill Murray and Kristen Wiig. But ‘Epiphany’ carries that breadth of tone, depth of wisdom, and such a lush sense of cinematic possibility, all while teeing up iconic roles for two already-iconic, totally original unicorns in Kristen and Billy.”

    What else is Kristen Wiig working on?

    (L to R) Kristen Wiig and Josh Lucas in 'Palm Royale,' now streaming on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Kristen Wiig and Josh Lucas in ‘Palm Royale,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

    Wiig had a couple of roles last year –– she reprised her voice performance as Lucy in ‘ Despicable Me 4’ and appeared as herself (while writing and performing the theme song) in documentary ‘Will & Harper.’

    She also had the lead in Apple TV+ comedy drama ‘Palm Royale,’ about a woman desperately trying to gain admittance and social standing in a snooty Miami club in the late 1960s. A second season of the show is in the works and should be on screens this year. On top of that, she reprised another animated role, that of anthropomorphic hot dog bun Brenda in ‘Sausage Party: Foodtopia’ on Prime Video.

    There are also a few projects on her To Do list, including a remake of German comedy drama ‘Toni Erdmann’ and a movie written with her ‘Bridesmaids’ collaborator Annie Mumolo that focuses on Cinderella’s evil stepsisters.

    Where else will we see Bill Murray?

    (L to R) Winston (Ernie Hudson) and Peter (Bill Murray) in Columbia Pictures’ 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.' Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Winston (Ernie Hudson) and Peter (Bill Murray) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Murray is harder to pin down since he prefers to only work when he feels like it. Though he’s been fairly consistent, despite lingering accusations of inappropriate behavior on set, which got Aziz Ansari’s ‘Being Mortal’ thrown into shutdown limbo.

    He works most usually for director Wes Anderson and is once more part of the cast for the director’s next film, ‘The Phoenician Scheme,’ which will be in theaters on June 6th.

    Last year, Murray was seen in the likes of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ (once more playing the role of Peter Venkman), ‘The Friend’ opposite Naomi Watts in the story of a woman who adopts a Great Dane that belonged to her late mentor and ‘Riff Raff,’ which sees a former criminal’s life turned upside down when his family shows up for a reunion.

    Oh, and he was the focus of a Super Bowl commercial for Yahoo this month, where he encouraged fans to email him.

    When will ‘Epiphany’ be in theaters?

    So far, the movie doesn’t have a distribution home in the States or overseas –– the rights will be for sale at the European Film Market in Berlin this week –– so any talk of a release date is, at this stage, premature.

    With the movie already shot, the appeal of both the leads and Barbakow as director should help drive interest.

    (L to R) Cath (Glenn Close), Moke (Josh Brolin), and Jady (Peter Dinklage) in 'Brothers'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Cath (Glenn Close), Moke (Josh Brolin), and Jady (Peter Dinklage) in ‘Brothers’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Max Barbakow Movies:

    Buy Kristen Wiig Movies on Amazon

    Buy Bill Murray Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Despicable Me 4’ Digital Release Interview: Chris Renaud

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    Available to purchase on digital beginning August 6th is the box office hit ‘Despicable Me 4’, which was directed by Chris Renaud (‘Despicable Me’ and ‘Despicable Me 2’).

    The movie once again stars Steve Carell (‘The Office’) as Gru and Kristen Wiig (‘Wonder Woman: 1984’) as Lucy Wilde, while joining the cast are Will Ferrell (‘Old School’) as Maxime Le Mal and Sofia Vergara (‘Modern Family’) as Valentina.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Despicable Me 4’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Chris Renaud about his work on Despicable Me 4’, the success of the movie and the overall franchise, why we love the Minions, how Gru has changed since the first film, his rivalry with Maxime Le Mal, what Will Ferrell brought to the role, working with Steve Carell and what being part of this franchise has meant to Renaud personally.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Moviefone: To begin with, ‘Despicable Me 4’ is now available on digital but is still doing very well theatrically at the box office. Are you surprised by the success of the movie and the popularity of the franchise?

    Chris Renaud: Yes and no. In that, I mean, look, as we’re making these films, we preview them. We test them with audiences, and I was at a premiere in New York and a premiere in Paris, and even though those are probably stacked in your favor, you can feel the energy. You can feel the response and the love that the audience really has for these characters. I think that obviously coming off ‘Minions: Rise of Gru’, the love of the audience is clear. I think the job for us as filmmakers is not to let them down. I think that after sitting with several audiences through the course of making the movie, and you can never predict what’s going to happen financially at the box office, but I felt that we were delivering on the promise and hopefully that that would translate to people going to the theater and seeing the movie.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    MF: Can you explain the pop culture phenomenon that is the Minions? Why do we love them so much?

