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  • Movie Review: ‘GOAT’

    Will (Caleb McLaughlin) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Picture Animation’s 'Goat'. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Will (Caleb McLaughlin) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Picture Animation’s ‘Goat’. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters February 13, ‘GOAT’ features the voices of Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, David Harbour, and more. Inspired by the real-life story of basketball superstar Stephen Curry, the film delivers a powerful message about dreaming big.

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    Related Article: Gabrielle Union Talks ‘Riff Raff’ and Working with an All-Star Cast

    Initial Thoughts

    Will (Caleb McLaughlin) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s 'Goat'. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Will (Caleb McLaughlin) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘Goat’. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    If the ‘GOAT’ trailer did not catch your interest, you are not alone. The marketing for this film has made it seem a lot more silly and childish than it actually is. Sure, there are jokes weaved in for younger audiences, but this a family movie, rather than one made for kids.

    Adults have plenty of jokes included for them as well, and the overall message is extremely heartwarming. While ‘GOAT’ has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, there are also some that will have viewers reaching for the tissues.

    Story and Direction

    Jett (Gabrielle Union) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ 'Goat'. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Jett (Gabrielle Union) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Goat’. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While it might seem like this is a story we have all heard before, ‘GOAT’ offers a fresh and unique take on the message of following your dreams. In a world where big animals play Roarball (a play on basketball), a small goat named Will (Caleb McLaughlin) wants nothing more than to take the court.

    The movie is not about him working hard to get there, as he is drafted to the Thorns early on. The real message lies in learning to find your place in the world, not listening to others, and being yourself. As he gets to know his teammates, they all grow as one, but also individually.

    One of the subtle inclusions, but a powerful one nonetheless, is the fact that the Roarball league is co-ed. Will looks up to Jett as his inspiration. He wants to be like her when he grows up. This normalizes boys and girls, women and men, playing together as one and getting along with each other. It is just one more way that ‘GOAT’ subverts the tropes of a sports movie.

    There are plenty of basketball Easter eggs (directors Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette certainly know their stuff), but thanks to the brilliant writing, you do not need to know basketball to understand the story or the jokes. Music also has a strong presence in the film, whether it be the inclusion of the a song or the unforgettable score.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Modo (Nick Kroll), Lenny (Stephen Curry), Will (Caleb McLaughlin), Olivia (Nicola Coughlan), Jett (Gabrielle Union) and Archie (David Harbour) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation's 'Goat'. © 2026 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Modo (Nick Kroll), Lenny (Stephen Curry), Will (Caleb McLaughlin), Olivia (Nicola Coughlan), Jett (Gabrielle Union) and Archie (David Harbour) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘Goat’. © 2026 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Caleb McLaughlin voices Will Harris, the main character, and while he is an amazing live action actor, you never know if that can translate over to voice acting. They are two completely different animals (pun intended). Thankfully, Caleb is sure to blow audiences away as he brings the perfect amount of heart and humor to the film.

    Gabrielle Union is a powerhouse and an absolutely brilliant choice for the voice of Jett. A woman who knows exactly what she wants, even if she does a bit of an inflated ego at times. As for the rest of the team: Steph Curry who voices Lenny, David Harbour who voices Archie, Nick Kroll who voices Modo, and Nicola Coughlan who voices Olivia, all bring something special to the table. Creating a voice team that has a comedic and heartfelt chemistry.

    Final Thoughts

    Modo (Nick Kroll) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ 'Goat'. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Modo (Nick Kroll) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Goat’. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘GOAT’ is far more heartfelt than the marketing leads viewers to believe. Thanks to an incredible cast chemistry, well timed jokes, and gorgeous animation, it sets the bar high for the family films of 2026.

    ‘GOAT’ receives a score of 85 out of 100.

    (L to R) Will (Caleb McLaughlin) and Jett (Gabrielle Union) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s in 'Goat'. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Will (Caleb McLaughlin) and Jett (Gabrielle Union) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s in ‘Goat’. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    What is the plot of ‘GOAT’?

    The story follows Will, a small goat with big dreams who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball – a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. Will’s new teammates aren’t thrilled about having a little goat on their roster, but Will is determined to revolutionize the sport and prove once and for all that “smalls can ball!”

    Who is in the cast of ‘GOAT’?

    • Caleb McLaughlin as Will Harris
    • Gabrielle Union as Jett Filmore
    • Nick Kroll as Modo Olachenko
    • Nicola Coughlan as Olivia Burke
    • David Harbour as Archie Everhardt
    • Stephen Curry as Lenny Williamson
    • Jenifer Lewis as Florence Everson
    • Patton Oswalt as Dennis
    • Jelly Roll as Grizz
    Will (Caleb McLaughlin) and Jett (Gabrielle Union) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Picture Animation’s 'GOAT'. Photo: Sony Pictures Animation. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Will (Caleb McLaughlin) and Jett (Gabrielle Union) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Picture Animation’s ‘GOAT’. Photo: Sony Pictures Animation. © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    List of Movies and TV Shows Featuring Caleb McLaughlin:

    Buy Tickets: ‘GOAT’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Caleb McLaughlin Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Red One’

    (L to R) Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in 'Red One'. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC
    (L to R) Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in ‘Red One’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Opening in theaters on November 15th is ‘Red One,’ directed by Jake Kasdan and starring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons, Lucy Liu, Bonnie Hunt, Kiernan Shipka, Kristofer Hivju, and Nick Kroll.

