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  • ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4 Cast Interviews

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    Premiering on Netflix August 8th is the fourth and final season of the popular superhero series ‘The Umbrella Academy’, which stars Elliot Page (‘Juno’), Tom Hopper (‘Space Cadet’), David Castañeda (‘End of Watch’), Emmy Raver-Lampman (‘The Beekeeper’), Robert Sheehan (‘Mortal Engines’), Aidan Gallagher (‘Modern Family’), Justin H. Min (‘After Yang’), Ritu Arya (‘Polite Society’), and Colm Feore (‘Thor’).

    Related Article: Emma Roberts and Tom Hopper Talk Prime Video’s ‘Space Cadet’

    Tom Hopper and Aidan Gallagher star in Netflix's 'The Umbrella Academy' season 4.
    (L to R) Tom Hopper and Aidan Gallagher star in Netflix’s ‘The Umbrella Academy’ season 4.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tom Hopper and Aidan Gallagher about their work on ‘The Umbrella Academy’ season 4, their reaction to the final scripts and if they met their expectations, what the show has meant to them personally, what they’ll miss most about the series, and working with showrunner Steve Blackman.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Hopper, Gallagher, Robert Sheehan, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, and showrunner Steve Blackman.

    Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves, Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves, Tom Hopper as Luther Hargreeves in 'The Umbrella Academy'.
    (L to R) Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves, Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves, Tom Hopper as Luther Hargreeves in ‘The Umbrella Academy’. Photo: Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix © 2024.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Tom, what was your first reaction to the screenplays for the final season and did they meet your expectations?

    Tom Hopper: I thought the screenplays of the season, just what I recognized straight off the bat, they were funnier. There was across the board, they were much more comedic and fun, but then they never lost what the deeper meaning of what the show is all about, which is the family and their struggles. It’s through those themes that is why it’s so great as a show. But I loved it, and my concern really was that we were going to be able to tell this story in 6 episodes instead of 10 to really finish it off, but I thought Steve Blackman did a great job at sculpting it.

    MF: Aidan, what was your reaction to the final screenplays and the direction your character would take this season?

    Aidan Gallagher: Well, we don’t receive them all at once. As we’re shooting, we’ll get further and further episodes, but there is a pitch meeting where they’ll talk about arcs, so at least you know where you’re going, and you can lay the foundation for your path. But that kind of makes it better as a viewer because by the time you get around to watching the show, a lot of it feels like a new thing to you, and you don’t know what the sets look like or how the performances are edited. By the time everyone’s done their bit in collaborating, you’re left with something you didn’t expect, which is wonderful. The screenplays specifically of just reading the scripts, I was incredibly happy for the arc that Five goes on this year. I thought it was a universal thing and just an interesting place to find and leave the character.

    Aidan Gallagher as Number Five in 'The Umbrella Academy'.
    Aidan Gallagher as Number Five in ‘The Umbrella Academy’. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

    MF: Aidan, how much were you told about your character’s arc before you started shooting season 4?

    AG: When we’re approaching a new season, there is a pitch meeting of what we’re told is going to happen on a story arc level, but we don’t know everyone else’s bits. We just know our own character arc. So, there’s a day-to-day thing of you arrive on set with the crew and try and make the best of the scene, and it is only as good as everybody else around you, and we have incredible production and cast, and every day I just try not to bring that down and try and maintain the bar of excellence.

    MF: Tom, what has it meant to you to be part of this series and work with this cast?

    TH: From day one it’s been a real gift for me personally and as an actor. I think if you get one gig like this your entire career where it hits all the boxes like this one has, then I think you’re very lucky. I feel very fortunate. It ticks the box in terms of success, the fun we have on the show, how it comes across, the whole shebang, and the friendships you’ve made. We really created a family environment on this and became so tight as people on and off camera. So, it’s been such an amazing journey.

    Robert Sheehan as Klaus Hargreeves, Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves, Tom Hopper as Luther Hargreeves, Justin H. Min as Ben Hargreeves, Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves, David Castañeda as Diego Hargreeves, Ritu Arya as Lila Pitts in 'The Umbrella Academy'.
    (L to R) Robert Sheehan as Klaus Hargreeves, Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves, Tom Hopper as Luther Hargreeves, Justin H. Min as Ben Hargreeves, Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves, David Castañeda as Diego Hargreeves, Ritu Arya as Lila Pitts in ‘The Umbrella Academy’. Photo: Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix © 2024.

    MF: Aidan, what will you miss about working on this show?

    AG: The experience of getting to work on this show over the course of from 13-years-old to, I think I was maybe 19 or 20 when we left off shooting, but it’s a big chunk of your life. I learned a lot. I get to work with some incredible people. It’s a hard thing to sum up, but I’m going to miss the specific way that that all felt. Everything in life has its own colors that come together to make the way that you feel and your own perspective of it, and I’m never going to get that exact combination again. So, I’m just trying to appreciate it while it’s fading away.