    CR: It’s truly lightning in a bottle. I think it’s one of those things that all the elements came together to create this comedic personality with a universal quality. By that I mean from the design, which is super simple, a five-year-old could draw it, no problem. The simple color scheme, yellow and blue, besides the Ukrainian flag now means Minions. The language, which is every language and (no language at the same time), and very much influenced by things like R2-D2 and the Jawas where you kind of got what they were saying but you didn’t understand it literally. Their animated performance, their incompetence, their childlike quality which gives them this appeal that is hard to match. So, I really truly think it’s one of those things where every element of it came together in a way that is just special. That’s about all I can say. The things that I loved as a kid, Batman comics and ‘Star Wars’, the Minions are sort of maybe not quite at that level, but they’re in the culture in a way that is far and few between with other characters, and that’s amazing to have been a part of that.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about how Gru has changed since the first film?

    CR: We think about that. We’re like, we need Gru to be Gru, which is maybe more villainous, but the truth is when we try it, what we end up finding is it feels false. The reason why, and I think one of the reasons that besides the Minions that people like this group of characters is that Gru has changed, and he’s changed the way probably most people change once they have kids and have a family. It does change you and change how you think. So, it’s very extreme for Gru, where he was a villain and then now, he’s essentially a good guy and a softy. He’s still, obviously in this movie, he enjoys seeing his snobby neighbor get bested by one of the Minions. So, he still Gru, but he’s a different guy. I think that the arc of his life is something that a lot of people, particularly the adults in the audience can relate to.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about Gru and Le Mal’s history together and their rivalry?

    CR: Maxime Le Mal really starts with Will Ferrell’s performance, which is terrific. Seeing Maxime and Gru in the high school reunion, they went to a villain high school called Lycée Pas Bon. Seeing that rivalry at the beginning of the film I think is just so much fun, particularly with those comedic actors, but also giving us an opportunity to again, see a different aspect of Gru’s life. We haven’t really seen any clips from his high school. What I love too, without getting into the details is that the source of their rivalry is such a small detail and such a small transgression. I think that’s so true, and I think that’s one of the great things about these characters and what makes them so relatable is that little kind of, as I said, transgression from high school is the kind of thing that we carry with us the rest of our life. I love that, that it is not some big world-shattering stakes that they have against each other. It’s just a tiny insult that ends up creating this rivalry that runs through the film.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    MF: What was it like working with Will Ferrell?

    CR: So, the character in the script that we delivered to Will was Maxime Le Mal. So, he came in with a French accent, which was great. What we did do, as I sort of gave him the opportunity, I said, “Look, do you have any other ideas that we could try?” Because it was the first session. Will is like, “Listen, I got this great Swedish accent I’ve always wanted to try.” We would’ve changed the name no problem. It was early days. We did try a couple of things, but really the French accent that he came in with was what you hear and that is the character.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about Steve Carell’s impact on this franchise?

    CR: I think it’s hard to understate how important Steve’s performance is to the character. Again, and we were just talking about accents. One of the things that when we started our first recording session for him way back in probably 2008, we were talking about Peter Sellers and ‘Inspector Clouseau‘ and this idea of an accent. We tried a couple of things like a Latin influence, a couple of different thoughts, a Spanish influence. But we quickly landed on what you hear, which is this kind of weird fusion of Eastern European. The scale to it that Steve was able to bring, and we obviously have the best comedic actor out there, but it all radiates out of what Steve has done with Gru. When he comes in and records, obviously at this point, we know what he is doing. It’s not like we’re figuring it out. We all have a good handle on Gru, but he’s very thoughtful in the process. He thinks about the lines. He is like, “Why would Gru say that?” He’s very considerate of the character and I’m sure he has a great affection for the character because he’s probably one of the most iconic, well-known animated characters of all time at this point. That’s no small credit to the performance that Steve has helped create. I say help because of the animators who do the visual and the character design, but Steve is really where it starts.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about what it has meant to you personally to be part of this beloved franchise?

