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  • Movie Review: ‘The First Omen’

    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo by Moris Puccio. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on April 5th is ‘The First Omen,’ which is the sixth film in the franchise and acts as a prequel to 1976’s ‘The Omen.’

    The new movie is directed by Arkasha Stevenson (‘Legion’) and stars Nell Tiger Free (‘Servant’), Maria Caballero (‘Olvido’), Ralph Ineson (‘The Creator’), Sônia Braga (‘Shotgun Wedding’), Bill Nighy (‘Living’), and Charles Dance (‘The Golden Child’).

    Related Article: Nell Tiger Free to Lead ‘The Omen’ Prequel ‘First Omen’

    Initial Thoughts

    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios’ 'The First Omen'.
    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo credit: Moris Puccio/20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘The Fist Omen’ successfully connects to the mythology of the original ‘The Omen’ with a strong opening sequence and third act but suffers from pacing issues throughout. Director Arkasha Stevenson crafts some solid scares but fails to keep the momentum building through the second act. However, Nell Tiger Free’s fearless performance carries the movie with the help of strong supporting performances from Maria Caballero, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson and Bill Nighy.

    Story and Direction

    Director Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free as Margaret on the set of 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen.'
    (L to R) Director Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free as Margaret on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen.’ Photo by Moris Puccio. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.

    The film is set in Rome in the mid-1970’s and begins by introducing us to Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson), who is investigating a conspiracy within the Catholic Church. We then meet Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free), an American sent to Rome to work in an orphanage before taking the veil. Margaret has suffered from strange visions since she was a child and was recruited by longtime mentor Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy).

    Upon arrival at the orphanage, Margaret meets her new roommate, Luz Valez (Maria Caballero), a young woman also preparing to take the veil but who wants to experience as much of life as possible before becoming a nun. Margaret also meets Sister Silvia (Sônia Braga), who runs the orphanage, and a young girl named Carlita Skianna (Nicole Sorace), who suffers from the same strange visions as Margaret.

    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret and Nicole Sorace as Carlita in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    (L to R) Nell Tiger Free as Margaret and Nicole Sorace as Carlita in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    While Margaret secretly enjoys Rome’s nightlife with Luz, she also realizes that something strange is happening with Carlita and discovers that her own dark visions have returned. Margaret soon becomes suspicious of Sister Silvia and the other nuns, who lock Carlita away from the other children. When unexplained events begin happening at the orphanage, Margaret is contacted by Father Brennan who shares his theory on the events.

    According to Brennan, there is a secret society within the Catholic church that wants to birth the Anti-Christ so that the modern world will believe in God again. Believing that Carlita is the key, Margaret works with Father Brennan to save Carlita and stop the church from enacting their evil plans, but she soon learns that she can trust no one, including herself.

    Director Arkasha Stevenson has a good feel for crafting scary moments and there are quite a few good ones here, but the set-up can feel slow and unruly at times. While the pacing feels off, the mood and tone is solid and delivers what you would expect from an ‘Omen’ prequel. Stevenson and co-writers Tom Smith and Keith Thomas wisely place the prequel in the mid-1970s, right before the events of the original (erasing the possibility of a ‘First Omen’ sequel) but leading right up to the original movie.

    The location, period setting, production design and costumes are all well executed, which adds to the film’s gothic tone. Stevenson also gets very good performances from her cast, despite the screenplay’s shortcomings.

    ‘Omen’ Mythology

    Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘The First Omen’ works best when it is exploring the mythology of the original film in the opening sequence and the third act, but it loses its urgency in the first and second act. Being a prequel, the film is a bit predictable as we know that it will end with the birth of Damian. How they get there doesn’t completely work, and the movie gets lost at times setting up what we all know is coming. However, once it gets there, it’s a race to the finish with a very exciting third act.

    The opening sequence featuring Father Brennan questioning another priest played by Charles Dance feels like a classic ‘Omen’ scene, but then the tone changes once we are introduced to Margaret and we don’t get back to uncovering the conspiracy until later in the film.