    MF: Finally, Tom, what was it like working with showrunner Steve Blackman on this series and watching him execute his unique vision for the show?

    TH: Steve’s just been the best. He’s become a very close friend as well. His ability to collaborate and give us freedom as actors has been, I think one of the best things about the experience really. We’ve been able to play and really find these guys ourselves and bring ourselves to these roles. He’s given us that license. But he’s very good. He’s so talented at sculpting out a show and giving us the best material to work with. As I said at the beginning, it’s truly a gift, what he’s created for us here. I’m very grateful to Steve for the opportunity to come and play this role and get to play with these guys.

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    What is the plot of ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4?

    The Hargreeves siblings (Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and Justin H. Min) have scattered after the climactic showdown at the Hotel Oblivion led to a complete reset of their timeline. Stripped of their powers, each is left to fend for themselves and find a new normal — with wildly varying degrees of success. Yet the trappings of their uncanny new world prove too hard to ignore for very long. Their father Reginald (Colm Feore), alive and well, has stepped out of the shadows and into the public eye, overseeing a powerful and nefarious business empire. A mysterious association known as The Keepers holds clandestine meetings believing the reality, they’re living in is a lie and a great reckoning is coming. As these strange new forces conspire around them, the Umbrella Academy must come together one last time — and risk upsetting the shaky peace they’ve all endured so much to secure — to finally set things right.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4?

    • Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves
    • Tom Hopper as Luther Hargreeves
    • David Castañeda as Diego Hargreeves
    • Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves
    • Robert Sheehan as Klaus Hargreeves
    • Aidan Gallagher as Five Hargreeves
    • Justin H. Min as Ben Hargreeves
    • Ritu Arya as Lila Pitts
    • Colm Feore as Sir Reginald Hargreeves
    • Nick Offerman as Dr. Gene Thibodeau
    • Megan Mullally as Dr. Jean Thibodeau
    • David Cross as Sy Grossman
    Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves, Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves, Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, Robert Sheehan as Klaus Hargreeves, David Castañeda as Diego Hargreeves, Justin H. Min as Ben Hargreeves, Ritu Arya as Lila Pitts in 'The Umbrella Academy'.
    (L to R) Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves, Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves, Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, Robert Sheehan as Klaus Hargreeves, David Castañeda as Diego Hargreeves, Justin H. Min as Ben Hargreeves, Ritu Arya as Lila Pitts in ‘The Umbrella Academy’. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024.

    Other superhero TV Shows:

    Buy Superhero TV Shows On Amazon

  • Where To Watch Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ Movie

    Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ took the box office by storm, and as the audience showed up at the movie theaters all dolled up in pink, ‘Barbie’ quickly became this summer’s movie phenomenon.

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    Based on the iconic doll, ‘Barbie’ takes us into Barbie Land, where we meet Margot Robbie’s Sterotypical Barbie as she begins to experience things out of her normal routine – cold showers, sour milk, thoughts of mortality, and the worst of all, flat feet. With Ken (Ryan Gosling) tagging along, Barbie sets off to seek out the answers by traveling to the real world. She soon realizes things in the real world are quite the opposite of everything she knows.

    Directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, the clever story and incredible visuals made ‘Barbie’ the talk of the town. The movie is certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 88% critics score and 83% audience score. Due to it sharing an opening date with Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, movie fans took the opportunity and turned the dual release into a double-feature event, therefore kicking off the endless waves of “Barbenheimer” memes.

    The official synopsis for ‘’Barbie” is below:

    “To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Or you have a full-on existential crisis. Unless you’re a Ken.”

    Who Is In The Cast of ‘Barbie’?

    Margot Robbie as Barbie,Alexandra Shipp as Barbie, Michael Cera as Allan, Ariana Greenblatt as Sasha and America Ferrera FERRERA as Gloria in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Margot Robbie as Barbie,Alexandra Shipp as Barbie, Michael Cera as Allan, Ariana Greenblatt as Sasha and America Ferrera FERRERA as Gloria in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Box Office For ‘Barbie’

    Kinsley Ben-Adir, Ryan Gosling as Ken, and Ncuti Gatwa in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Kinsley Ben-Adir, Ryan Gosling as Ken, and Ncuti Gatwa in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.

    ‘Barbie’ is officially the highest grossing film of 2023, having just crossed $1.3 billion globally. Opening to $162 million, the Margot Robbie-led film has earned $612 million domestically. Already an icon for many, ‘Barbie’ quickly became a social media sensation, with fans posting everything from their movie-going outfits to their Barbie collections. The film is filled with references to many Barbies and Ken dolls from various decades, sending audiences down nostalgia lane.

    On the surface, ‘Barbie’ may seem like a fun adventure, much like ‘The Lego Movie’. However, the film has a deeper message and touches on the pressure of expectations, insecurities, and most importantly, what it means to be human.

    Related Article: ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ Debuts At Record-Setting Box Office Numbers

    Where Can I Watch ‘Barbie’?