    CR: in a lot of ways that’s even hard to describe. It’s had such a huge impact on me, not just working with these characters and being a part of these successful films, but living in Paris, France where the film picture is produced. So as an American living abroad, I’ve spent essentially my adult life there. We moved back in 2008, it’s almost 16 years now I’ve lived in France. So, it’s every aspect of my life and our life as a family have been impacted by working on these films. I think that Illumination as a company stands where it stands because of the first ‘Despicable Me’, it was a rock-solid idea in the original pitch. Then the stuff that we were able to add to it, Pierre Coffin, myself, the writers, Chris Meledandri, and the team at Illumination. It really was one of these things that was built brick by brick in the first film. I think that first film is what carries the day and why we’re talking about a ‘Despicable Me 4’ now. It was something that from a design point of view and animation point of view, when it came out, everyone was like, “What is this?” I think that now it’s obviously become part of the culture, but I think that our ability to create something a bit different in the marketplace at the time still resonates. It’s why we’re still making these movies.

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    What is the plot of ‘Despicable Me 4’?

    Gru (Steve Carell) and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) and their girls—Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr. (Tara Strong), who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru also faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina, (Sofia Vergara) forcing the family to go on the run.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Despicable Me 4’?

    • Steve Carell as Gru
    • Kristen Wiig as Lucy Wilde
    • Will Ferrell as Maxime Le Mal
    • Joey King as Poppy Prescott
    • Sofía Vergara as Valentina
    • Stephen Colbert as Perry Prescott
    • Chloe Fineman as Patsy Prescott
    • Miranda Cosgrove as Margo
    • Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom
    • Pierre Coffin as the Minions
    • Dana Gaier as Edith
    • Madison Polan as Agnes
    • Tara Strong as Gru Jr.
    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Other Movies in the ‘Despicable Me’ Franchise:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Despicable Me 4‘ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Despicable Me’ Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Despicable Me 4’

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Opening in theaters on July 3rd, ‘Despicable Me 4’s is Illumination Entertainment (and distributor Universal) unleashing the latest salvo of their behemoth franchise.

    The success of ‘Despicable’ movies is almost comically predictable at this point, and while the latest offering does very little that’s really new, it seems certain to appeal to the family target audience.

    Related Article: Movie Review: Minions: The Rise of Gru

    Will ‘Despicable Me 4’ Keep the Family Happy?

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Though it would be wrong to say that the franchise really matures, the new offering does at least represent the usual evolution of the story, as it finds Steve Carell’s Gru well and truly settled into family life. Yet his villainous past once more comes back to haunt him when a rival threatens his domestic bliss and the Gru clan is forced to retreat to a safe house.

    Plus, any movie featuring Gru is contractually obliged to include the Minions, and here there is a new spin on that concept, albeit a slightly tired satire of a genre that has long since been spoofed beyond reason.

    Script and Direction

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Written by ‘Despicable’ veteran Ken Daurio and in a slightly surprising turn, Mike White (though ‘The White Lotus’ boss is also credited with last year’s ‘Migration’, also from Illumination), so he’s clearly found a side gig groove with the animation company.

    Don’t go expecting any ‘Lotus’-level depth here (not that you would from a knockabout cartoon effort), and the movie is refreshingly free of hackneyed attempts to teach family bonding lessons, mostly because they’ve all been covered before by the ‘Despicable’ movies. The gags come thick and fast, but the main issue with the screenplay and the movie on which they are based is that it all feels like separate elements that eventually try to gel for the big finish, but never feel like they’re all in the same plotline.

    Gru, for example, not only has to deal with an old nemesis coming back, but a new potential threat, and the screenplay doesn’t really juggle them as effectively as they might, with several feeling underserved.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Kudos, though, to the team for two referential jokes that feel like they were layered in specifically for the parents bringing their kids to this one –– particularly a ‘Terminator 2’ moment that really works.

    Chris Renaud (another ‘Despicable’ veteran) and Patrick Delage (who has worked his way up from the animation department into more of an overall leadership role here) oversaw direction. And rather than trying to change what was working about the look and feel of the movies, they kept to the basic template –– lots of Minion moments (even if, like the split plotlines, they feel like separate skits that are crowbarred into the story until they serve a point at the end. And even then, they feel like a throwaway afterthought.

    If you’re taking kids who are really only there for the squat, chattering, yellow pill-shaped nuisances, you might be better off just re-watching old shorts and moments online.

    Performances

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    The voice cast is predictably entertaining –– many of them have been at this franchise long enough to bed into their roles. Where things fall down somewhat is a by-the-numbers script that doesn’t really give them much that’s fresh.

    Steve Carell as Gru

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Carell knows how to knock out a Gru line in his sleep these days, but he throws himself into the role with typical relish. He’s a little isolated from the rest of the family for large stretches of the story, but he bounces well off of Joey King, who plays Poppy, a teenager with criminal aspirations of her own.

