A dynamite cast directed by Shekhar Kapur brings us a rom-com we might enjoy. What’s Love Got To Do With It? presents an old question: How do you find lasting love in today’s world?
For documentary-maker and dating app addict Zoe, played by Lily James, swiping right has only delivered an endless stream of Mr. Wrongs. Yet, her eccentric mother, Cath, played by Emma Thompson, shows dismay.
For Zoe’s childhood friend and neighbor Kaz, played by Shazad Latif, the answer is to follow his parents’ example and opt for an arranged (or “assisted”) marriage to a bright and beautiful bride from Pakistan.
As Zoe films his hopeful journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger his parents chose, she wonders if she might have something to learn from a profoundly different approach to finding love.
Directed by Craig Gillespie, an Australian best known for I, Tonya brings us a Cruella based on 101 Dalmatians.
In this live-action prequel feature, the story follows young Cruella de Vil, played by Emma Stone. We learn how Cruella became a fur lover and dog hater.
Dana Fox and Tony McNamara contributed to the screenplay. McNamara wrote The Favourite, which starred Emma Stone.
The film also stars Emma Thompson and Mark Strong.
Rex Harrison and Eddie Murphy played the beloved Dr. Dolittle before this production with Robert Downey Jr.
Written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, based on the story by Thomas Shepherd, Dolittle excites one of literature’s most enduring characters and stories in an expressive remake of the classic tale of the man who talks to animals, Dr. John Dolittle, played by Robert Downey Jr.
The movie is available on Prime and wherever DVDs and Blu-rays are sold.
After losing his wife seven years earlier, Dolittle becomes eccentric but a famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria’s England. He hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of exotic animals for company.
But when the young queen, played by Jessie Buckley, falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle set sails on a grand adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, recovering his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and discovers fascinating creatures.
The doctor is accompanied on his journey by a young, self-appointed apprentice, played by Harry Collett. Joining the doctor are a loud circle of animal friends, including an anxious gorilla, voiced by Rami Malek, an enthusiastic but bird-brained duck, spoken by Octavia Spencer, a bickering duo of a cynical ostrich, voiced by Kumail Nanjiani, and an upbeat polar bear, voiced by John Cena, and a headstrong parrot, voiced by Emma Thompson, who serves as Dolittle’s most esteemed advisor and confidante.
The movie also stars Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Jim Broadbent. It features additional voice performances from Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Carmen Ejogo, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Tom Holland, and Craig Robinson.
The next trailer offers more information about the movie, and it seems more entertaining.
Paul Feig directs Last Christmas based on Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings’ screenplay. Thompson also stars as Kate’s mother. Emilia Clarke of HBO’s Game of Thrones plays Kate, and Henry Golding of Crazy Rich Asians plays Tom.
The story begins with Kate harrumphing around London, making terrible decisions with an irritating job as an elf at a year-round Christmas store. The store owner, played by Michelle Yeoh, is not a pleasant boss.
Billed as a romantic comedy, I believe Feig, whose directed raunchy all-women comedies, is vying for a cute, lovable, clean movie hitting it big at the box office.
Last Christmas will be the one that makes it big compared to A Simple Favor, which had the makings of success but missed the opportunity because of the storyline and pace of the movie.
When Kate meets Tom, who seems too good to be true when he walks into her life and starts to see through so many of Kate’s barriers, London transforms into the most incredible time of the year. Nothing should work for these two.
But sometimes, you got to let the snow fall where it may, you got to listen to your heart, and you got to have faith.
Last Christmas features the music of George Michael, including the bittersweet holiday classic of the film’s title. The film will also premiere new unreleased material by the legendary Grammy-winning artist, who sold over 115 million albums and recorded 10 No. 1 singles throughout his iconic career.
Look at the movie trailer; you will agree this is a must-see for the Christmas holiday.
The second trailer looks hopeful, and I don’t think the ending is sad; fingers crossed.
I hope something worthwhile happens in the movie, but nothing tragic. While watching the clips, I kept thinking the shoe would never drop but fate may have a different destiny. Golding’s character must be an angel of some sort.
The featurette tells where the movie was filmed in London. It’s a cute piece, fast passed, and worth watching.
Emma Thompson, who wrote this screenplay, is marvelous in this clip.
Directed by Nisha Ganatra, Late Night follows two women. Katherine, a late-night talk show host, played by Emma Thompson, suspects she is on the verge of losing her long-running show.