    However, the conspiracy is well thought out, and fans of the original will be happy to see a posthumous photo cameo from Gregory Peck, who starred in ‘The Omen,’ connecting this new movie to the original.

    Performances

    Nell Tiger Free and María Caballero in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    (L to R) Nell Tiger Free and María Caballero in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo by Moris Puccio. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Actress Nell Tiger Free gives a very good performance and really carries much of the film. As Margaret, she is completely believable as a quiet young American concealing a dark secret of her own and is also fun in her moments when the character is exploring life outside the church. She has some excellent scenes with Father Brennan, Cardinal Lawrence, and Sister Silvia, and has great chemistry with Maria Caballero and Nicole Sorace.

    Speaking of Caballero, she brings Luz alive in a very interesting way, creating a seemingly innocent character who is much more nefarious than one would expect. While Sorace fills her demanding role well, playing a possibly possessed child with very little dialogue.

    Veteran actors Bill Nighy, Sônia Braga and Ralph Ineson are all welcomed additions to the film, but I did wish there was more time to explore their characters. Nighy’s Cardinal Lawrence is a fascinating character but has very little screentime and practically disappears in the middle of the movie. Ineson’s Father Brannan is probably the most developed of the three characters, but again, is not given enough time to truly explore his role.

    Déjà vu?

    Sydney Sweeney in 'Immaculate.'
    Sydney Sweeney in ‘Immaculate.’ Photo: Neon.

    Hollywood is no stranger to delivering two different movies about the same subject at the same time, and in fact has a long track record of doing so. We had two asteroid movies (‘Armageddon’ and ‘Deep Impact’), two volcano movies (‘Volcano’ and ‘Dante’s Peak‘) and even two movies about runner Steve Prefontaine (‘Prefontaine’ and ‘Without Limits’). So, it should be no surprise that we are getting two different “Nunsploitation” horror movies just a few weeks apart.

    The other “Nunsploitation” movie already in theaters is Sydney Sweeney’s “so bad its good” ‘Immaculate’. ‘The First Omen’ is basically the same exact movie, just without the popular ‘Euphoria’ actress and featuring ‘Omen’ mythology. I’m sure the movie will be unable to avoid comparisons to ‘Immaculate,’ and fairly or not, they are basically carbon copies of each other. While I liked ‘Immaculate’ slightly more due to Sweeney’s performance and its tongue-in-cheek vibes, fans of the original series will probably prefer ‘First Omen’ because of its connections to the overall franchise.

    Final Thoughts

    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo by Moris Puccio. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    While ‘The First Omen’ drags through much of the middle, its opening and closing sequences are strong, as is its ties to the original. Nonetheless, Nell Tiger Free gives a very strong performance and is helped by an excellent supporting cast of actors. In the end, while it’s not a home run, ‘The First Omen’ does have an interesting premise and connects to the franchise well-enough to entertain fans of the genre and the series alike.

    ‘The First Omen’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the Plot of ‘The First Omen’?

    The plot follows an American woman (Nell Tiger Free) sent to work at a church in Rome who uncovers a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘The First Omen’?

    • Nell Tiger Free as Margaret Daino
    • Sônia Braga as Sister Silvia
    • Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan
    • Bill Nighy as Cardinal Lawrence
    • Tawfeek Barhom as Father Gabriel
    • Maria Caballero as Luz Valez
    • Nicole Sorace as Carlita Skianna
    Bill Nighy as Lawrence in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    Bill Nighy as Lawrence in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The First Omen’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The First Omen’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Nell Tiger Free Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘The First Omen’ Exclusive Interview: Nell Tiger Free

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    ‘The First Omen,’ which opens in theaters on April 5th is the sixth film in the franchise and acts as a prequel to 1976’s ‘The Omen.’

