Sully soars at the box office

Movie Title:    Sully

Grade:  A-

Rating:   PG-13, 96 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This is an inspiring, true story of Captain Chesley Sullenberger III, who saved 155 souls by landing a US Airways airplane on the Hudson River in 2009 when both engines failed.  

Known as “Miracle on the Hudson,” the story dramatically measures numbers and facts against human frailties and instinct.

Combine the legendary Clint Eastwood (who directs the film) with Tom Hanks’ excellent performance and you get solid tribute to a deserving hero.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Everything is unprecedented until it has happened.” – Sully
• “A pilot never stops acquiring knowledge.” – Sully’s crop-dusting trainer when he was young
• Here’s to the hard-working, unsung heroes who do their best every day without fanfare or awards.  Sully explained, “I don’t feel like a hero.  I was just a man doing my job.” - Sully
• "A delay is better than a disaster." - Sully's Chinese fortune cookie

Things I liked:

• I wondered how this story would be stretched into a feature film and what we might learn that we hadn’t already heard in the news when it happened.  Clint Eastwood does an outstanding job building tension and drama by looping forwards and backwards through the story, creating a powerful end to the movie that we didn’t know.
• Great cinematography and CGI work.
• Fans of disaster movies will get a few glimpses of what kind of destruction could have happened if the plane had crashed differently, as imagined by Sully in nightmares and flashbacks.
• Anna Gun from Breaking Bad and Mike O’Malley from Glee do a great job as the critical investigators who questioned Sully’s decision to land on the Hudson River.
• Audiences will likely compare Tom Hanks’ portrayal of Sully with his role as Captain Phillips in that award-winning movie.  Tom Hanks delivers powerful and stirring performances in both.  How is it he has only received two Oscars so far?  Even stranger is that they were both back in the ‘90’s.  He’s everything we want in an actor and truly carries this understated film.
• Hollywood often glamorizes “bad boys” as heroes, so it’s truly refreshing to see an honest, hard-working “good guy” win the praises and adoration he deserves.
• Don’t leave the theater after the last scene.  Keep watching during the final credits and you’ll be rewarded with photos and videos of the wreckage, rescue, and reunion of the passengers from Flight 1549.  You get to hear the real Sully announce, "This is your captain speaking."
• You can never go wrong when you add New York City as a character in your movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• Laura Linney plays Lorrie Sullenberger who withers under the pressure and spends the entire movie walking around her house on the phone. 
• Aaron Eckhart had the most gigantic, distracting mustache I’ve ever seen on him.  I normally love him (he has my son’s eyes), but all I could see when he talked was that super bushy mustache.
• Because the film is pretty short, there simply isn’t enough time to develop any characters other than Tom Hanks’ portrayal of Captain Sullenberger.  We don’t even learn anything about his co-pilot played by Aaron Eckhart.
• I thought it was almost creepy when the flight attendants started chanting “Brace for impact!  Heads down! Stay down!”  Obviously, that’s what they’re trained to do in a crash-landing scenario, but it seems like that would make the situation even more stressful and scary.
• I wish the camera had stayed on Tom Hanks' face longer when he was given the news in the hospital that 155 souls were saved that day.  That was a missed opportunity for what could have been an incredible performance by Hanks.  He started to deliver powerful emotion, but then the camera moved away!

Interesting tidbits:

• The movie was filmed with IMAX cameras.
• The famous aircraft carrier Intrepid is featured in the movie.
• A local bar in New York City created a drink they called “The Sully” which has some Grey Goose with a “splash” of water.
• The water in the Hudson River was an icy 36 degrees that day.  A few passengers jumped in the water and could have easily been frozen to death if rescue workers hadn’t quickly arrived on the scene.  Sully never took credit for saving all the people on the plane day; instead, he attributed the combined efforts of his entire crew and all of the rescue workers to their survival that day.
• Chelsey Sullenberger III was included in Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons” of 2009.
• The aircraft for Flight 1549 was recovered and is now on display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Sully has received several awards and authored two books since that fateful day.  He was hired as an aviation and safety expert by CBS News and currently gives speeches.