    Related Article: 10 Things We Learned at ‘Red One’ Press Conference with Cast and Crew

    Initial Thoughts

    'Red One'. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC
    ‘Red One’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Not to be confused with Netflix’s ‘Red Notice,’ another algorithm-induced action movie starring Dwayne Johnson and a Marvel superhero, ‘Red One’ aims to be something for everyone: it’s not just an action movie, but it’s also trying to be a fantastical Christmas story and a heartwarming family yarn. As often happens, however, the effort to please all audience quadrants results in something bland, boring, and derivative.

    Directed by Jake Kasdan, who also collaborated with The Rock on the recent, overrated ‘Jumanji’ movies, ‘Red One’ does feature a cute idea at its core and a winning performance from J.K. Simmons as a very different kind of Santa Claus. But a lethargic pace, an often-murky visual palette and a ton of half-baked CG, along with less than stellar efforts from some of the cast, makes ‘Red One’ the kind of holiday present you hope they included the gift receipt for.

    Story and Direction

    'Red One'. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC
    ‘Red One’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    ‘Red One’ opens with a prologue in which a young boy named Jack O’Malley (Wyatt Hunt) shows his disappointed cousins where the Christmas gifts are hidden, simultaneously smashing their dreams and foreshadowing his adult career as a cynical, clandestine tracker and bounty hunter (now played by Chris Evans) who claims he can find anything. He’s also – as par for the course for this kind of thing – divorced and a largely absentee dad to his son. But Jack’s life takes an unexpected turn when he helps an anonymous client pinpoint a security breach at some kind of mysterious location near the North Pole.

    That location happens to be the complex where Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons), his wife (Bonnie Hunt), and their many human and non-human employees live and work behind a security shield that might give Wakanda a run for its money. But that security is compromised thanks to Jack, and despite the best efforts of Santa’s head of security, Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), a quasi-military squad parachutes in and kidnaps “Nick” – as Callum calls him – whisking him into the clutches of Gryla (Kiernan Shipka), a legendary winter witch who wants to channel Santa’s magical powers to disrupt Christmas with her own nefarious plans.

    That leaves it up to Drift and Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu), head of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (M.O.R.A.), which oversees the existence of mythological creatures around the world, to forcibly recruit Jack in their efforts to reacquire Santa and keep Christmas on schedule. Along the way they’ll interact with more creatures out of legend, including Santa’s estranged brother Krampus (Kristofer Hivju), while Jack learns the value of family and Drift slowly regains the positive outlook he’s lost over the centuries as more and more humans migrate to – you guessed it – the Naughty List.

    (Right) Dwayne Johnson in 'Red One'. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC
    (Right) Dwayne Johnson in ‘Red One’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    On paper, this sounds like a fun, even fresh premise for a Christmas movie – all the creatures of myth and folklore are real and live in a cautious détente with humanity, while Santa himself trains for Christmas like an Olympian and covertly visits department stores in presidential-style motorcades just to reconnect with the public. Some of this material elicits a smile for sure, even as the world-building threatens to overwhelm the narrative at times.

    The bigger issue is the film moves at the pace of an elf who’s had far too much spiked egg nog. It’s also tonally all over the place; one minute it’s a self-referential action movie, the next it’s a family comedy desperate to tug at the heart. Either way, none of the jokes or emotional beats land very well, and when a comic performer like Nick Kroll gets wasted in a painful cameo you know this is the cinematic equivalent to the Christmas that you really wanted that Xbox and got a sweater instead.

    And it looks like hell too. Large swaths of the movie take place at night in the snow, but Kasdan makes it inexplicably murky, particularly the climactic sequences, and there’s enough bad CG to make ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ look like ‘Dune: Part Two.’ One scene set at a beach resort can’t escape painfully looking like it was shot on a Volume stage, with the digital snowmen that launch a surprise attack in the sequence looking pasted into the action. For a movie that reportedly cost $250 million to make, ‘Red One’ doesn’t deliver on the kind of big-screen wonder necessary to make this work.

    The Cast

    (L to R) Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in 'Red One.' Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
    (L to R) Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in ‘Red One.’ Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.

    If there is one thing that stands out in ‘Red One,’ it’s J.K. Simmons’ performance as Santa. Playing against the archetype – this wiry St. Nicholas lays off the holiday cookies and trains relentlessly for his ‘Mission: Impossible’-like Christmas Eve run – Simmons nevertheless generates real warmth, good will, and wisdom as the jolly old fellow. It’s a shame that he’s only active for the beginning and end of the film, as a movie built around him might have been more interesting.