    Will Ferrell as Maxime Le Mal

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Will Ferrell here plays Gru’s old schoolmate and nemesis, but though Ferrell tries out a cod-French accent to try and get something new, he’s rarely all that memorable. An obsession with cockroaches seemingly opens the door to Minion-style madness, but his insect army is established and then quickly forgotten. In the ranks of gadget-obsessed villainy that have cropped up in the movies, Le Mal doesn’t really pop.

    And that goes double for his girlfriend, Valentina (Sofia Vergara). It seems clear that either there is more of her role on the cutting room floor, or Vergara spent roughly 10 minutes in the recording booth as Valentina is a largely pointless character.

    Stephen Colbert, Kristen Wiig and More

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Stephen Colbert, Carell’s old ‘Daily Show’ colleague is always good value matched against him (here as snooty, preppy new neighbor Perry Prescott.

    Kristen Wiig, meanwhile, gets some meatier material as Lucy Wilde, Gru’s wife, including her attempts to become part of the new community where they’re forced to move.

    And finally, there’s Gru Jr. the family’s new addition (who mostly just makes gurgling and other infant sounds). He’s a fun diversion, a child who simply doesn’t like his father (until…. Well, that would be spoiling things, but you can guess).

    The Minions do their thing as usual, and their superhero spoof is diverting if not really effective at this point when we don’t really need another example of poking fun at the genre.

    Final Thoughts

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Gru and co. are such reliable money spinners for Illumination at this point that they could probably just put out 90 minutes of Minions babbling and slapping each other, and family audiences would crack open their wallets to see it.

    You might find yourself wishing for something truly revolutionary, but it’s unlikely to disappoint the diehard kiddie fans.

    ‘Despicable Me 4’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

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    What’s the story of ‘Despicable Me 4’?

    Gru (Steve Carrell) and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan) — welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.

    At the same time, Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.

    Who else lends their voices to ‘Despicable Me 4’?

    The voice cast for the new animated movie includes Joey King, Stephen Colbert, Chloe Fineman, Pierre Coffin and Steve Coogan.

    'Despicable Me 4' opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    ‘Despicable Me 4’ opens in theaters on July 3, 2024. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Other Movies in the ‘Despicable Me’ Franchise:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Despicable Me 4‘ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Despicable Me’ Movies On Amazon

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  • Golden Globes 2024: The Good, the Bad & the Unfunny

    Margot Robbie arrives on the red carpet at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    Margot Robbie arrives on the red carpet at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Trae Patton/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Preview:

    • The 2024 Golden Globes were far from sparkling.
    • Host Jo Koy struck out with his monologue.
    • A few historic wins were the bright spots.

    2024 was supposed to be the year that the Golden Globes moved on. Detached from the old Hollywood Foreign Press Association (yet now run by possibly an even shadier for-profit corporation), it was designed to make up for a tarnished history that saw the awards get dumped by previous network NBC and chart a bright new future.

    Yet on the evidence of the ceremony itself, it couldn’t recover past glories (even if those were mostly the results of the previous organization’s star-happy focus). There was the requisite assortment of big names (your Leonardo DiCaprio, your Martin Scorsese, your Christopher Nolan) but the whole thing came across as less Golden than bronze.

    Let’s break it down…

    Off To a Bad Start

    Jo Koy hosts the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    Jo Koy hosts the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Comedian Jo Koy (who film fans might know outside of his stand-up career for last year’s ‘Easter Sunday’) stumbled out of the gate by quipping that he only got the gig a few days ago (it’s true that a number of more recognizable names passed) and blaming his writers for any unfunny jokes. Not a good look.

    A dig at Taylor Swift’s new NFL relationship didn’t go over well either –– with the singing superstar visibly unimpressed when the camera cut to her.

    He went on to offer some more visibly uninspired cracks at Barry Keoghan’s genitals in ‘Saltburn’ and Barbie’s breasts, which mostly had the audience cringing. We don’t expect him to be invited back.

    Here’s what Koy said the following morning to ‘Good Morning America’:

    “I had fun. It was a moment that I’ll always remember. It’s a tough room. It was a hard job, I’m not going to lie…I’d be lying if [I said] it doesn’t hurt. I hit a moment there where I was like, ‘Ah.’ Hosting is just a tough gig. Yes, I’m a stand-up comic but that hosting position it’s a different style. I kind of went in and did the writer’s thing. We had 10 days to write this monologue. It was a crash course. I feel bad, but I got to still say I loved what I did. The Taylor [Swift] one was just a little flat…It was a weird joke, I guess. But it was more on the NFL, I was trying to make fun of the NFL using cutaways and how the Globes didn’t have to do that. So it was more of a jab toward the NFL. But it just didn’t come out that way.”