Funny lines:

• “I’ve never been so happy to be in New York in my life.” – Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart)
• “It’s our job to investigate how the plane ended up in the Hudson.” – Charles Porter (Mike O’Malley)

“ON the river.” – Jeff

• “You know the only way to get out of La Guardia on time?” – flight attendant #1

“What’s that?” – flight attendant #2

“Go to JFK.” – flight attendant #1

• “I’m thinking about running over the press with a car.  Self-defense.  Do you think a jury would convict?” – Lorraine Sullenberger (Laura Linney)
• “Can you believe they charge $5 for a Snickers?  I could bankrupt the airline in 5 bites.” – Jeff Skiles

• Interesting lines:

• "It's been awhile since New York had news this good, especially with an airplane in it." - US Airways representative
• “Life’s easier in the air.” – Jeff Skiles
• “They should pin the medal and put you back to work.” – Jeff Skiles
• “I don’t like not being in control of the process.  I’d like myself back.” – Sully
• "There was no calculating.  I had to rely on my experience." - Sully

Parent tips:

• 1 F-bomb, which is actually surprising, considering how many people could have easily lost their lives that dramatic, stressful day.
• It’s a little slow-moving and boring for children.

   

The Secret Life of Pets is fuzzy fun

Movie Title:      The Secret Life of Pets

  

Grade:  A-

Rating: PG, 90 minutes  

In a Nutshell:  This high energy family flick by Universal and Illumination is colorful and fun for all ages.  

Directed by Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud, the visual gags, lines and chase scenes come at you non-stop with just the right touch of heartwarming “ahhs.”  It’s oddly therapeutic, like you’ve just been playing with your own pet for 90 minutes.  

Uplifting theme: 

• Friendship
• Love

Things I liked:

• I love the opening New York City scene.  You just can’t go wrong making a movie with the Big Apple as one of your characters.
• You’ll recognize Jenny Slate’s voice from the adorable Zootopia movie.  She has such a unique voice that she has a great future in animated family films.
• The animators clearly have pets.  They nailed the body movements and pet expressions.
• It’s fast-paced with humor that even parents will get a kick out of.
• The talented cast includes Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Albert Brooks, Steve Coogan, Dana  Carvey, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Bobby Moynihan and more.  I adore Jaime Camil in the popular TV sit-com “Jane the Virgin”, so I was happy to hear his melodramatic, over-acted Latino voice as Fernando in a telenovela that Gidget watches.
• I laughed out loud at the sea monkey's comment because I had thought the very same thing after buying some.
• The story about how dogs are descended from wolves.  Ha ha
• Cute and perky music by Alexandre Desplat.
• Keep watching after the first set of credits at the end.  At the very end, you hear Pops yell, “Alright, party’s over!”

Things I didn’t like:

• See it in 3D if you want to see dog drool flying towards you.
• It’s chaotic, so you'll probably want to take a nap with your dog afterwards. 
• Isn’t this story basically Toy Story with animals?  Think about it.
• Kevin Hart’s character Snowball screams during the entire movie, which can grate on your nerves. 
• The French animation studio, Illumination, really pushes the envelope for family entertainment, because this movie has violence, sexual innuendo, and a few jokes that are inappropriate for American sensibilities.
• You see most of the cute moments in the movie trailer within the first 10 minutes of the film.
• Snowball is a total psycho and the action sequences with him escalate into the absurd by the end.

Funny lines:

• “Where is Max?  Tell me!  Don’t look at him.  Look at me.” -  Gidget (Jenny Slate)
• “I feel heroic…and handsome…a little wet, but I look good.  I look good.” – Snowball
• “I’m your friend, and as your friend, I gotta be honest.  I don’t care about you or your problems.” – Chloe
• “We gotta take the secret route!” – Pops

“Ok, the secret route was death.” – Chloe

• “Nobody could ever love a cat like they love a dog.  I’m just saying.” – Max
• “Dog people do weird, inexplicable things like they get dogs instead of cats.” – Chloe
• “You’re not doing great, but you’re not drowning…and that’s something!” – Duke  (Eric Stonestreet)
• “You may have lots of time, but for me, every minute is a cliffhanger.” – Pops (Dana Carvey)
• “This is groundbreaking evil behavior, people!” – Snowball
• “Oh, great. You’re in love.  How gross for everyone.” - Pops

Tips for parents:   

• It will make you want to line the walls of your house with web cams to see what your pets really do when you’re gone.
• Because the target audience is young, plan on butt-sniffing, rabbit pooping, and nervous peeing jokes.
• Your kids are DEFINITELY going to want a pet after seeing this.