    As for the leads, both Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans seem to be in something of a rut lately. The Rock has lost some of the self-deprecating sense of fun that has powered some of his best performances, and takes Callum Drift – a centuries-old head of security – so seriously that he comes across as monotonous. Evans as well, seemingly intent on getting past his earnest Captain America image, plays a variation here on the kind of cynical wisenheimer he’s essayed in recent duds like ‘The Gray Man,’ although he’s also trapped by the script’s rote characterization. Other members of the cast, like Lucy Liu and an underused Bonnie Hunt, more or less understand the assignment, although Kiernan Shipka is miscast as the villain, delivering no real menace at all. Kristofer Hivju stands out under a mountain of prosthetics as Krampus, although the scene at his castle goes on way too long.

    Final Thoughts

    J.K. Simmons in 'Red One'. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC
    J.K. Simmons in ‘Red One’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    You can’t just manufacture a holiday classic, but that certainly isn’t stopping Jake Kasdan, Dwayne Johnson, and company from trying. But Kasdan, who brought a certain amount of surreal humor to the ‘Jumanji’ movies, can’t work any magic here. ‘Red One’ huffs and puffs so hard to be all things to all people that it just ends up playing in similar fashion to one of those Netflix pics that’s good for Sunday-afternoon-chores background noise.

    Perhaps a different, less ponderous, and less digitized story starring J.K. Simmons’ Nick could have concentrated on generating some real holiday spirit, but ‘Red One’ is likely to be packed away with the rest of the Christmas trinkets in the attic once the season is over, never to be seen or heard from again.

    ‘Red One’ receives 4 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘Red One’?

    A hacker (Chris Evans) is recruited by the head of Santa Claus’s security team (Dwayne Johnson) to help rescue St. Nick (J.K. Simmons) after he’s kidnapped by a witch intent on ruining Christmas for everyone.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Red One’?

    • Dwayne Johnson as Callum Drift
    • Chris Evans as Jack O’Malley
    • Lucy Liu as Zoe Harlow
    • J. K. Simmons as Santa Claus
    • Kiernan Shipka as Grýla
    • Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Claus
    • Kristofer Hivju as Krampus
    • Nick Kroll as Ted
    (L to R) Dwayne Johnson, J.K. Simmons, Chris Evans and Lucy Liu in 'Red One'. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC
    (L to R) Dwayne Johnson, J.K. Simmons, Chris Evans and Lucy Liu in ‘Red One’. Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    List of Other Christmas Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Red One’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Dwayne Johnson Movies On Amazon

    Buy Chris Evans Movies On Amazon

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  • Next on Netflix Animation Preview Presentation

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    Preview:

    • Moviefone attends Netflix’s animation preview
    • Appearing in-person were Zack and Deborah Snyder, Craig Robinson, Nick Kroll and Nathan Lane
    • Netflix announced several new animated movies and TV shows
    • Timothy Olyphant will voice the Terminator in ‘Terminator Zero’ and Hayley Atwell will voice Lara Croft in ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’

    On Thursday June 6th, in Hollywood, Netflix held their Next on Netflix Animation Preview where they presented many of their upcoming animated movies and TV shows.

    The event was hosted by ‘Ultraman Rising’s Christopher Sean and featured appearances by ‘Big Mouth’s Nick Kroll, ‘Twilight of the Gods’ Zack and Deborah Snyder, ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’ and ‘In Your Dreams’ Craig Robinson, and ‘Spellbound’s Nathan Lane.

    Moviefone had the pleasure of attending the event, with other members of the press, and even had a chance to speak one on one with Zach Snyder about his work on ‘Twilight of the Gods’.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Nimona’

    What did Netflix Present?

    Host Christopher Sean at Next on Netflix Animation Preview.
    Host Christopher Sean at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.

    The event began with a sizzle reel of Netflix’s upcoming animated projects, which you can watch above. Below is a list of projects presented at the event.

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    What New Projects Did They Announce?

    Zack Snyder's 'Twilight of the Gods'.
    Zack Snyder’s ‘Twilight of the Gods’. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

    The presentation saw the debut of images and footage from many of Netflix’s upcoming animated projects. Among the first look images presented were photos from Zack Snyder’s ‘Twilight of the Gods’, the SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’, the new Wallace and Gromit movie ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ and from ‘Love Actually’ filmmaker Richard Curtis, ‘That Christmas’.

    'That Christmas'.
    ‘That Christmas’. Photo: Netflix.

    The event also included several cast and project announcements including Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke joining ‘Twits’, Simu Liu joining Craig Robinson in ‘In Your Dreams,’ Timothy Olyphant voicing the Terminator in ‘Terminator Zero’ and Hayley Atwell playing the lead character in ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’. Other announcements included another SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff ‘Plankton: The Movie’, as well as a TV series based on the ‘Hotel Transylvania’ franchise called ‘Motel Transylvania’.