    Related Article: ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Barbie’ and ‘Poor Things’ Win at the 2024 Golden Globes

    Kieran Culkin’s Pedro Pascal jab

    Kieran Culkin at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    Kieran Culkin at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    One of the more viral –– and genuinely funny –– moments came as ‘Succession’ began to win the majority of the TV awards (that series and ‘The Bear’s near-dominance one of the entirely un-shocking elements of the ceremony). Kieran Culkin, who took the stage after winning Male Actor in a Drama Series, also took the occasion to throw a good-hearted jab the way of Pedro Pascal, who was nominated in the same category.

    After a heartfelt celebration of finally nabbing the award, Culkin went full Roman Roy for a moment: “Suck it, Pedro…”

    Pascal’s reaction –– a comedic combo that went from laughing to fake tears, is already a meme.

    Dull Spiel

    Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    (L to R) Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Award shows are rarely known for sparkling words when it comes to presenters. Celebrities show up on the stage, read some boring copy celebrating the creativity of whoever and then throw it to a clip package of nominees.

    This year’s Globes were no exception, with largely perfunctory pre-announcement banter that barely rose to the level of competence.

    A few moments peeked through the mush –– ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ trio Daniel Kaluuya, Hailee Steinfeld and Shameik Moore delivered a funny riff on an intro penned by executives instead of writers, to highlight the need for creatives in the wake of the strikes. And Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell let the music take them in a skit that generated more laughs.

    Jennifer Lawrence threatens to leave

    Jennifer Lawrence arrives on the red carpet at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    Jennifer Lawrence arrives on the red carpet at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Todd Williamson/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Jennifer Lawrence, who has been a reliably funny awards presence in the past, offered another this time. When she was shown during the nominees section for Best Actress, Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, she mouthed, “if I don’t win, I’m leaving!”

    Emma Stone won. But Lawrence stuck around.

    Emma Stone at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    Emma Stone at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    A cash grab/kudos award misfires

    Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    (L to R) Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Todd Williamson/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Possibly the biggest mistake even before the show was the blatant attempt to have Taylor Swift attend by nominating her ‘Eras Tour’ concert film in the new Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category.

    It worked in that she showed (only to seem insulted, see above) and then box office behemoth ‘Barbie’ scored the award anyway, one of only a couple it took home on the night.

    Real Highlights?

    Lily Gladstone at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    Lily Gladstone at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    If there were true highlights, it was in terms of representation –– Lily Gladstone won for her role in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and celebrated the victory for Native Americans while also offering a sweet shout-out to her mother, who had accompanied her to the event.

    Likewise, Ali Wong became the first Asian woman to win Best Actress In A Limited Series or TV Movie (which feels a little bit forced, but is progress nonetheless) for ‘Beef’, which also saw her co-star Steven Yeun win alongside the show.

    Ali Wong at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    Ali Wong at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    And Christopher Nolan appeared genuinely touched to have won his first directing Globe for ‘Oppenheimer’ (one of a parade the movie scored in an unsurprising run).

    The ceremony itself at least scored on the ratings front –– its airing on CBS and Paramount+ saw the numbers jump from last year’s NBC/Peacock appearance –– and it counts as the most-watched Globes since 2020. But even that seems a useless metric, since the 2021 event was banished to YouTube and doesn’t even really count for ratings.

    Can the Globes become relevant again? That’s the big question for now. On the evidence of last night, the answer is a big old “maybe”.

    Oprah Winfrey and Steven Speilberg at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    (L to R) Oprah Winfrey and Steven Speilberg at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Todd Williamson/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    (L to R) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Todd Williamson/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Taylor Swift at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
    Taylor Swift at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Francis Specker/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • DreamWorks Plans ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Live Action Movie

    Hiccup and Toothless from 'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.'
    Hiccup and Toothless from ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.’

    Disney had been getting a lot of mileage out of turning its animated classic canon into live-action (and usually live-action/CG mixes) with the likes of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘The Lion King’ and this year’s ‘The Little Mermaid’, it was perhaps only a matter of time before other studios decided to give it a try.

    The first to step up are Universal and DreamWorks Animation, who have started work on a live-action adaptation of the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ stories.

    ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ first took to the cine-skies in 2010 with the successful first outing, which was followed in 2014 by ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ and in 2019 with the final film in the trilogy (at least so far) ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’.