    Ana Cruz Kayne as Barbie, Sharon Rooney as Barbie, Alexandra Shipp as Barbie, Margot Robbie as Barbie, Hari Nef as Barbie and Emma Mackey as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ana Cruz Kayne as Barbie, Sharon Rooney as Barbie, Alexandra Shipp as Barbie, Margot Robbie as Barbie, Hari Nef as Barbie and Emma Mackey as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Barbie’ premiere on July 9, 2023 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. It was released domestically on July 21, 2023. Currently, it is still playing in some theaters, but as the movie has been in theaters for around 45 days, its theatrical window will soon come to an end. If you want to experience ‘Barbie’ on the big screen, be sure to do it soon.

    Buy Tickets: ‘Barbie’ Movie Showtimes

    The movie arrived on digital September 5 for purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu, YouTube, and more for $29.99.
    ‘Barbie’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes.

    Buy ‘Barbie’ on Amazon

    Watch the official trailers for ‘Barbie’ below:

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    Although ‘Barbie’ is leaving the theaters, Warner Bros Pictures has teamed up with IMAX to give fans a limited one-week run of ‘Barbie’ starting September 22nd. As a special treat for the IMAX audience, a special greeting from director Greta Gerwig will play ahead of the film. There will also be exclusive post-credit footage playing after the film, specially selected by Gerwig herself.

    Greta Gerwig attends the 'Barbie' Press Tour, Sydney Australia 2023.
    Greta Gerwig attends the ‘Barbie’ Press Tour, Sydney Australia 2023. Photography by Caroline McCredie for Warner Bros/NBC Universal. Contact: jade.perry@nbcuni.com.

    In regards to the special IMAX release, Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, and Andrew Cripps, President of International Distribution, said:

    “We really wanted to super-serve all the fans out there who made this the Summer of ‘Barbie’ in every way imaginable, and we couldn’t think of a better way than to serve up the biggest film of 2023 and the biggest Warner Bros. film of all time on the biggest, most experiential screens around. Thanks to our terrific partners at IMAX and our incredible director, Greta Gerwig, we went a step further and are offering audiences an added incentive with this special post-credits footage. We encourage moviegoers everywhere, whether they’ve seen ‘Barbie’ or not, to see it in IMAX for a can’t-miss moment in film history.”

    No word yet when ‘Barbie’ will make its way to streaming, but when it does, it is likely to end up on Max as the film is distributed by Warner Bros/Discovery.

    Where to Watch: ‘Barbie’ Online

    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (Center) Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Barbie:’

    Please click on the video player below to watch Moviefone‘s exclusive interview with ‘Barbie’ director Greta Gerwig.

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  • Movie Review: ‘Barbie’

    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Barbie,’ which is based on the famous Mattel doll and was co-written by Oscar nominees Greta Gerwig (‘Lady Bird’) and Noah Baumbach (‘Marriage Story’), and directed by Gerwig, opens in theaters on July 21st.

    What is the plot of ‘Barbie’?

    After being expelled from the utopian Barbie Land for being less-than-perfect dolls, Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) go on a journey of self-discovery to the real world.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Barbie’?

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    Initial Thoughts

    ‘Barbie’ is a surprisingly subversive, entertaining, and hilarious movie that was beautifully shot by director Greta Gerwig. The filmmaker sets a strong tone and Barbie Land is a fully formed universe, however the movie loses a little magic when the characters briefly travel to the “Real World.” Margot Robbie delivers a funny and very emotional performance as Barbie, but it is Ryan Gosling that steals the movie as Ken, delivering a hilarious and also musical over-the-top performance.

    Story and Direction

    Director/Writer Greta Gerwig attends the 'Barbie' Press Junket Photo Call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.
    Director/Writer Greta Gerwig attends the ‘Barbie’ Press Junket Photo Call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo by Eric Charbonneau.

    The story is fairly simple and begins by introducing us to the colorful and delightful Barbie Land and all of the Barbies and Kens that live within it. We soon meet “Stereotypical Barbie,” (that’s actually what she is referred to in the movie), played by Margot Robbie. Barbie lives a perfect life among the other Barbies, which include President Barbie (Issa Rae), Physicist Barbie (Emma Mackey), Journalist Barbie (Ritu Arya), and even Mermaid Barbie (Dua Lipa), until one day she realizes her life is not as perfect as she thinks. This begins an existential crisis for the character that leads her to Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), who explains that she must travel to the “Real World,” to find the human who is “playing with her.”

    As Barbie journeys to the real world, she discovers that Ken (Ryan Gosling) has tagged along as his world revolves around Barbie and he would not know what to do without her. But once they arrive, Ken discovers the antiquated idea that men are superior to women. No longer wanting to live in Barbie’s shadow, Ken quickly returns to Barbie Land, suppresses the other Barbies and leads the other Kens to a misogynistic revolution.