    'The Twits'.
    ‘The Twits’. Photo: Netflix © 2024.

    We also screened footage from the series ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’, ‘Terminator Zero’, and ‘Twilight of the Gods’, as well as a teaser for a ‘Minecraft’ series, and concept art from upcoming ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Stranger Things’ animated shows. Footage from ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’, ‘In Your Dreams’, ‘That Christmas’, ‘The Twits’, and ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ was also shown.

    ‘Big Mouth’s Final Season

    Nick Kroll at Next on Netflix Animation Preview.
    Nick Kroll at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.

    Comedian and actor Nick Kroll was on hand to discuss the 8th and final season of his popular adult comedy ‘Big Mouth’, and introduced a table read montage video from the series.

    “We started ‘Big Mouth’ eight years ago. Season Eight will be coming out early next year. It’s our final season of the show. I think about where when we started, ‘BoJack Horseman’ had come out and we were in the next little round of animation at a time when Netflix itself was just beginning to do original programming. We had unbelievable freedom to create exactly the show we wanted to make. Netflix really gave us the freedom to do that. Eight seasons later, we will be the longest running series in Netflix history for an adult series. I’m incredibly proud of that and I’m proud of how we’ve made the show. I’m proud of the partnership we’ve had with Netflix, and it’s just been an unbelievable joy creating this show with Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett and Andrew Goldberg, our unbelievable cast, our unbelievable writers, and are unbelievable storyboard artists, editors, everyone involved in the engineering of it, the producers, and our partners at Titmouse. This has been an incredible labor of love.”

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    Craig Robinson’s Dual Roles

    Craig Robinson at Next on Netflix Animation Preview.
    Craig Robinson at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.

    Actor, comedian, and singer Craig Robinson took the stage to discuss two upcoming films he will appear in. First, he introduced a scene from ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’.

    “Hey, everybody! I’m here today because SpongeBob is back — and so are his friends. ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie’ is coming exclusively to Netflix in August, and I’m so pumped to be in it”

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    Craig Robinson at Next on Netflix Animation Preview.
    Craig Robinson at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.

    Robinson then discussed his other Netflix movie, ‘In Your Dreams’ before introducing a video of actor Simu Liu talking about his involvement in the project and presenting a clip from the film.

    “As awesome as it was to finally reach a place in my career where I got to voice a Squirrel Dad, it pales in comparison to my next role. I think it proves I’m at the top of my game: A stuffed giraffe. I was told by the filmmakers that I was their first and only choice. They said, “Craig, you were born to play this part.” His name’s Tony Baloney, because he’s stuffed with processed meat. Oh, and he can shoot laser farts. That’s awesome. Daniel Day Lewis had ‘Lincoln’, I got Baloney Tony. I’m already working on my Oscar speech.”

    'In Your Dreams'.
    ‘In Your Dreams’. Photo: Netflix © 2024.

    Nathan Lane Presents ‘Spellbound’

    Nathan Lane at Next on Netflix Animation Preview.
    Nathan Lane at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.

    Before introducing an animation test from the film ‘Pookoo’, acclaimed actor Nathan Lane discussed his upcoming animated movie ‘Spellbound’.

    “’Spellbound’ is about Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria. She has a secret; a mysterious spell has turned her parents into monsters! Ellian loves her parents. That’s why she summons the mysterious Oracles of the Sun and Moon. I play the Oracle of the Moon and Tituss Burgess plays the Oracle of the Sun and we come to help her break the spell. The cast also includes some other great actors: Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, and Jenifer Lewis. It also has music by Academy Award winning composer Alan Menken. The film is directed by Vicky Jensen, who also directed a little movie you may have heard of called ‘Shrek.’ ‘Spellbound’ is a big adventure for the whole family, filled with incredible new characters you’ll love. I’m excited to share that the movie, which will release globally on Netflix on November 22, 2024.”

    'Spellbound'.
    ‘Spellbound’. Photo: Netflix.
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    Zach Snyder Talks ‘Twilight of the Gods’

    Director Zack Snyder and producer Deborah Snyder at Next on Netflix Animation Preview.
    Director Zack Snyder and producer Deborah Snyder at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.

    Director Zack Snyder (‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire’) and his wife, producer Deborah Snyder presented footage and images from their new animated series ‘Twilight of the Gods’.

    Zack Snyder said this about the series:

    “’Twilight of the Gods’ was a show that we’ve been working on for quite some time, years in the making. I’ve always been obsessed with Norse mythology. I think it’s an amazing place. I love mythology in general, and so the idea of being able to dig into this rich tapestry of heroes and gods was an incredible opportunity for both of us. This show is really a story. It’s a story about love and revenge, and it just takes us across this massive and beautiful landscape in pursuit of, well, you’ll have to see.”

    Deborah Snyder added this:

    “As Zack said, it’s been about just over four years in the making, developing these scripts and then having an in-house team of about 48 artists who developed all the characters and the worlds. In animation, nothing is for free. Every prop and everything, as you know, must be created. We were so lucky to be able to work with this group of very global artists.”

