Tag: movie review

Fun Mom Dinner Junket: interviewing Toni Collette, Bridget Everett, Molly Shannon and Katie Aselton

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram
I was hosted by Momentum Films for the Fun Mom Dinner press junket.

In Momentum Film’s Fun Mom Dinner, a normal night out with mom friends is challenged when fun is redefined. Navigating motherhood with school-aged children is no easy feat. In fact, the movie industry has created a funny dialogue about modern parenting and the comedy that ensues when moms take on life with kids.

 

FMD Image1

When Emily (Katie Aselton), Kate (Toni Collette), Melanie (Bridget Everett) and Jamie (Molly Shannon) gather for a night out, the night goes from innocent conversation and lamenting about parenthood into overdrive with some questionable, but hilarious behavior.

 Written by Julie Rudd, directed by Alethea Jones, Fun Mom Dinner features an all-star cast of funny comedians: Katie Aselton, Toni Collette, Bridget Everett and Molly Shannon. Made by women for women, Fun Mom Dinner exudes a unique energy that is reflective of the passionate creators in front of the camera, as well as behind the scenes.

Fun Mom Dinner is a fun, sometimes impossible flick that’s perfect for a girls’ night out. Plus, Adam Levine’s in it! Hello! 

 

FUN MOM DINNER Key Art

 

As a mom who had an identity before kids, I can definitely relate to a few of the characters portrayed in Fun Mom Dinner. As someone who’s often reluctant to go beyond my usual circle of friends, I definitely related to Kate and Emily’s plight in Fun Mom Dinner. The ensemble cast made the laughs and ridiculousness seem effortless.

 

FMD Image3

Last week, i was invited to take part in a media junket with the cast, director, writer and producer of Fun Mom Dinner. 

 

It was so great hearing from these funny women and to get their thoughts on parenting and how they enjoy having a good time.

 

What I loved was how each actress has a distinctly different comedic background. In fact, I loved how Toni Collette recounted her first experience with getting acquainted with Bridget Everett.

“I got the script and Bridget was attached, but I was unfamiliar with her work.  So, I thought I’ll just take a peek, and then I couldn’t stop reading it.  So, I loved it and immediately wanted to do it.  

But then I looked at a link to Bridget in her prime on YouTube, and I was so blown away.  I was sitting in a hotel room by myself, like, with tears running down my face laughing my ass off. “ 

 

 

Unnamed 49

The ensemble cast enjoyed the unique timeframe and the fact that they filmed at night. 

Colette said, “And working together exceeded any expectation I could have had.  It was so much fun.  We shot all nights because it’s a movie about dinner, not about brunch.  And even though it was a little exhausting, it really was such a highlight.”

 

Since the actresses portrayed moms of different walks of life, one of the bloggers at the junket asked a great question about what advice they’d give other moms.

 

One piece of advice that’s on my personal radar is what Molly Shannon shared: “I read this amazing book called Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety.  It’s fantastic.  

But basically it’s about how women can be really hard on other women.  And there’s women who work, women who don’t work, and there’s a lot of insecurity about these choices. 

I loved what Katie Aselton’s advice for other moms. 

“Shaking the pressure to be that women that everyone looks at and says, “How does she do it?”  I feel like we do that to ourselves a lot. 

 But, perhaps, the most hilarious piece of advice came from Bridget Everette who is a mom to a pup, Poppy. When asked about how she unwinds, Bridget said:

‘It’s similar to Pilates, but I get a pineapple and I cut it up into tiny little pieces and then I put them in a bottle of Tito’s, and then I freeze it.  And then at 5:00 I shake it up.  I put it on some ice and I drink my pini-tini.  That’s it, just pineapple, ice, and vodka.  It couldn’t be easier.”

Fun Mom Dinner is now in select theaters and On Demand; find it on iTunes. 

 

 

 

 
Full disclosure: I was a guest of Momentum Films as part of the Fun Mom press junket. I did not receive monetary compensation. As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

Ice Age: Collision Course is a Fun Family Film

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In the latest installment in the Ice Age franchise, Manny and crew are back for more fun in Ice Age: Collision Course. In the latest film, Manny (Ray Romano) and Ellie’s (Queen Latifah) daughter, Peaches (Keke Palmer) is approaching a new phase in life. Peaches, who is getting married, hopes to explore the world with her new husband, Julian—much to her parents’ chagrin. IceAgeCC Poster

Alongside of this new phase in life, the Earth is experiencing its own changes, where Manny and his friends must team up to make things right. Along the way, they meet eccentric characters, such as Shangri Llama, who follow a different path in life, making this adventure even more colorful.