    Meanwhile, Barbie discovers her owner, a teenager named Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) who has lost interest in dolls and no longer believes in Barbie’s ideals. Her mother, Gloria (America Ferrera), just happens to work for the CEO of Mattel (Will Ferrell), who is fully aware that something is wrong in Barbie Land as it is causing sales of the toys to go down. Now, it is up to Barbie, Gloria and Sasha to return to Barbie Land, liberate the other Barbies, and put an end to Ken’s evil reign.

    Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach is quite clever and sets the right tone for a fun summer movie that also tackles a lot of important subjects like female empowerment and toxic masculinity with grace and humor. The film is also not afraid of making fun of itself and the absurdity of a ‘Barbie’ movie, while also taking on the criticisms that Mattel and the doll line have faced over the years and making the case of why Barbie is a good role model for girls. Kudos to Mattel for having the smarts to hire Gerwig and Baumbach (two excellent filmmakers) in the first place and then having the guts to let them make the movie they wanted to make.

    Gerwig began her career as an actress in films like ‘Greenberg,’ ‘The House of the Devil’ and ‘Arthur’ but wrote 2012’s ‘Frances Ha,’ which she also starred in. She made her directorial with ‘Lady Bird,’ which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Director, and followed it with ‘Little Women,’ which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. ‘Barbie’ is a big leap for her from Academy Award nominated movies to summer blockbusters, but the director does it with ease, crafting a completely enjoyable popcorn film, that also makes you think. Gerwig’s independent film background also serves her well as she fills the movies with odd inspirations, from a reference to ‘The Red Shoes’ to the choice of using a particular Indigo Girls song ad nauseum.

    Related Article: Director Greta Gerwig Talks ‘Barbie’

    Margot Robbie as Barbie

    Margot Robbie as Barbie
    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jaap Buitendijk. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.

    It has long been rumored that comedian Amy Schumer was originally tapped to play the title role in ‘Barbie,’ and while I understand what they would have been going for with a “Not Perfect Barbie,” I actually think that message gets across better by casting Margot Robbie in the lead role. Aesthetically she looks perfect, which is why she is called “Stereotypical Barbie,” but Robbie is also an incredible actress, which allows her to chip away at the character’s perfectness and show you who she really is, which is strong and vulnerable at the same time, her greatest strength. Robbie’s performance gets to the heart of the character, and the theme of the movie, which is that every women can be whatever she wants and is in charge of her own destiny. ‘Barbie’ gives Robbie her first chance at leading a blockbuster movie without playing Harley Quinn, and the actress proves that she has a lot of range and is now a big time movie star in her own right too.

    Ryan Gosling as Ken

    Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While Robbie’s Barbie is definitely the focal point of the film and carries the movie well, she also allows her co-star Ryan Gosling to steal every scene he’s in. Best known for his cool-as-ice public persona and appearing in action dramas like ‘Drive’ or ‘The Gray Man,’ Gosling really gets to use his comedic chops in this film and takes advantage of every opportunity he has to poke fun at the character, while never becoming a cliché. Though his actions are misguided, Gosling reveals his characters’ vulnerability and low self-esteem, which allows the audience to sympathize with the character. Make no mistakes, Ken is the villain of the movie, which is delightful in itself, but Gosling is still likable as the character despite his despicable actions.

    It should also be noted that ‘Barbie’ is partially a musical, and with his dancing background in films like ‘La La Land,’ and of course his history with the ‘Mickey Mouse Club,’ the actor knocks it out of the park in his dance scenes and especially his MTV video like sequence where he sings the opus “Just Ken.” Once Ken “goes bad,” Gosling’s transformation from an innocent lovesick puppy dog to a misogynistic 90’s boyband reject was absolutely brilliant and brings some of the movie’s best laughs. Gosling and Robbie are great together on screen, and clearly understood the tone Gerwig was going for.

    Other Characters

    Margot Robbie as Barbie and Kate McKinnon as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Margot Robbie as Barbie and Kate McKinnon as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    There are so many well-known actors and actress playing different versions of Barbie and Ken that I can’t mention them all, but Issa Rae certainly stood out as President Barbie, as did Kate McKinnon playing Weird Barbie, the doll your older brother got a hold of and put through a woodchipper. Emma Mackey, who is often confused with Robbie in real life, was cleverly cast as Physicist Barbie, and musician Dula Lipa also stands out in a cameo as Mermaid Barbie opposite John Cena’s Mermaid Ken. Two MCU alumni, ‘Secret Invasion’s Kingsley Ben-Adir and ‘Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu also play Kens, but neither are given anything significant to do. While many may not remember, the Mattel line of dolls did introduce two other less popular characters, Allan and Midge, who are played well comedically by Michael Cera and Emerald Fennell, respectively.

    Outside of the Barbie Land characters, America Ferrera and Ariana Greenblatt are both great as Gloria and Sasha, respectively, and their mother/daughter relationship really helps to bring home the message of the movie. Helen Mirren plays the narrator and I can’t think of an actress with more gravitas to voice the role. The script also allows her to add her own funny commentary, including mentioning that Barbie’s eloquent monologue about the pressures of being beautiful would have more weight if not delivered by an actress as aesthetically pleasing as Robbie.