    Dean DeBlois, who wrote all three films, co-directed the first with Chris Sanders and took on the other two alone, is aboard to write, direct and produce this new film, where he’ll face the unenviable task of bringing central dragon Toothless to life in live-action, and somehow making him as charming as the beloved animated version.

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    What’s the story of ‘How to Train Your Dragon?

    Adapted from Cressida Cowell’s novel series, which saw its first book hit shelves in 2003, the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ movies focused on the special friendship between a young and unheroic Viking boy named Hiccup and Toothless, an injured dragon he nurses back to health.

    Set in a Viking island-based village called Berk, the story is set in a world where humans see dragons as a problem––either a sheep-stealing nuisance or deadly threat, depending on the type of beast. We followed Hiccup and Toothless’ quest to combat humanity’s prejudice against dragons, the ache of overcoming the loss of a parent, and first love. And uniquely, the films did so by consistently aging the protagonists commensurately with the story, becoming a true coming-of-age story.

    Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup, with the supporting characters of the Viking boy’s friends, including Jonah Hill as Snotlout, Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fishlegs, T.J. Miller as Tuffnut and Kristen Wiig as Ruffnut.

    Aside from the core group, the movies also featured the voices of Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington and more.

    Hiccup and Toothless from 'How to Train Your Dragon.'
    Hiccup and Toothless from ‘How to Train Your Dragon.’

    Related Article: ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ Director Dean DeBlois on His Own Epic Journey

    What else is there to the franchise?

    The ‘Dragon’ movies have been successful enough to spawn a wealth of merchandise (including a Build-A-Bear Toothless tie-in, clothes, games, toys and more).

    And it has also generated several TV spin-offs featuring other dragon riders, which have screened on Cartoon Network, Netflix and Hulu.

    Universal clearly believes this is a franchise that can make the leap, and has already planted a flag in March 14th, 2025 for the movie’s theatrical release.

    2014's 'How to Train Your Dragon 2.'
    2014’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2.’

    Other Movies Similar to ‘How to Train Your Dragon:’

    Buy ‘How to Train your Dragon’ Movies On Amazon

  • Eight Great Summer Vacation Movies

    Eight Great Summer Vacation Movies

    Meatballs

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    Sometimes overlooked in favor of other “slobs vs. snobs” comedy classics from the same era, like Animal House and Caddyshack, this was Bill Murray’s first starring role, and the feature directorial debut for Ivan Reitman. Murray stars as Tripper, head counselor at Camp North Star, a bargain-basement summer camp in Ontario. Murray takes the lonely Rudy (Chris Makepeace) under his wing while still overseeing a group of oddball counselors-in-training as they have their own romances, pull pranks on the camp’s director, and take on wealthy Camp Mohawk in a yearly tournament. It’s ultimately a sweet story, without ever getting quite as crass as some of the era’s other films starring Saturday Night Live alumni. ‘Meatballs’ would turn out to be hugely successful, spawning three mostly unrelated sequels and countless knockoffs.

    Wet Hot American Summer

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    If ‘Meatballs’ saw plenty of lesser imitations, ‘The State’ alumni David Wain and Michael Showalter stepped up with a satirical take on summer camp movies. Although it bombed at the box office, it’s since become a cult classic, spawning two series on Netflix (one prequel and one sequel). There’s an amazing cast here, including Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Amy Poehler, Judah Friedlander, Janeane Garofalo, Christopher Meloni, and David Hyde Pierce, plus other alumni from ‘The State,’ such as Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black, and Joe Lo Truglio. There’s a plot here about the camp putting on a talent show, counselors in love, and a falling piece of Skylab that threatens everyone’s lives, but it’s really just an excuse to see some stars and future stars show off some great comic chops.

    Dirty Dancing

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    For those that haven’t gotten around to seeing this classic, it’s easy to write off ‘Dirty Dancing’ as sappy romance. But that would be wrong. It’s an emotionally satisfying coming-of-age story about Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) and her steamy summer romance with dancer Johnny (Patrick Swayze). The dancing is terrific, Grey and Swayze have terrific chemistry. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and based on her own summer trips to the Catskills, Baby’s adventure starts because she and her family are taking a summer vacation at Kellerman’s a tony resort. Baby sees hints of classism between some of the staff, and she finds herself drawn more to the working class staffers instead of the Ivy League-bound waiters. The film subversively gives Baby agency, letting her pick her own friends and make her own choices in her sex life; she has a summer fling with a sexy dancer and isn’t punished by fate for it. That was fairly groundbreaking in 1987, and is (sadly) might still be considered unusual in some corners even now.