    Director Zack Snyder at Next on Netflix Animation Preview.
    Director Zack Snyder at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.

    After the presentation, Moviefone had the pleasure of speaking briefly with Zack Snyder one on one about his new animated project.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what drew you to adapting Norse mythology for this animated series?

    Zack Snyder: Well, we’ve been talking about doing an animated project with Netflix. That had been a conversation that was going on. We had that conversation and are doing an ‘Army of the Dead’ animated series, so that was kind of happening at the same time. This happened because I think (Director) Jay (Oliva) and I were talking about how we both love Norse mythology; wouldn’t it be cool to do something in that world. We started talking to Netflix about it and they said, “Yeah, do that!” So that started us on the journey of developing it.

    MF: Finally, I think fans have been waiting for you to adapt this specific mythology for a long time. Did it seem like a no-brainer for you too?

    ZS: I think it was easy in us being excited every day. I wasn’t like, “I got to do that Norse mythology thing.” We were utterly and completely off the chain with (the animation) too, so that was cool.

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  • J.K. Simmons and Bonnie Hunt Join Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Red One’

    Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in Prime Video's 'Red One.'
    (L to R) Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in Prime Video’s ‘Red One.’

    If you were awaiting news of Dwayne Johnson’s big Christmas action movie to arrive like a gift in your news stocking, then we’re happy to play Father Christmas. But in the movie, it’s J.K. Simmons who will be Santa.

    According to a new report from Deadline, Simmons and prolific actor/producer Bonnie Hunt (as Mrs. Claus) have both boarded the new movie, which has just started shooting.

    Oddly, the trade site’s report claims that the movie, once called ‘Red One’, is now in search of a new title. Yet Johnson’s tweet about the news still refers to the ‘Red One’ title. So we’ll have to wait and see what it actually ends up being called.

    The idea sprang from the brain of Hiram Garcia, who is Johnson’s producing partner in his Seven Bucks production company. But the person who brought the script to life has also worked with Johnson in the past – Chris Morgan, who wrote many of the ‘Fast & Furious’ movies, including its 2019 spin-off, ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.’

    And the Johnson colleague roster also covers the director, as Jake Kasdan, who directed both ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ and ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’, starring The Rock, is back for this film.

    Details are still few and far between, and we don’t know, for example, what the actual story is. Prime Video, which snapped up the project in its early days, is hoping that it’ll turn into a new franchise for the streaming service and plans to sell merchandise through Amazon.

    We can speculate from the first picture that Johnson might be some sort of agent or superhero given the suit, while Evans – who spent plenty of time playing Captain America in the Marvel movies –is in more civilian garb, layered up for the Holiday Season.

    Simmons and Hunt join a cast that already includes Johnson, Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and Wesley Kimmel, though there’s no information on their roles just yet.

    Oscar winner Simmons scored his award for ‘Whiplash’, though he has been nominated several times. He might be best known for playing J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man’ movies, reprising the role (albeit as a variant version) in the more recent ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ and ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’.

    Hunt is known for her TV work, including an eponymous show and ‘The Building’. She’s also scored regular work voicing characters in Pixar movies.

    ‘Red One’ – or whatever the title changes to, doesn’t have a strict release date yet, but is likely to hit Prime Video around Christmas 2023.

    J.K. Simmons in 'Big Sky.'
    (L to R) J.K. Simmons in Prime Video’s ‘Big Sky.’ Photo: Chuck Hodes. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
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  • Movie Review: ‘Don’t Worry Darling’

    Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s 'Don't Worry Darling,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. Inc. All rights reserved.

    Releasing in theaters this week, Olivia Wilde’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ has been dogged by behind-the-scenes and tabloid drama, but the movie itself stands apart from all of that and proves that her debut, ‘Booksmart’, was no fluke.

    And the new film is a very, very different beast from that initial offering, swapping charming, warm coming-of-age antics and slapstick humor for paranoia, gaslighting and a theme that would feel right at home in a thriller from the 1970s.

    We’re introduced to Alice Chambers (Florence Pugh) and husband Jack (Harry Styles) who count themselves lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the highly top secret Victory Project and their families.

    The 1950’s societal optimism espoused by their boss Frank (Chris Pine) – who is equal parts corporate visionary and motivational life coach – influences every aspect of daily life in the tight-knit desert utopia, which is seemingly carved from the landscape in California’s Palm Springs.

    While the husbands spend every day inside the Victory Project Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials,” their wives, including Frank’s elegant partner, Shelley (Gemma Chan) fill their time enjoying the beauty, luxury and debauchery of their community. Life is perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company. All they ask in return is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause.

    Harry Styles and Florence Pugh in 'Don't Worry Darling.'
    (L-r) Harry Styles as Jack and Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Alice and Jack are initially thrilled with their lives, sizzling with sexual chemistry and barely able to keep their hands off each other when they’re at home, and at one point in Frank’s bedroom during a party.