In walks Molly, played by Mindy Kaling, the new staff writer, who is a bit quirky. Sure enough, she slowly builds her trust with Katherine and is in good graces with her. Where the story goes from here is hard to tell from the movie trailer.
I watched the movie last night on Prime with my daughter. Emma Thompson is fantastic, she nails it, as does John Lithgow. However, the story falls flat, and it was not as upbeat as it could be. The script jumped around without intent of where it was headed. Thompson kept the focus and my interest.
Mindy Kaling wrote the screenplay, and it seems funny. We are seeing more and more women buddy movies, and this is another one.
Ganatra directing credits are episodic television shows like Mr. Robot and You Me Her.
The rest of the cast includes Megalyn Echikunwoke, Amy Ryan, and John Lithgow.
The movie clip “Teachable Way” shows how Thompson’s character is so cut-throat with innuendoes.
The second poster shares the spotlight for both of the lead women in the movie. They are so opposite of each other that the poster attracts our attention.
The second trailer shows are the makings of a great comedy. The cast of professionals is stellar. It is obvious that they make their marks. I see a fun movie with some serious social issues staying out of the radar. I look forward to seeing Lithgow and Thompson play off each other as husband and wife.
The third movie trailer is like the second trailer. Only, it explains the story better, and we see more of Lithgow and Thompson together.
The interview with the female stars of Late Night discusses women’s roles in late-night television as hosts and writers, the lack thereof. It is definitely something everyone needs to watch whether male or female. Thompson’s viewpoint of men is funny.
Kaling talks about writing the role for Thompson before she even agreed to play the lead. There is so much more in this interview — don’t pass it up.
The movie clips are adorable and offer insight as to what you can expect when you see that movie at the theater. Thomspon is great in this movie. She nails it.
The studios are callling this the final trailer. It’s flashy and hard sell, but there are some clips we haven’t seen yet, so enjoy.
Directed by F. Gary Gray, Men In Black: International follows an upstart known as Agent M, played by Tessa Thompson. She joins the group and partners with Agent H, played by Chris Hemsworth. MIB has always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe.
However, in this new adventure, they tackle their biggest global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.
The movie also stars two stellar actors, Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson. Hemsworth looks yummy.
The third trailer tells us the whole story and what the CGI includes, with Thompson’s character stating at the beginning of the trailer, “We are a rumor.” It looks like a no-brainer and popcorn entertainment.
Written and directed by Chris Butler, Missing Link follows Mr. Link, voiced by Zach Galifianakis, eight feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur. The appearance means nothing with his character because he is funny, sweet, and cuddly literal.
They consider him the world’s most lovable legend, the link to the globe-trotting family adventure. He’s bored with living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost, voiced by Hugh Jackman, to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La.
Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, played by Zoe Saldana, the fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend. Through it all, the three learn that sometimes you can find a family in the places you least expect.
Butler worked on several animated features wearing different hats. He worked his way up to being a talented director of animation movies.
The movie’s other voice actors include Zoe Saldana, Timothy Olyphant, David Walliams, Emma Thompson, Matt Lucas, Ching Valdes-Aran, Stephen Fry, and Amrita Acharia.
The second trailer tells us so much about the story, with lots of jokes and funny situations. Missing Link is a kid’s movie, but parents or adults will find it just as entertaining.
The Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming are available. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you need to see it now. It is a fantastic piece of stop-motion animation, artfully and beautifully made.
I picked three interviews to share with my Movie Roar readers. They are from several that I have available on my YouTube Channel. The first is my favorite with Zoe Saldana. She’s my favorite interview because she explains the story so well.
The second interview is with Hugh Jackman because he is so enthusiastic about the movie and the LAIKA that I wanted to share it with you.
The next interview is with Zach Galifianakis because he looks great in this clip. He explains Mr. Link as a special person.
The two movie clips show the relationship between Mr. Link and Sir Lionel Frost. The kids will see all slapstick humor, and the parents will understand the play on words. The stop-motion animation is mind-boggling. It is an art form that requires a tremendous about of detail and time.
The red carpet interview with Travis Knight, who is the CEO of LAIKA, talks about his studio’s location and the movies they create in stop-motion. Knight also directed BumbleBee, and it not a stop-motion movie though there is more CGI.
Screenplay by William Davies, the comedy follows Johnny English, played, once again, by Rowan Atkinson, after a cyber-attack reveals the identity of all of the active undercover agents in Britain. He is forced to come out of retirement to find the mastermind hacker.