    National Lampoon’s Vacation

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    This is another film that started a franchise, but the original version is still the best. Based on screenwriter John Hughes’ own National Lampoon story about a disastrous road trip, the movie focuses on the Griswold’s drive from Chicago to California for a visit to a thinly-veiled version of Disneyland called “Wally World.” Chevy Chase puts in a legendary turn as Clark, the increasingly obsessive patriarch of the Griswold clan. Clark is going to have a great road trip with his family whether they like it or not, and if he becomes Ahab in a station wagon, then so be it. Beverly D’Angelo hits just the right notes as Clark’s wife Ellen, as does Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron as their children Rusty and Audrey. Chase and D’Angelo would return for sequels, and it became a running joke that Rusty and Audrey would be recast in every subsequent film. This first adventure sees car trouble in the desert, an unwanted passenger, a temptress in a Ferrari, and a visit with Cousin Eddy (a reminder of when Randy Quaid was funny). It’s filled with laughs, but it will definitely make you think twice about future family road trips.

    Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

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    Based on the best-selling YA novel by Ann Brashares, this is the story of four teen girls, best friends since childhood, who are about to spend their first summer apart. But before three of them leave town, the quartet go shopping and find a pair of jeans that magically fit each one of them. The four decide that they’ll share the pants for the summer, and while each of them have these mysterious jeans in their possession, their individual summers are upended. Blake Lively, America Ferrara, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn play Bridget, Carmen, Lena, and Tibby (respectively). The movie captures the charm of the novel, in no small part because of the charisma and chemistry of the stars, and it’s ultimately a heartwarming tale about female friendships and the bonds young women make that can last a lifetime.

    Girls Trip

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    The annual Essence Music Fest takes place in New Orleans every 4th of July, and that’s the backdrop for Ryan Pierce’s (Regina Hall) attempt to reunite with three of her friends from college. Pierce is a bestselling author and lifestyle guru, poised to be “the next Oprah.” She’s scheduled to speak at the festival, so she invites her college friends to join her, in the hopes of rekindling their friendships. These other three have lives of their own now; Sasha (Queen Latifah) is a celebrity gossip blogger, Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith) is a working single mother, and Dina (Tiffany Haddish) is still party-girl Dina, all these years later. These four actors are great together, but Tiffany Haddish is a revelation here, stealing the movie and never giving it back. The film isn’t afraid to remind us that women can and do party hard, but it doesn’t lose sight of these friends repairing burned bridges and reaffirming their love for each other.

    Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

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    One of the casualties of quarantine is that this film didn’t get a proper theatrical release. That’s a shame, because as funny as this movie is, it would have been even more side-splitting with a big audience. Make no mistake, this movie is straight up bananas from beginning to end. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo wrote the script and star as Star and Barb, two middle-aged best friends that talk a bit too much, they can be both clueless and timid, but once they hit Vista Del Mar, the movie all but explodes into mayhem. To describe too much would be to take away some of the stunningly insane jokes packed wall-to-wall across the entire film. But suffice to say you may never look at Jamie Dornan the same way again.

    The Endless Summer

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    This is one of the first and probably still the best surf movie ever made. Director Bruce Brown follows two surfers, Robert August and Mike Hynson, as they leave Southern California and travel to surf spots around the world, including South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Tahiti, Senegal, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Australia. Brown’s breezy narration is a far cry from the stiffer voices heard in most documentaries at the time, and it lends an inviting tone to the gorgeous cinematography of the both surf action and the local landscapes. This documentary might help non-surfers understand the appeal of surfing more than any other film ever made, and the idea of an “endless summer” means its welcome on any day of the calendar year.

  • What to Watch this Week: ‘Barb & Star,’ ‘Land,’ ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ and more

    What to Watch this Week: ‘Barb & Star,’ ‘Land,’ ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ and more

    If you’re curious as to what new movie this week might be best for you, Moviefone is here to help you find it and watch it. This week’s selection of movies features a zany comedy, a historic drama, and several varieties of character-driven stories. Here are the movies we’re suggesting this week:

    Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Premium VOD)

    Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo in 'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar'
    Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo in ‘Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar’

    Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo reunite after their Bridesmaids success and introduce us to two women who are best friends that just became FUNemployed. Throwing caution to the wind, they travel down to sunny Vista Del Mar for a much-needed break from their average lives. What they don’t know is that Vista Del Mar is in the crosshairs of an evil criminal mastermind Barbara Minerva (Wiig) and her lovesick sidekick (Jamie Dornan). But hey, before all that happens, there’s still time for a cocktail served in a fishbowl.
    Watch this if… You don’t understand how this took so long to make happen after Bridesmaids, watch Kristen Wiig Saturday Night Live reruns, and need to watch something unpredictable.