    Even though it might seem repetitive – Jack heads off to work, Alice cleans the house and busies herself with cooking, ballet and shopping – it’s so comfortable that no-one questions it. Until Alice starts to.

    She’s spurred by the behavior of another wife, KiKi Layne’s Margaret, who has been having serious second thoughts after taking her son out to the restricted desert area outside the community, where he disappeared and is seemingly dead.

    As Margaret’s actions grow more out of keeping with everyone else, Alice starts to feel a tingling sense of paranoia. Is this idealized life she’s living as, well, ideal? And her sense of reality starts to crumble.

    Given that this is a psychological thriller, you know there will be something going on, but we won’t get into that here – the basic set-up is all you really need.

    Director/producer/actor Olivia Wilde and Chris Pine on the set of New Line Cinema’s 'Don't Worry Darling,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L-R) Director/producer/actor Olivia Wilde and Chris Pine on the set of New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Wilde weaves a compelling, mysterious and stylish story, stretching a relatively thrifty $20-$30 million budget into an effective, layered world. She drip-feeds tension into the narrative from the off with the mysterious rumbles that shake the houses from time to time, written off by the residents as a side-effect of whatever the men are working on.

    She and her team have built something that looks and sounds fabulous, whether it’s cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s sun-bleached visions of this community with its pastel, mid-century modern houses or John Powell’s score, which dials up the creepiness as the narrative moves on. Together with the sound team, it creates a real feeling of unease.

    The script, from ‘Booksmart’s Katie Silberman, based on a story by her alongside Carey Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke (yes, as in Dick Van Dyke – they’re his grandsons) serves as a solid example of the paranoia genre, crafting this world before challenging it.

    While ‘Booksmart’ explored female friendship and teenage frustration, ‘Darling’ switches genres and attitude, but still keeps the focus on the experiences of women, taking in divided gender expectations of the past and gaslighting.

    Pugh is, of course, fantastic, breathing conflicted life into Alice at every moment, whether she’s happily cooking up a roast, engaging in enthusiastic romance with her husband or seeing a plane crash in the desert that no one else wants to acknowledge.

    Styles isn’t quite on her level, but he brings a charm and eagerness to Jack that works for the character, and when he’s called upon to do more than that, he handles it effectively.

    Olivia Wilde as Bunny, Nick Kroll as Dean and Chris Pine as Frank in New Line Cinema’s 'Don't Worry Darling,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L-R) Olivia Wilde as Bunny, Nick Kroll as Dean and Chris Pine as Frank in New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Pine, meanwhile, is a smooth guru type, his voice full of a hypnotic, magnetic, confident smoothness that has everyone both ready to hang on his every word and yet remain slightly afraid of him.

    The rest of the cast fill their roles well too – Chan playing the alpha wife to the hilt, while Wilde is Alice’s best friend Bunny, an amusing and slightly sarcastic homemaker with two kids and a slight drinking problem (though given the 1950s period, everyone happily guzzles booze, so it’s not as noticeable to them).

    Despite being a key element of the story Layne doesn’t get as much to do, Margaret a slightly underserved character who edges towards cliché at times. It’s no fault of the actor, who brings a pained vulnerability to her role.

    As the truth begins to dawn on Alice, and on us, the pace speeds up and the overall effect unravels slightly, the final act never quite as compelling as the build-up, the various details undercut in a more straightforward action-focused finale.

    You might well figure out ahead of the characters what’s going on, and there are clues here and there sprinkled throughout the movie that verge on the less than subtle. Wilde has plenty of ideas that she wants to unpack, but not all of them arrive completely thought through – when the big revelations start to drop, the cracks in more than just Alice’s reality start to show and you’ll have questions not easily answered by the script.

    Yet it still doesn’t diminish what has gone before and Pugh remains as committed as ever, spurring you to empathize with Alice even as she worries that she might be losing her mind. It’s twisted, audacious and, at least until the end, surprising. Ignore the unnecessary noise around the movie and let it transport you.

    ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s 'Don't Worry Darling,' a Warner Bros.
    Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. Inc. All rights reserved.
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  • New Trailer for ‘Don’t Worry Darling’

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    You know how it is… you think you’re living the perfect life in an idyllic community with all your needs taken care of and your neighbors a group of the best-looking people around.

    And then you start to dig a little deeper and discover that it might all be built on a lie, and that the closer you get to the truth, the more danger there is.

    All right, so very few people actually live that sort of life out of the movies, but that’s exactly the quandary that Alice (Florence Pugh) finds herself in in the latest trailer for Olivia Wilde’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling’.

    The story for the new movie finds Alice and Jack (Harry Styles), who consider themselves lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. The 1950’s societal optimism espoused by their CEO, Frank (Chris Pine) — equal parts corporate visionary and motivational life coach — anchors every aspect of daily life in the tight-knit desert utopia.