    The new movie stars Nell Tiger Free (‘Servant’), Maria Caballero (‘Olvido’), Ralph Ineson (‘The Creator’), Sônia Braga (‘Shotgun Wedding’), Bill Nighy (‘Living’), and Charles Dance (‘The Golden Child’), and was directed by Arkasha Stevenson (‘Legion’).

    Related Article: Nell Tiger Free to Lead ‘The Omen’ Prequel ‘First Omen’

    Nell Tiger Free Talks 'The First Omen'.
    Nell Tiger Free Talks ‘The First Omen’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Nell Tiger Free in-person about her work on ‘The First Omen,’ her first reaction to the screenplay, being an ‘Omen’ fan, her character’s strange history, preparing for the role, working with Bill Nighy, and collaborating with director Arkasha Stevenson on set.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Free and director Arkasha Stevenson.

    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo by Moris Puccio. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and were you an ‘Omen’ fan before you signed on for the project?

    Nell Tiger Free: Big time. I love ‘The Omen.’ I love horror. I love all things weird and wonderful, and so getting to do this movie has been a real dream for me, honestly. It’s like all my favorite things combined, so I feel very lucky to be a part of this. When I read the original script, I remember almost looking at it initially from a fan’s point of view, not something that I was reading for potential work. It was more just like, what are they going to do with the prequel to ‘The Omen’? This was before I was signed on. I read the script and I remember reading it and going, okay, that’s great. That’s a really good idea. I just thought it was a great idea and a great expansion on the universe, “The Omen-Verse.” It just felt like it worked. Then I was like, I really hope they let me do this movie. I was really excited by it. As an actress and as a fan, thumbs up, I would say. That was my first initial reaction.

    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about the strange visions that haunted your character as a child and how that still affects her as an adult?

    MF: Yeah, absolutely. I think when we first meet Margaret, it’s all sunny, sweet and lovely, and that is true to a degree and that’s what you see on the surface. But Margaret’s deeply troubled from the opening frame. When she’s seeing Rome, she’s so mesmerized because she’s never been away from where she lives. She’s grown up there and she doesn’t know where she comes from or who she is. She grew up in an orphanage and she was very mistreated as a young child. Those things plague her and trouble her. She spent her entire childhood and adult life having people tell her that what she’s seeing isn’t real and to constantly question her reality and to constantly question herself. What’s so lovely is that at some point, she decides to stop listening and listen to herself instead. That was a very fun moment and fun arc to play.

    Director Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free as Margaret on the set of 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen.'
    (L to R) Director Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free as Margaret on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen.’ Photo by Moris Puccio. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Was this an emotionally difficult or physically exhausting role to play?

    NTF: Yeah, very much so it was. Physically, it was exhausting, but in such a rewarding, lovely way. I love being pushed like that. I love being challenged. Those days were my favorite days. The days where I’m doing the most intense, crazy stuff, those are the days I was most looking forward to. Emotionally, you can’t help what happens after. You can’t really help what happens before. You can only focus on what’s going on during. And during, if it feels real, then you push it and you just go for it and you let it run. You let over you. If you can’t stop crying, great, keep it going. I love that too. I’m a weirdo. The worst time it looks like I’m having on screen, the best time I’m having in my heart in real life.

    Bill Nighy as Lawrence in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    Bill Nighy as Lawrence in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about Margaret’s history with Cardinal Lawrence, why she trusts him, and working with Bill Nighy?

    NTF: It wasn’t hard to act like I trusted Bill Nighy because I trust him with my life, honestly. Sometimes I think if I got arrested, he’d be my first phone call. I think he’d just know what to do. I don’t know. I mean, that relationship is so nuanced, I think, between the two of them, even right up until the last moments. There’s never a clear, wrong or right thing that happens, and I think there is genuine real love between the two of them. He’s very much a father figure for Margaret, and I think he sees her very much as a child, as a daughter figure, and the love between them is very real and its real right up until the end. Unfortunately, there are some sinister things behind it, but it’s a real relationship and that’s why it’s so heartbreaking when we see the building blocks start to come down.