    Issa Rae as Barbie, Scott Evans as Ken, Simu Liu as Ken, Emma Mackey as Barbie and Ncuti Gatwa as Ken in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Issa Rae as Barbie, Scott Evans as Ken, Simu Liu as Ken, Emma Mackey as Barbie and Ncuti Gatwa as Ken in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    However, there were a few “real world” characters that didn’t quite work. Look, it’s always nice to see legendary ‘Cheers’ actress Rhea Pearlman on screen, but she plays the ghost of Barbie creator Ruth Handler, who unexplainably lives on the 7th floor of Mattel’s corporate headquarters. While the actress gives a nice monologue that ties the themes of the movie together at the conclusion, it didn’t seem entirely necessary. The film already asks us to except the idea that Barbie Land and the dolls are real, so trying to also except that ghosts and the afterlife exist seemed a step too far for me.

    I also have to question the casting of Will Ferrell as the CEO of Mattel, as it is basically the same character he played in ‘The Lego Movie,’ which uses a similar storytelling device with the idea that the toys are real and what they do in their world affects ours. Maybe Gerwig was going for a meta-joke with his casting, or perhaps she just wanted to work with Ferrell, who is perfectly fine in the role, but I couldn’t help thinking of the comparisons to ‘The Lego Movie’ and Ferrell’s inclusion took me out of the movie in some moments.

    The Real World is No Fun

    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Which leads to my next point, the “real world” scenes are definitely the low point of the film. Once Barbie and Ken journey to the real world, which is about 30 minutes into the movie, I was worried that the rest of the film would take place there and it would become a “fish out of water” story with Barbie not understanding human concepts like money, or being sexually objectified by men. Unfortunately, those stale jokes are used, but luckily the characters do not stay in the real world for long and the third act takes place back in Barbie Land. I do understand why the characters needed to go to the “real world,” plot wise Ken needed to discover misogyny in order to bring it back to Barbie Land, and while some scenes work, like Ken’s altercation with a female doctor, it’s not the high point of the film and you are grateful when they do return to Barbie Land.

    Barbie Land

    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,'
    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

    The major set piece of the movie is Barbie Land and it comes to life beautifully with eye-popping color and a magical tone. Set designer Sarah Greenwood and decorator Katie Spencer did marvelous work creating a realistic yet magical world and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are rewarded for their work come awards season. Their design for Ken’s Barbie Land is also unique and fabulous, with stallions and heavy metal featured throughout. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran will also likely be on a shortlist come Oscar time with stunning costumes that represent many of Barbie’s iconic looks. But again, the fun is when Ken transforms and his costumes look like a cross between Sylvester Stallone in the 80s and ‘N Sync.

    Is ‘Barbie’ a Kid’s Movie?

    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie.'
    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.

    No, is the short answer. With a PG-13 rating, some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers, and while they might enjoy the humor, musical numbers, and colorful characters and sets, some of the film’s political and pop culture messages will get lost on a young audience, but its message of love and equality will shine through, even if it is subliminally.

    Final Thoughts

    Director Greta Gerwig has done the impossible … delivered a ‘Barbie’ movie that is an entertaining summer blockbuster, while also being socially important and containing thoughtful, emotional and funny performances. Margot Robbie earns her movie star status producing and starring in this well-made summer tentpole, while Ryan Gosling proves he’s just as funny as he is cool with his hilarious over-the-top performance.

    ‘Barbie’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.

    Kingsley Ben-Adir as Ken, Ryan Gosling as Ken, Margot Robbie as Barbie, Simu Liu as Ken, Ncuti Gatwa as Ken and Scott Evans as Ken in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Kingsley Ben-Adir as Ken, Ryan Gosling as Ken, Margot Robbie as Barbie, Simu Liu as Ken, Ncuti Gatwa as Ken and Scott Evans as Ken in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Barbie:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Barbie’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Margot Robbie Movies on Amazon

    ‘Barbie’ is produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, and Mattel Films. It is set to release in theaters on July 21st.

     

  • ‘Barbie’ Interview: Director Greta Gerwig

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    Opening in theaters on July 21st is the long-awaited ‘Barbie,’ which is based on the famous Mattel toy and was co-written by Oscar nominees Greta Gerwig (‘Lady Bird’) and Noah Baumbach (‘Marriage Story’), and directed by Gerwig.

    What is the plot of ‘Barbie’?

    After being expelled from the utopian Barbie Land for being less-than-perfect dolls, Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) go on a journey of self-discovery to the real world.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Barbie’?