Brooklyn features talented Saoirse Ronan

Movie Title:      Brooklyn

Grade:   B+

Rating:   PG-13, 1 hour 51 minutes

In a Nutshell:    Irish actress Saoirse Ronan shines in this period piece about Irish immigrants coming to America in the 1950’s.  It’s a character study about self-discovery that flows slowly and smoothly.

Some critics were hoping she would be nominated for an Oscar for best actress, and she made the list (she didn't win). Not only that, but the film was also nominated for Best Picture, although it didn't win either.

Uplifting theme: 

•  The film asks the questions of all us:  Who am I?  Where do I belong? What should I do with my life?
• “Home sickness is like most sicknesses.  It will pass.” – Father Flood (Jim Broadbent)

Things I liked:

• I loved it when that guy sang an old Irish song in the food hall on Thanksgiving.  Have you discovered Peter Hollens on YouTube?  He sings a fantastic Irish song that I really love: “The Parting Glass”, which has been featured in the video game Assassin’s Creed 4. 
• I’ve always liked Domhnall Gleeson.  I loved him in About Time .   Too bad he doesn’t show up until the end of the movie.
• Julie Walters plays Mrs. Kehoe so well that you can almost taste her boarding house cooking.
• I loved visiting Ireland.  One of the things on my Bucket List is to not just go to Ireland, but to sing with drunk locals at pub in Ireland.  No, I don’t drink, but I think it would be fun to feel like an Irish girl where the locals hang out.
• I appreciated the respectful nod to all of the Irish immigrants who helped build the bridges, buildings, and traditions of Brooklyn: Then and Now® .

Things I didn’t like:

• The Irish director, John Crowley, introduces small conflicts throughout the film, but the big one doesn’t arrive until almost the end of the movie.  I thought it was resolved too quickly; I would have liked to see it explored in more depth.
• It’s very slow-moving.
• Tony’s character is, sadly, quite unmemorable.  He’s a nice guy, but his little brother is more interesting than he is.  There isn't a lot of chemistry in their romance.

Funny lines:

•  “Why didn’t you wear your blue dress?” – best friend

“Are you asking why I didn’t make more of an effort?” – Eilis Lacey

Tips for parents:   

• 2 F-bombs.  Usually a movie is rated R after the first F-bomb, so I don’t know why the film still has a PG-13 rating. 
• There’s an uncomfortable pre-marital sex scene with clothes on (mostly).

The Walk HAS to be seen in 3D

Movie: The Walk

Rating: PG, 2 hours 3 minutes

Grade:  A-

In a Nutshell: BEWARE: If you’re afraid of heights, this movie may not be for you! The movie poster alone will make your palms start to sweat.

The inspiring true story of French “wire walker” Philippe Petit is engaging and inspiring.  The film moves slowly at first in order to give you some background story (and fill enough time to make a feature film), but when the big moment arrives when Philippe walks on a wire between New York City’s former World Trade Center Twin Towers, it’s worth every minute.

You must see this one in 3D, IMAX if you can...unless you’re afraid of heights…..