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    Cowboys (Premium VOD)

    Sasha Knight and Steve Zahn in 'Cowboys'
    Sasha Knight and Steve Zahn in ‘Cowboys’

    Joe (Sasha Knight) was born female but identifies as a boy. As he brushes off his mother’s (Jillian Bell) attempts to make him wear pink cowboy boots in their small hometown in Montana, it appears that the only person willing to understand him is his father Troy (Steve Zahn). When he is released from prison, he and Joe go on the lam in the Montana wilderness with nothing but a stolen horse and campfire songs. Ann Dowd plays the law enforcement agent on the case.
    Watch this if… You crave vast landscapes, absolutely ADORE Steve Zahn, and are interested in heartwarming tales of acceptance with a side of danger.

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    French Exit (In theaters in Los Angeles and New York)

    Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges in 'French Exit'
    Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges in ‘French Exit’

    Michelle Pfeiffer’s glamorously forlorn Frances thought that her life would run out before the money did. Alas, she was incorrect, and as she finds herself on the brink of financial ruin, she liquidates her assets, grabs her adult son (Lucas Hedges) and her cat (Tracy Letts), and leaves New York for a small apartment in Paris. She is the kind of woman who sharpens knives in the dark and lights cigarettes in a steady stream that (unfortunately) looks every bit as cool as tobacco companies promised in their early days. The move didn’t brighten Frances’ dreary skies, and she must figure out how to get her figurative groove back, and the journey proves fabulous.
    Watch this if… Seeing Michelle Pfeiffer’s version of “down and out” makes you feel warm and fuzzy, and if you are especially interested in noteworthy cat roles.

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    Judas and the Black Messiah (In theaters and HBO Max)

    Daniel Kaluuya in 'Judas and the Black Messiah'
    Daniel Kaluuya in ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’

    The Black Liberation Movement of the 1960s was considered by J.Edgar Hoover “the greatest threat to our national security.” The FBI, under pressure to quell the movement, coerced a former car thief, William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield), into helping them bring down the leader of The Black Panthers, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). While O’Neal was actively working against them and rising in their ranks, the film captures the power of the revolution, and how timely their message still is today.
    Watch this if… You’re a history buff, and want an Awards Season film with incredible performances.

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    Land (In theaters)

    Robin Wright in 'Land'
    Robin Wright in ‘Land’

    Robin Wright’s feature film debut has her starring as Edee, a woman that needs an escape from society, and who seeks refuge in the wilderness. Since she is woefully unprepared for the harsh reality of Wyoming country life, she finds herself in need of help. Thankfully Demiàn Bichir is there to lend his knowledge of the land and a sympathetic ear, and together their interactions against the gorgeous landscape help their troubled hearts heal.
    Watch this if… You’re in House of Cards withdrawal, want to support Wright’s first feature film, and like movies with lots of meaningful staring.

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    The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (Amazon Prime Video)

    Kyle Allen and Kathryn Newton in 'The Map of Tiny Perfect Things'
    Kyle Allen and Kathryn Newton in ‘The Map of Tiny Perfect Things’

    While you find yourself in what feels like a real-life time loop, why not check out this time-loop movie based on a short story about gifted, nerdy teenagers?! Mark (Kyle Allen) and Margaret (Kathryn Newton) are two crazy kids with varying degrees of desire to leave their small town. Mark is an artist, stuck in the familiar time loop scenario…but when he meets Margaret and realizes he’s not alone in reliving the same day, his predictable world opens up into an entirely new experience. You’ll feel a little déjà vu watching this, but the added YA spin and charming protagonists will help the feeling pass.
    Watch this if… You want something off the beaten path for Valentine’s Day and have watched Palm Springs too many times.

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    Minari (In theaters)

    Alan Kim and Steven Yeun in 'Minari'
    Alan Kim and Steven Yeun in ‘Minari’

    Director Lee Isaac Chung introduces us to the Yi family, who have left Korea in search of prosperity in America. Their dream is to begin a farm in 1980s Arkansas. Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Yeri Han) do their best to introduce their family to the community and get their fledgling business off the ground. While they toil and worry and do all the things parents do, their impossibly adorable son David (Alan Kim) and the family matriarch Soonja (Yuh-jung Youn) make an irresistible pair of co-conspirators.
    Watch this if… You need to feel really, really good.

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