    While the husbands spend every day inside the Victory Project Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials,” their wives — including Frank’s elegant partner, Shelley (Gemma Chan) — get to spend their time enjoying the beauty, luxury, and debauchery of their community. Life is perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company. All they ask in return is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause.

    Olivia Wilde as Bunny, Nick Kroll as Dean and Chris Pine as Frank in New Line Cinema’s 'Don't Worry Darling,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L-R) Olivia Wilde as Bunny, Nick Kroll as Dean and Chris Pine as Frank in New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath the attractive façade, Alice can’t help questioning exactly what they’re doing in Victory, and why. Just how much is she willing to lose to expose what’s really going on in this paradise?

    Wilde, who broke into directing with ‘Booksmart’ has made what looks like an intriguingly paranoid period thriller with shades of 1970s movies, ‘The Prisoner’ and the style of something that Stanley Kubrick would nod approvingly towards.

    She also steps in front of the camera this time, as Mary, one of the wives who seeks to keeps the others from looking to deeply into their situation. Wilde also has Nick Kroll, Douglas Smith, Timothy Simons and KiKi Layne on the roster.

    Working with cinematographer Matthew Libatique (a regular collaborator with Darren Aronofsky), and ‘Booksmart’ production designer Katie Byron, Wilde, who has a script from Katie Silberman, Carey Van Dyke, and Shane Van Dyke, certainly appears to have created something exciting, dramatic, and visually arresting.

    ‘Don’t’ Worry Darling’ will have you questioning the nature of your own reality when it arrives in theaters on September 23rd.

    Director/producer/actor Olivia Wilde and Chris Pine on the set of New Line Cinema’s 'Don't Worry Darling,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L-R) Director/producer/actor Olivia Wilde and Chris Pine on the set of New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s 'Don't Worry Darling,' a Warner Bros.
    Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. Inc. All rights reserved.
    Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s 'Don't Worry Darling,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Merrick Morton. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. Inc. All rights reserved.
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  • Florence Pugh and Harry Styles Star in the ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Trailer

    Harry Styles and Florence Pugh in 'Don't Worry Darling.'
    (L-r) Harry Styles as Jack and Florence Pugh as Alice in New Line Cinema’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

    There’s a grand tradition of movies set in the 1950s and 60s that use seemingly perfect suburbia as a hotbed of paranoia and suspicion. Olivia Wilde is adding to it with her new film, ‘Don’t Worry Darling’.

    Having launched her directorial career successfully with charming, witty comedy ‘Booksmart’, Wilde has a boosted budget and a starry cast for this new movie, which looks sumptuous and sexy, and promises the sorts of paranoid thrills that can bubble under a manufactured community such as the towns that popped up in remote desert locations near government or military facilities.

    The story for the new movie finds Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles), who consider themselves lucky to be living in the idealized community of Victory, the experimental company town housing the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project and their families. The 1950’s societal optimism espoused by their CEO, Frank (Chris Pine) — equal parts corporate visionary and motivational life coach — anchors every aspect of daily life in the tight-knit desert utopia.

    While the husbands spend every day inside the Victory Project Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials,” their wives — including Frank’s elegant partner, Shelley (Gemma Chan) — get to spend their time enjoying the beauty, luxury, and debauchery of their community. Life is perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company. All they ask in return is discretion and unquestioning commitment to the Victory cause.

    But when cracks in their idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath the attractive façade, Alice can’t help questioning exactly what they’re doing in Victory, and why. Just how much is she willing to lose to expose what’s really going on in this paradise?

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    Wilde, who wowed the crowd at CinemaCon last week with the footage, has corralled quite the supporting cast for this one. In addition to taking a role herself (she plays Mary, one of the wives who seeks to keeps the others from looking to deeply into their situation), she has Nick Kroll, Douglas Smith, Timothy Simons and KiKi Layne on the roster.

    And the trailer also promises a whole lot of sexy chemistry between Pugh and Styles, who certainly appear to be happily married characters — at least, before Pugh’s Alice starts to wonder what lurks beyond at her husband’s job and soon discovers that the people behind it don’t want anyone digging into their secrets.

    Working with cinematographer Matthew Libatique (a regular collaborator with Darren Aronofsky), and ‘Booksmart’ production designer Katie Byron, Wilde, who has a script from Katie Silberman, Carey Van Dyke, and Shane Van Dyke, certainly appears to have created something exciting, dramatic, and stylish. We’re getting similar vibes to ‘The Stepford Wives’ and TV’s ‘The Prisoner’.

    ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ will be in theaters on September 22nd this year.

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  • Animated ‘Addams Family’ Film Reveals Star-Studded Voice Cast, Plot & Release Date

    Here’s your first creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky look at the upcoming animated “reimagining” of “The Addams Family.”

    MGM released an image of the characters — there they are above! — and details on the voice cast.

    • Oscar Isaac will voice Gomez Addams
    • Charlize Theron is Morticia Addams
    • Chloë Grace Moretz is Wednesday Addams
    • Finn Wolfhard is Pugsley Addams
    • Nick Kroll is Uncle Fester
    • Bette Midler is Grandmama
    • Allison Janney plays the family’s nemesis, Margaux Needler.