IceAgeCC Image3

Several weeks ago, I had the chance to screen Ice Age: Collision Course and interview Keke Palmer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, as well as the director Mike Thurmeier. This was such a fun junket at the Crosby Hotel, and an equally funny family film that I can’t wait for my kiddos to see.

IceAgeCC Peaches

I asked Keke and Jesse about their experience with exploring and roaming, and I loved what they had to say.

Traveling and roaming, exploration was a key component in this story, and it’s obviously a right of passage in many peoples’ lives. Have any of you taken any significant trips in your life that were, you know, life changing?

Keke said, “Significant trips? Probably when I was living in New York for the four months doing Broadway. That was the most significant change I could tell in myself because I’m so thankful that I used that time wisely because it really left me the opportunity to learn so much about myself. I used the opportunity of the discipline I had to have for Broadway to take time from my phone and to really sit with myself and discover more ways to meditate and do yoga. And that was a really cool time for me. Even though my mom was there, she really gave me my space, and she and I were transitioning into, you know, her seeing me also as an adult and respecting my boundaries. And that was a really cool time where I was able to see, “Wow, okay, you’re making a jump, sister.”

IceAgeCC ShangriLlama

Jesse Tyler Ferguson had a wonderful anecdote about traveling too:

“I just got to go to Cuba, which was really, really interesting. And you sort of have to go with a purpose, which I love. It wasn’t a trip for the weak of heart. We went, and we brought Capezio dance shoes to a dance troupe out there, and they performed for us. And I was able to immerse myself in the artists that were in the culture there. And we weren’t just having mojitos and smoking cigars. You know, we really got to like experience and see the parts of the city that I think are, you know, not shown on Instagram and Yelp.”

Be sure to check out the brand new adventure in Ice Age: Collision Course, which is out in theaters on July 22.

Full disclosure: I was invited by 20th Century Fox to participate in this press junket. As always, all opinions are my own.

The Secret Life of Pets is a Fun Ride with Furry, Fluffy and Feathered Friends

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Every now and then, a movie comes along that brings together a star-studded cast to deliver a funny and feel-good story while truly living up to its hype—and The Secret Life of Pets does just that!

PTS Adv1Sht5 RGB 0125 7

The Secret Life of Pets, from Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures, is an imaginative and hilarious portrayal of city pets that shows what happens when unlikely characters work together and find the value of friendship and loyalty in the process. Max, the terrier, is well-loved by his owner and embraces the life of a solo pet. That is, until his owner, Katie, introduces an oversized upheaval to the home: Duke the Newfoundland.

2426 FPF 00478R

The newly-minted frenemies, Max and Duke, as well as their fluffy, furry and feathered band of domesticated friends find themselves in quite a storied predicament that leads to them exploring the city streets and navigating the underbelly of the city where the “flushed” animals go to live. On their adventure, Max and Duke meet stray cats, a psychotic bunny, Tattoo the pig, among other colorful characters.

2426 FPF 00342R

The Secret Life of Pets is a great mix of silly antics and clever comedy, which appeals to both kids and parents. Surprisingly, the music complemented the story well, between the composed poodle headbanging to System of a Down, classic songs weaved throughout and Basement Jaxx’s Do Your Thing from the trailer. Semi-spoiler: my older son squealed when he realized the song during the sausage factory scene. Grease fans will appreciate it!

My kids, who are 4 and 8, both enjoyed the film from start to finish and continually quote it every time there’s a relevant reference.  While drinking milk: “Chug, chug, chug…” Their favorite parts of The Secret Life of Pets revolve around pooping and the dogs drinking (chugging) out of the toilet. Naturally.

 

 

A photo posted by Jen Rabulan-Bertram (@jenrab) onJun 23, 2016 at 8:04pm PDT

In line with the silliness, its the collective cast of characters and the voice actors who make this film an instant classic! My kids and I watched the screening before I read up on the voice actors, and I loved the surprise when I realized who voiced whom. With the big push for this film, it was hard to avoid that surprise, but it’s definitely cool for the adults to associate the actors to the characters they voice in the film.

PTS Wild Chloe5 RGB 0325 1

A few favorite voices from The Secret Life of Pets: Louis C.K.(Louie) is mild-mannered Max the Terrier, Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) is the fluffy Newf who uses his size to his advantage, Lake Bell’s Chloe the cat embodies the dissociation of felines in general and the crazy, but lovable Snowball the bunny was brought to life by Kevin Hart.

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to interview several of the actors who voiced these fun pets. It was, hands-down, one of the funniest interviews I’ve done yet.