    Director Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free as Margaret on the set of 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    (L to R) Director Arkasha Stevenson and Nell Tiger Free as Margaret on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo by Moris Puccio. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about collaborating with director Arkasha Stevenson on set?

    NTF: The movie is Arkasha. It was everything. The whole universe was just infinitely better with Arkasha in it. I mean, having her there was everything to me. It was so important. I think with this subject matter and the content and weird stuff that I had to do, we really had to trust each other. I really had to trust her, and I did straight away within the first 10 seconds of meeting her. She just got more wonderful as the days went by and her directorial style is so hands-on and so respectful. She values every opinion and every thought that you have. It’s not like, okay, do one for you and do one for me, take-wise, which happens all the time where you’re at odds with what you think it should be. She’s always collaborative every time. She’s also just the loveliest person in the world, so it was a real dream. It was a real gift.

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    What is the Plot of ‘The First Omen’?

    The plot follows an American woman (Nell Tiger Free) sent to work at a church in Rome who uncovers a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘The First Omen’?

    • Nell Tiger Free as Margaret Daino
    • Sônia Braga as Sister Silvia
    • Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan
    • Bill Nighy as Cardinal Lawrence
    • Tawfeek Barhom as Father Gabriel
    • Maria Caballero as Luz Valez
    • Nicole Sorace as Carlita Skianna
    Sonia Braga as Silvia and Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios' 'The First Omen'.
    (L to R) Sonia Braga as Silvia and Nell Tiger Free as Margaret in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo by Moris Puccio. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The First Omen’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The First Omen’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Nell Tiger Free Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Shotgun Wedding’

    Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in 'Shotgun Wedding.'
    (L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.

    Premiering on Prime Video January 27th is the new romantic action comedy ‘Shotgun Wedding,’ which was directed by Jason Moore (‘Pitch Perfect’).

    The new movie stars Jennifer Lopez (‘Hustlers’) and Josh Duhamel (‘Bandit’) as Darcy and Tom, respectively, who decide to have a destination wedding on a small island. As their family and friends arrive, including Darcy’s Ex-boyfriend Sean (Lenny Kravitz), the couple get cold feet and begin to argue. But they soon must come together to save the wedding guest’s when they are all taken hostage by Pirates.

    In addition to Lopez, Duhamel, and Kravitz, the cast also includes Jennifer Coolidge (‘American Pie’), Sonia Braga (‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’), Cheech Marin (‘Coco’), D’Arcy Carden (‘The People We Hate at the Wedding’), and Callie Hernandez (‘La La Land’).

    The result is an entertaining and funny romantic action comedy, which features strong performances from the cast but is also very predictable.

    Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in 'Shotgun Wedding.'
    (L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.

    I’m a sucker for any movie with a ‘Die Hard’ theme. It doesn’t matter if it is ‘Die Hard’ on a plane (‘Passenger 57’) or ‘Die Hard’ in the White House (‘Olympus Has Fallen’), I’ll watch it! Which is probably why I enjoyed ‘Shotgun Wedding’ because it’s basically just ‘Die Hard’ at a wedding. With all the ‘Die Hard’ clones that have been made over the years, I was surprised to realize that no one had thought of setting it at a wedding until now.

    Originally conceived as a vehicle for Ryan Reynolds, who still serves as executive producer, the film was clearly retooled for Jennifer Lopez’s strengths once she came on board the project. And Lopez is uniquely qualified to star in this particular film as she is both believable in romantic comedies like ‘The Wedding Planner’ and ‘Maid in Manhattan,’ as well as action movies like ‘Out of Sight’ and ‘Parker.’ Lopez is in complete command in the romantic scenes with Duhamel, but she can also hold her own in the comedic scenes with Jennifer Coolidge, and looks completely believable firing a giant gun at the bad guys.