    Margot Robbie (‘Babylon‘), Ryan Gosling (‘The Gray Man‘), America Ferrera (‘End of Watch‘), Rhea Perlman (‘Poms‘), Will Ferrell (‘The Lego Movie‘), Kate McKinnon (‘Bombshell‘), Issa Rae (‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘), Hari Nef (‘Meet Cute‘), Alexandra Shipp (‘X-Men: Apocalypse‘), Emma Mackey (‘Death on the Nile‘), Sharon Rooney (‘Dumbo‘), Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan (‘Bridgerton’), Ana Cruz Kayne (‘Little Women‘), Ritu Arya (‘Polite Society‘), Kingsley Ben-Adir (‘Secret Invasion‘), Simu Liu (‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘), Scott Evans (‘Almost Love‘), Ncuti Gatwa (‘The Last Letter from Your Lover‘), John Cena (‘Fast X‘), Helen Mirren (‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods‘), Emerald Fennell (‘The Danish Girl‘), Michael Cera (‘Superbad‘), and Ariana Greenblatt (‘65‘).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with co-writer and director Greta Gerwig to talk about her work on ‘Barbie,’ why she wanted to direct the movie, working with actress and producer Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling’s hilarious performance as Ken.

    'Barbie' co-writer and director Greta Gerwig.
    ‘Barbie’ co-writer and director Greta Gerwig.

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

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to idea of a Barbie movie, and once you agreed to be a part of the project, what tone and direction did you want to take the film in?

    Greta Gerwig: I had been wanting to work with Margot Robbie and she had the rights and was setting it up with her company at Warner Bros. She came to me and said, “Would you like to write this movie?” I jumped at the chance because it was her, and I was like, “Yes, I would love to.” I was also terrified of it because I was not even sure where to start with a Barbie movie. I think there was something about it that seemed like such a tricky problem to solve that it felt a bit of a puzzle. What’s the vantage point? How do we get into this? Then once Noah and I had written the script together and we had the script, that’s when I thought, “Oh, I love this and I don’t want anyone to direct it but me.” So then I said, “I have to direct it,” and they thank goodness, let me.

    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: What was it like working with Margot Robbie and why was she the right actress to play this specific version of Barbie?

    GG: I mean, Margot’s a dream as a producer, and as an actor, she’s everything. I mean, she can do anything you want 10 times over, backwards in heels. She’s just an extraordinary actress. I always knew it was going to be hers so when we were writing it, I knew it was going to be hers. So that was always in my mind, but I think that as we worked on it, as we started doing rehearsals and started reading, it just changed and got deeper and more dimensional because I started to know her really well as a person, as an actor, and it was something that evolved alongside her.

    Related Article: Greta Gerwig Directing ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ Movie

    Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about Ryan Gosling’s performance as Ken and the direction you wanted to take that character?

    GG: I mean, Ryan is jaw-dropping. He’s incredible in this movie. It’s the same thing I like about Margot is that Ryan is incredibly funny, but he never does it in a way that’s making fun of the character, it’s always inside the character. He takes it very seriously, which is why it’s so funny. I actually also wrote it for him, which I can’t believe still that he said yes because I didn’t know him. He wasn’t sure at first, and then I waited him out and he finally was like, “Oh, they’re not going to leave, they’re still here,” which was me and Margot. We just wouldn’t let him not do it. Yeah, and what he brought to it was just he committed beyond any way I would ever imagine in my wildest dreams he would commit. We texted about it and talked about it for a year before we started shooting. We came up with the idea of his Flo Jo dojo mink. But we were texting back and forth pictures of like, we both love Sylvester Stallone and we were like, “What about this look? What about that look?” Then there’s like a pair of glasses he wears in the movie when he puts on the second pair of glasses that were based on the glasses that the ballet director from ‘The Red Shoes’ wears. So they are these cat eye glasses and they’re just such wonderful glasses. I mean, we went so detailed with it and it was like references we gathered for so long. I was sort of slightly terrified when he showed up. I was like, “What if he doesn’t want to do any of this?” But he showed up and just committed, bleached his hair, did the whole thing, shaved his legs, and then there we were.

    Director/Writer Greta Gerwig attends the 'Barbie' Press Junket Photo Call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.
    Director/Writer Greta Gerwig attends the ‘Barbie’ Press Junket Photo Call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo by Eric Charbonneau.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Barbie:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Barbie’ Movie Showtimes

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    ‘Barbie’ is produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, and Mattel Films. It is set to release in theaters on July 21st.

  • Movie Review: ‘Polite Society’

    Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Saima Khalid / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    In theaters now, ‘Polite Society’ represents that rare beast –– a movie that manages to both mash-up styles and tones while also holding on to a refreshingly original voice of its own. It’s also funny, sweet, action packed and destined to inspire other filmmakers.

    This is the feature debut of Nida Manzoor, who has risen to acclaim as the writer and director of British TV comedy ‘We Are Lady Parts’, which can be seen in the States via Hulu. The story of an all-female Muslim punk band trying to make their way in the bustling music scene of London proved she was someone to watch, and ‘Polite Society’ is the next logical step in her career.

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    What’s the story of ‘Polite Society?