IMG 3831

Before Hollywood, Eric Stonestreet, grew up at a farm in Kansas, so he has had animals his whole life. With respect to Duke he said: “ I think when you meet him at the beginning of the movie you think one thing about him, that he’s kind of a bully and kind of a tough guy, —mildly a tough guy because he is protecting something. We don’t know what that is. And I think we all do that as people; we put up a front in certain situations. So, I relate to him in that way, that you kind of protect yourself a little bit and hide what’s maybe sometimes going on behind the scenes. And he is fun and lovable. He’s a lap dog. I think I’m kind of a little bit of a lap dog.”

For a little fluffy bunny, Kevin Hart’s Snowball does an admirable job leading a revolution for his fellow flushed animals. Hart’s small but fierce mentality and self-deprecating humor is a perfect complement to his character. Well known for sharing his daily adventures as a parent, comedian and personality on social media, I used the opportunity as a fellow social media enthusiast to see what Snowball would do. That should be a thing, right? What Would Snowball DO? (WWSD) Ha!
Hart had us cracking up, but inspired at the same time: 

“Snowball is a leader.  And he is starting a revolution, so everything is about recruiting.  You know, if he was on there, I don’t think it would be in the realm of my Snapchats.  Snowball’s are strictly PSA messages of join the movement, join the revolution.  And it’s basically against people.  

He is basically fussing at people.  That’s why I love Snowball.  But, his anger is justified.  Snowball doesn’t like people just–it’s not like he just doesn’t like people just because they’re people.  He doesn’t like people because he was hurt.  He bought into the whole person and pet reality.  And when he was hurt by that because someone abandoned him, it really threw him off. That’s what I love about this character, you know.  

2426 S1230P0226 L COMPO RENDER 0143R

I don’t just do things just to do them.  I have to put depth to it.  And that’s with any movie that I’ve done.  I think I’m very funny in every movie that I’ve done, and the movies have progressed, but the reason why the characters are always funny is because there is a foundation underneath the character.  And that’s what me and the director talked about.  I was like, “I don’t just want to play the guy because he’s funny.  What’s the foundation?”  

And being that Snowball was hurt is one thing, but then I made him insecure.  You notice he’s very insecure.  You know, he gives out these orders, but then he questions the orders that he gave out, you know.  “Everybody listen.  Raise your hand unless you’re tired.  Unless your arm is tired.  Put your arm down.  You don’t have to raise your hand.”  And it’s funny.  You laugh at it, but it shows you that he’s not really the guy that he’s being.  This is a manufactured version of himself, which justifies when he gets the hug at the end–he melts.”

It’s always fun chatting with talent to hear what makes them tick as actors, but also to get their perspective on the film and their contribution of their characters in the film. In the end, The Secret Life of Pets is a fiercely funny story, but it’s the underlying story of loyalty, kindness and staying true to yourself that makes this a feel-good film, and one that is absolutely our favorite family film this summer! 

The Secret Life of Pets is out in theaters July 8. You can purchase your tickets to The Secret Life of Pets on Fandango.

 

Kevin, Stuart and Bob are Hilarious in Minions Movie

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Everyone’s favorite hilarious little yellow characters are front and center in Universal Pictures’ Minions. As the leads in their namesake animated feature, the Minions are up to some shenanigans and life before Gru. 

Minions Poster2

Minions explores life for the yellow fellows and their hunt for their leader. When collaborations with leaders like Napoleon, Dracula and dinosaurs ultimately fail, the Minions decide to tap some of their best, er, most willing guys—Kevin, Stuart and Bob—set off on a hunt for their true leader. 

Minions Still2

Several series of events lead the trio to their chance encounter with an evil family who help them get down to the Villain Con in Orlando.

Minions Still4

Their search leads them to Scarlet Overkill (voiced by Sandra Bullock) and then becoming her evil henchmen. Kevin, Stuart and Bob are tasked with taking the British crown, which then leads to them becoming royalty and making Scarlett feel threatened. Because the Minions are loyal, they grant Scarlet the monarchy and things get a little crazy to say the least. Kevin, Stuart and Bob beckon the rest of their crew to England and must save the World in the process.

Minions Still11

Despite the evil brouhahas and constant scheming, Minions is a story about friendship, loyalty and courage. In their first foray as the lead, the Minions are able to endure their brand of comedy and nonsensical scenarios, without uttering a complete intelligible sentence, thanks to the supporting cast and silly storyline. Sandra Bullock’s Scarlett Overkill added a feisty flavor to the mix, as did Jon Hamm as Her Overkill. We learn to love the Minions’ imperfections even more than we already do, and Kevin, Stuart and Bob 

Minions Still12

Minions Still9

My Minion-obsessed 3-year-old sat through the entirety of the 1 hour 44 min runtime, and could’ve watched it several times over. I thought it could’ve been a little shorter, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Overall, Minions is a fun family flick, and one that’s sure to be a hit with the littlest guys, as well as the adults. 

Minions Still14

 

Minions hits theaters on July 10th.