    In some ways, this is really the complete Jennifer Lopez performance as you get a little bit of everything she’s good at, including singing, as there is one musical number at the end of the movie.

    Veteran actor Josh Duhamel is probably best known from his appearances in the ‘Transformers’ movies, but has never really been given the opportunity to shine until now. Not unlike Lopez, ‘Shotgun Wedding’ gives Duhamel an opportunity to combine his comedic skills with his ability to be believable in an action role. The actor has some very funny moments in the movie, as well as sweet romantic scenes with Lopez, but also excels as an action-hero, along with J. Lo.

    Jennifer Coolidge as Carol Fowler in 'Shotgun Wedding.'
    Jennifer Coolidge as Carol Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.

    Jennifer Coolidge, finally a household name for her work on ‘The White Lotus’ and her award season acceptance speeches, plays Tom’s overprotective mother and is hilarious as always in the part. She essentially plays the same basic character she always plays, but it works perfectly for this project. She has great chemistry with Lopez, and even gets to shoot a gun herself in one scene.

    Cheech Marin and Sonia Braga were also nice to see playing Darcy’s estranged parents, and Marin has some fun scenes with D’Arcy Carden, who plays his new girlfriend. Marin also has a funny storyline with Lenny Kravitz’s Sean, Darcy’s ex-boyfriend who her father is still in touch with and invites to the wedding. Kravitz probably gives the weakest performance in the movie, and is basically just playing a version of himself. The character might have worked better if he actually played himself, and if Darcy’s ex was the real Lenny Kravitz! Unfortunately, as it is in the movie, the thrill of seeing Kravitz on screen wears off quick and you are left with a lackluster performance.

    Cheech Marin as Robert Rivera and Lenny Kravitz as Sean Hawkins in 'Shotgun Wedding.'
    (L to R) Cheech Marin as Robert Rivera and Lenny Kravitz as Sean Hawkins in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.

    In fact, the biggest problem with the film is its predictability. Obviously, we know that Tom and Darcy will survive, they will save the guests, and get married by the end of the movie, but we get there without any real surprises, which makes the movie drag at times. Even the reveal of the “true villain” in the third act was no real surprise, and could have been more of a mystery.

    While the romantic comedy elements are baked into the premise of the film, it’s the action sequences directed by Jason Moore that really make the film work. There is a thrilling zipline scene with Duhamel, and Lopez has some great moments with a hand grenade. But one of the best action scenes in the movie involves a helicopter/boat chase at the end of the film.

    At the end of the day, ‘Shotgun Wedding’ is a satisfying and entertaining romantic action comedy because of the strong performances from Lopez and Duhamel, who excel in this specific genre. It works as a cute rom-com, but also as a big budget action movie, and the supporting cast, especially Coolidge help fill out the film, even if it is predictable at times.

    Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in 'Shotgun Wedding.'
    (L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.

    ‘Shotgun Wedding’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

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  • ‘Shotgun Wedding’ Interviews: Jennifer Coolidge and Cheech Marin

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    The new romantic action comedy ‘Shotgun Wedding,’ starring Jennifer Lopez (‘Out of Sight’) and Josh Duhamel (‘Transformers’) is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video beginning January 27th.

    Lopez and Duhamel star as Darcy and Tom, a couple that are having their wedding on a remote tropical island. Trouble begins when Darcy’s ex-boyfriend (Lenny Kravitz) arrives uninvited, and the wedding guests, including their parents, are taken hostage by Pirates. Now, Tom and Darcy must work together to save their guests as well as their wedding day.

    Recent Golden Globe winner Jennifer Coolidge plays Tom’s overprotective mother Carol, while Cheech Marin plays Darcy’s father Robert. The rest of the cast includes Sonia Braga as Darcy’s mother Renata, Steve Coulter as Tom’s dad Larry, D’Arcy Carden as Robert’s girlfriend Harriet, Callie Hernandez as Darcy’s sister Jamie, and Selena Tan as Marge, the owner of the resort.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Coolidge and Cheech Marin about their work on ‘Shotgun Wedding,’ their outragous characters, Coolidge’s gun training, and working with Jennifer Lopez.