    Manzoor’s latest hero is Ria Khan (Priya Kansara), a bolshy British schoolgirl and martial artist-in-training who dreams of becoming a world-renowned stuntwoman (and has been emailing her favorite working example, Eunice Huthart, about the chance for an internship). Her teachers don’t believe in her, and the school bully (Kovacs, menacingly brought to life by Shona Babayemi) consistently mocks and defeats her.

    Yet family issues are also diverting her attention –– Ria’s big sister and best friend Lena (Ritu Arya) is at a crossroads in her life: she’s preparing to give up on her dreams by dropping out of art school. To make matters worse, she meets and falls for attractive geneticist Salim (Akshay Khanna) and is quickly engaged to be married. But with that seeming happy ending comes horror for Ria –– the couple are planning to move to Singapore after the wedding.

    Ria’s world is shaken. She believes she must save her sister from the shackles of marriage in the only way she knows how –– by enlisting the help of her friends and attempting to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of freedom and sisterhood. She’ll have to put all of her martial arts training into practice to challenge Salim’s mother Raheela (Nimra Bucha), who she’s convinced has dark designs on Lena.

    Yet in doing so, Ria begins to drive a serious wedge between herself and Lena, not to mention her parents Fatima (Shobu Kapoor) and Rafe (Jeff Mirza).

    Seraphina Beh stars as Clara, Priya Kansara as Ria Khan and Ella Bruccoleri as Alba in director Nida Manzoor’s 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Seraphina Beh stars as Clara, Priya Kansara as Ria Khan and Ella Bruccoleri as Alba in director Nida Manzoor’s ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    Related Article: Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya Talk ‘Polite Society’

    What works about ‘Polite Society’?

    Anyone who watched ‘Lady Parts’ knows that Manzoor has a real way with comedy and grounded, funny female characters in particular. She has also cut her teeth directing high profile projects such as ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Enterprice’.

    ‘Polite Society’, though feels like an even bigger leap, Manzoor infusing her style and sensibility into a movie that could be a sibling release to the “Cornetto Trilogy” movies of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, just as full of fun needle drops and all the action you can handle, while keeping the characters at the forefront.

    Manzoor may not have exactly the same edge as Wright when it comes to visuals, but ‘Society’ is full of fizzy shots and transitions, and she also has a keener ear for writing female characters.

    She’s helped by her cast, who all deliver note-perfect performances. Kansara, a veteran of Netflix shows such as ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself’, making her theatrical debut here, wrings every bit of juice from Manzoor’s script, making Ria a sprightly, moody, human character you root for even as her plans start to become ever more desperate.

    Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    Arya, meanwhile, is just as good as her sister Lena, the art-school dropout who finds unexpected love. Though she doesn’t have as much screen time as Kansara, the two forge a close on-screen sisterly bond and you completely buy Ria’s confusion and anger at her sister’s altered life.

    Manzoor cannily stacks the supporting cast with performers able to imbue small roles with real meaning, including mummy’s boy Salim, the preening, scheming Raheela and the sisters’ mother Fatima (Kapoor appeared in both the ‘Lady Parts’ pilot short and eventual series), initially drawn as meek and people-pleasing, but showing a spine of steel when it counts.

    Ria’s friends, meanwhile, Alba (Ella Bruccoleri) and Clara (Seraphina Beh), her ride-or-dies, perfectly compliment her energy while acting (sometimes) as the voices of reason.

    Class and race are the subtext here, but the focus really is on repurposing the beats of martial arts and heist movies within a family and teenage story. And Manzoor certainly doesn’t skimp on the action.

    While some comedies are content to nod towards stunts, ‘Polite Society’ showcases some impressive set-pieces thanks to Ria’s commitment to her chosen career and her entertainingly shambolic training videos. When she needs to throw down, she has some skills, with the fights putting you in mind of ‘Scott Pilgrim’ (more Wright), yet still all drawn from the characters’ stories. The battles aren’t simply gimmicks, they’re extensions of emotions in just the right way. And around them, there are funny family squabbles, believable sadness and a great portrayal of teenage angst and frustration.

    Director Nida Manzoor on the set of her film 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    Director Nida Manzoor on the set of her film ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    Are there any issues with ‘Polite Society’?

    If there are any complaints to be leveled at the movie, it’s that it sometimes slows down between the more entertaining showdowns, and one or two elements are naturally more trope-heavy than others. Tone sometimes also becomes an issue in that it can’t always switch perfectly between the more grounded family story and the heightened heist/villain plot. Yet the whole remains very much more than the sum of its parts.

    On the basis of this, Manzoor deserves to enjoy a healthy career as a filmmaker crafting diverse, interesting and unique work that also offers mainstream sensibility and entertainment value.

    This is a sadly also the sort of smaller movie likely to struggle at the box office in a world of superheroes and animated plumbers, so consider this a strong recognition to support something with plenty to say and asses to kick.

    ‘Polite Society’ receives 8.5. out of 10 stars.

    Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan in director Nida Manzoor’s 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan in director Nida Manzoor’s ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Polite Society:’

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    ‘Polite Society’ is produced by Working Title Films, and Parkville Pictures. It is scheduled to release in theaters on April 28th, 2023.