    The film will be directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, based on a screenplay by Matt Lieberman.

    Here’s a statement from Conrad Vernon:

    “Greg and I have always been a fan of the Addams Family in past versions, so when we set out to make this movie, we were excited to do something new. With that in mind, I drew from the brilliantly original Charles Addams New Yorker cartoons for the look of the film and decided to tell the story of how Gomez and Morticia meet, find their house and start their family. This unique approach is what drew me in to direct the film. The reimagining also extends to the stellar cast we’ve put together who will each bring their own spin to our film that will appeal to longtime fans of the Addams and introduce them to a new generation.”

    So they plan to “tell the story of how Gomez and Morticia meet, find their house and start their family.”

    Jonathan Glickman, president of MGM Motion Pictures Group, added:

    “Conrad and Greg are masters of animation with the keen ability to create something both kids and their parents will enjoy for different reasons. Adding to that a world class caliber of talent with Oscar, Charlize, Chloë, Finn, Nick, Bette and Allison – we can’t wait to bring their fresh and modern take on The Addams Family to the worldwide audience.”

    Here are more details via MGM’s release:

    “Based on the famous New Yorker creations of Charles Addams, this animated action-comedy will follow the Addams family whose lives begin to unravel when they face-off against a crafty reality-TV host while also preparing for their extended family to arrive for a major celebration, Addams-style.

    Morticia, devilishly devoted to her husband and children, is the pale glue that holds her clan together.

    Gomez, debonair, sinister and passionately in love with his wife, is enthusiastic about whatever dreadful scheme he’s cooked up.

    Wednesday is a brilliant and sinister teenage girl with long braids and dead-pan wit.

    Pugsley, a menacing 10 year old on over-drive, enjoys getting into any kind of dreadful mischief he can find.

    Mad Uncle Fester is good natured, merry and likes to create mayhem any way he can.

    Grandmama is smitten with her grandchildren who enjoy her cookies shaped like bats and skulls.

    Margaux Needler, the reality TV makeover queen, is consumed with a desire for absolute suburban, pastel perfection.”

    Do you think this animated film can live up to the standard of the 1964 black-and-white TV show? Or the 1991 live-action movie, with Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia? Or that film’s 1993 sequel?

    “The Addams Family” is scheduled for release on October 11, 2019 — just in time for Halloween!

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  • See the Awkward Puberty Photos Celebs Are Posting to Raise Funds for Puerto Rico

    We all went through awkward phases (some of us are still there) but at least now they are useful.

    Last night, Stephen Colbert and his “Late Show” guest Nick Kroll launched the #PuberMe challenge to raise money to help Puerto Rico’s hurricane recovery.

    The puberty talk started with Kroll’s new show “Big Mouth” on Netflix, then got more serious. Both gents agreed to donate money to hurricane relief every time a celebrity tweeted an awkward early teen photo. If you check out #PuberMe, you see both famous and non-famous people proudly sharing their dorky puberty pics.

    Colbert and Kroll started the party with their own photos:


    Check out more at #PuberMe. “Big Mouth” starts streaming tomorrow on Netflix.

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  • Best of Late Night TV: Naomi Campbell’s Runway Walk with James Corden and Katharine McPhee’s Tax Day Carol (VIDEO)


    If you’re like us and value your sleep, you probably nodded off into your Ambien dreamland before the party started on post-prime time TV. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Here’s the best of what happened last night on late night.

    Naomi Campbell is celebrating her 29th year modeling, so naturally she visited “The Late Late Show” and taught James Corden how to strut his stuff on the runway. Watch James, Naomi, Nick Kroll, and Katherine McPhee get their model on in the clip below. You seeing this Karl Lagerfeld? Because you should probably hire James for FW2015.

    Yesterday was Tax Day (oh joy!), and the entire country was in the mood to celebrate. Or, at least James Corden was. He and Katherine McPhee teamed up to sing Tax Day carols set to the tune of some popular Christmas songs –– because after all, this is “a time when Americans joyously donate up to 39.6 percent of their income to the government!”

    Hilary Clinton is running for POTUS, which gave the hilarious folks at “Jimmy Kimmel Live” an opportunity to hit the streets of L.A. to ask people their thoughts and feels on some faux campaign logos. The results? Amazing as usual.

    Kiernan Shipka is wrapping up “Mad Men’s” final season, but did you know she got her start doing skits on “Jimmy Kimmel Live?” In fact, Kiernan booked “Mad Men” in the “Kimmel” parking lot. Check out her impersonation of Britney Spears below!

    In case you aren’t aware (doubtful!), David Letterman’s retiring and celebrities the world over are super bummed. Apparently, Amy Sedaris is a huge fan of David, so she decided to sing a medley for him during her appearance. Good times!

    Finally, Ice Cube has a lot of feelings about twerking, and he’s making them known on “Conan.” That is all.

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