    Jennifer Coolidge as Carol Fowler in 'Shotgun Wedding.'
    Jennifer Coolidge as Carol Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Coolidge, Marin, D’Arcy Carden, Steve Coulter, Selena Tan, and Callie Hernandez.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Jennifer, can you talk about Carol’s overprotective relationship with her son, Tom, and how she feels about his marriage to Darcy?

    Jennifer Coolidge: Because Carol has only had sex twice in her life, I think she’s very worried about her son being seduced by a very sexy Darcy. She’s especially blowing it before the wedding. Someone like Carol can’t relate to her sexy in-law, for sure. She can’t relate, so she’s got to shut it down. Pull out the garden hose and get off my lawn!

    MF: You really get involved in the action sequences and have a scene where you are firing a machine gun. Was that fun for you to do and what kind of training did you have for that scene?

    JC: They were very worried about me with the gun, the production, I think, so I had more gun classes than I could handle. I had many gun classes, so I was ready. I got a gun diploma and everything. I love that they took that much time to make sure that I wouldn’t be dangerous to anybody. How cool is it to be a little James Bond, or some Michelle Yeoh moment, or whatever.

    Cheech Marin stars in Prime Video's 'Shotgun Wedding.'
    Cheech Marin stars in Prime Video’s ‘Shotgun Wedding.’

    MF: Cheech, can you talk about Robert’s relationship with his girlfriend Harriet, and the drama that it causes when he brings her to his daughter’s wedding?

    Cheech Marin: Well, there’s a lot of drama because I play Darcy’s father and I invite her ex-boyfriend, played by Lenny Kravitz, to the ceremony. So, you know stuff’s going to happen right away like, “What the hell did you do that for?” So, it was interesting, but this was a great cast of characters. We all got along really well, and each of us was very different than the other. But to bring your girlfriend to your daughter’s wedding, you know hijinks ensue and you’re going to be surprised.

    MF: Finally, what was it like for you working with Jennifer Lopez and playing her dad?

    CM: It was wonderful. I mean, she’s a really good actress to work with, and a good producer to work with, who’s acting at the same time. I’ve done both, and it’s a handful, but she was always on her marks and ready to go. She set the mark, and she sang at the Presidential inauguration right before we started. She had legit chops. Because I’m a musician myself, I asked her about that, “What was the makeup of the orchestra?” She said it was very minimal so you could really hear her voice, and she belted it out.

    Jennifer Coolidge stars in Prime Video's 'Shotgun Wedding.'
    Jennifer Coolidge stars in Prime Video’s ‘Shotgun Wedding.’
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  • Watch Goran Višnjić in an exclusive clip from ‘Fatima’

    Watch Goran Višnjić in an exclusive clip from ‘Fatima’

    In this clip from the upcoming film ‘Fatima,’ Goran Višnjić plays the skeptical mayor of a small Portuguese town, and he doesn’t believe the three children who say they’ve seen a vision of the Virgin Mary.

    Višnjić’s co-stars for the film include Joaquim de Almeida, Stephanie Gil, Lúcia Moniz, Sônia Braga, and Harvey Keitel.

    Here is the official synopsis:

    In 1917, outside the parish of Fatima, Portugal, a 10-year-old girl and her two younger cousins witness multiple visitations of the Virgin Mary, who tells them that only prayer and suffering will bring an end to World War I. As secularist government officials and Church leaders try to force the children to recant their story, word of the sighting spreads across the country, inspiring religious pilgrims to flock to the site in hopes of witnessing a miracle. What they experience will transform their quiet lives and bring the attention of a world yearning for peace.

    ‘Fatima’ will be in theaters and on demand on August 28.

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