  • ‘Polite Society’ Interview: Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya

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    Opening in theaters on April 28th is the 2023 Sundance Film Festival hit ‘Polite Society,’ which was written and directed by Nida Manzoor (‘We Are Lady Parts’).

    What is ‘Polite Society’ movie about?

    ‘Polite Society’ follows martial artist-in-training Ria Khan (Priya Kansara) who believes she must save her older sister Lena (Ritu Arya) from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends (Ella Bruccoleri and Seraphina Beh), Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Polite Society?’

    ‘Polite Society’ stars Priya Kansara (‘Bridgerton’) as Ria Khan/The Fury, Ritu Arya (‘Red Notice’) as Lena Khan, Nimra Bucha (‘Ms. Marvel’) as Raheela, Shobu Kapoor (‘Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj’) as Ria and Lena’s mother, Ella Bruccoleri (‘The Last Kingdom’) as Alba, Seraphina Beh (‘EastEnders’) as Clara, Shona Babayemi (‘Home’) as Kovacs, Jeff Mirza (‘Blinded by the Light’) as Rafe Khan, and Akshay Khanna (‘Grace’) as Salim.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya about their work on ‘Polite Society,’ their characters’ sisterly bond, the action sequences, working with director Nida Manzoor, the film’s unique tone, and what they hope audiences take away from the movie.

    Priya Kansara stars in 'Polite Society.'
    Priya Kansara stars in ‘Polite Society.’

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Kansara and Arya, as well as filmmaker Nida Manzoor about ‘Polite Society.’

    Moviefone: To begin with, Priya, can you talk about Ria’s passion for stunt work, her dream of becoming a stunt person, and how that’s at odds with what her parents want for her future?

    Priya Kansara: Ria’s so determined and spirited, and her sense of self-belief truly is really refreshing and inspiring as well. Because we don’t see a lot of young women who just are like, “I don’t care what anybody else thinks. I know what I want to be and I know what I want to do, and I’m going to go for it.” To explore that journey with Ria and see as well the complexities of her relationships with her family members, with her sister truly supporting her from the get-go, and her parents still supporting her and showing her a whole lot of love and care, but still finding it difficult at times knowing that it’s an insecure and a difficult path to go down. So it was really fun to explore that, and I hope that her self-belief really inspires a lot of the viewers.

    Ritu Arya stars in 'Polite Society.'
    Ritu Arya stars in ‘Polite Society.’

    MF: Ritu, can you talk about the sisterly bond between Priya and Lena and how that is challenged once Lena is engaged?

    Ritu Arya: Well, Lena’s little sister Ria is not happy about this engagement whatsoever. She definitely wants to shake Lena to just realize that it’s way too soon to be thinking about this. She barely knows this guy and she has her own suspicion, so that really does drive a wedge in their relationship. Lena is just like, “Get out of my life,” and it causes a ruckus between them. But they go on a journey to come back together, and naturally, Lena realizes that Ria’s just looking out for the best for her, and that’s what matters.

    Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    MF: The movie has action, comedy, and drama, what was it like for you to balance those different tones in the same film?

    RA: Great. It was a very rich experience. I love a bit of variety. Yeah, tons of fun. Nothing that I wouldn’t have expected from Nida Manzoor.

    Director Nida Manzoor, cinematographer Ashley Connor and actor Priya Kansara on the set of their film 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Director Nida Manzoor, cinematographer Ashley Connor and actor Priya Kansara on the set of their film ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Saima Khalid / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    MF: Priya, what was it like for you working on the action sequences with director Nida Manzoor?

    PK: Nida is so cool. She’s the most incredible collaborator, giving all of the actors and everyone she works with so much space to give their input and have space to play and feel safe. I got to do so many different things. I feel like I filled out an entire CV with this job. It’s been insane doing all the stunts and the fighting, wire work, dances, bike riding, you name it, we got to do it all. Our stunt team as well, and everybody else that worked on it was so encouraging and helped me do so much of it myself as well. That was so much fun and I learned so many new skills.

    Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan in director Nida Manzoor’s 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan in director Nida Manzoor’s ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    MF: Finally, Priya, what do you hope audiences take away from watching the film, especially about your character’s journey?

    PK: One, I just hope everybody really enjoys it, like goes along for the ride, because it’s just crazy, it’s fun and they’ll laugh out loud, I’m sure. In terms of Ria’s journey, again, her self-belief is just something that I think will inspire so many people. Her love for her sister, watching this love story between the two sisters, I’m sure people will connect to and relate to as well. Hopefully everyone has something to touch on in this story.

    Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s 'Polite Society,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s ‘Polite Society,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Saima Khalid / © 2023 Focus Features LLC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Polite Society:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Polite Society’ Movie Showtimes

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    ‘Polite Society’ is produced by Working Title Films, and Parkville Pictures. It is scheduled to release in theaters on April 28th, 2023.