Uplifting Theme: 
• Every dream begins with a single step.
*Persistence. Fearful and frozen on the wire, Philippe finally said to himself, “I will only leave my wires and towers in victory.”
• Oh what the human spirit can accomplish!
• “We did it. We showed the world that anything’s possible.” – Jean-Louis (played by Clement Sibony)

Things I liked:
 • Phillipe narrates his experience from the top of the Statue of Liberty, which is appropriate since Lady Liberty was a gift to the USA from France!
 • If you loved Hundred-Foot Journey like I did, you’ll be happy to see Charlotte Le Bon in this film.
• Ben Kingsley is always a welcome addition to any movie.
• Is it too soon to make a movie featuring New York City’s fallen Twin Towers? Audiences say no. In fact, this movie pays a loving tribute to them as much as it does to Phillippe Petit. I remember visiting the Twin Towers when I was a college student. I dined in the restaurant on the top floor and was wowed by the views. My heart broke on 9/11 as those two dignified buildings collapsed. Since that horrific day, I have taken my family to Ground Zero to pay our respects to those who perished on the site 14 years ago.
• You’ll see some fantastic views of New York City. She steals every scene she’s in.
• Moonlight Sonata plays when Philippe walks on the wire. I remember my mother playing that on the piano when I was a little girl.  I loved it when the clouds covered the street scenes below and it felt like he was almost walking to the moon.  Philippe even says, "The clouds – they’re like music.”
• The movie is not entirely in French. Don’t worry, there are subtitles throughout the movie, but they’re not distracting.

Things I didn’t like: 
* It's a little slow-moving in the beginning.
* The fact that Philippe tells us about his experience lets us know that he doesn't die in his attempt (in case we didn't already know.)
* Philippe called his amazing feat a "coup".  There may be some who worry that Philippe's defiance of the law (and gravity) might encourage young copy-cats to attempt other dangerous feats.



Interesting lines: 
• “People always ask me ‘Why do you risk death?’ For me, this is life.” – Philippe
• “What you did was something. I know I’ll never see anything like that again in my life. Good job.” – one of the cops who arrested Philippe after his illegal walk
• “Now every New Yorker loves the towers. Perhaps you’ve given them a life, given them a soul.” – Jean-Louis
• “You’ve accomplished your dream. Now it’s time for me to find mine.” – Annie (Charlotte Le Bon) • “I’m glad the towers called you.” – Annie
• “The dressing room…this is where the disguised impostor, the intruder, becomes the performer.” - Philippe



Did you know? 
• Director Robert Zemeckis wanted to find the most perfect 3D movie and this was what he came up with!
•Joseph Gordon-Levitt looks and speaks French with impressive believability.  He spoke French before the movie. He can also sing really well! He says that he gets more compliments from fans about his lip sync video of Nicki Manaj than any of his other work! Ha ha He has great poise in this film and almost dances across the wire with calm.
 • The movie that preceded this film was Man on Wire , an Academy Award winning documentary in 2008.

Tips for Parents: 
• A construction worker calls Philippe and his crew “Frogs”, which your kids may not know is a derogatory nickname for the French.
• At one point, Philippe jumps around on top of the tower completely naked, but it’s late at night and dark, so you don’t see any “naughty bits.”
• Audiences will learn French sayings like “the carrots are cooked”, which means “there’s no going back”. In a country that prides itself on its world-class cuisine, many of the sayings are food-related!

 Want to know more? 

 

Self/Less asks what legacy will you leave

Movie:    Self/less

PG-13, 1 hour 57 minutes

Grade:    B

In a Nutshell:    The talented Ben Kingsley plays a dying real estate tycoon who buys a younger body, that of Ryan Reynolds.  Nice choice.

Critics have been pretty negative about this movie, claiming that it didn’t dig deep enough.  While that may be true, I still enjoyed the ride. I love movie titles that have double meanings and this one gives cause to reflect.  When is someone else's life more important than your own?  What makes you, YOU?

Uplifting Theme:

·         “Every medical advance has a cost.” – Albright

·         What would you do with your life if you could do it over again?

·         Every one of us is going to die.  What will be your legacy?

Things I liked:

·         Fans of Downton Abbey Season 1-3 will be happy to see Michelle Dockery as Claire.

·         Fans of Natalie Martinez will enjoy watching her play Madeline.  I first saw her in the Stephen King thriller Under the Dome: Season 1 .  It held my interest for the first season, but then I moved on.

·         I loved watching the water jet pack sport Ryan Reynolds' character did.  Awesome.  I found a company near my house in Las Vegas that offers classes!  Check out www.JetpackAmerica.com to find locations where you can actually do it!

·         Wow, that New York City view from the older Damien's dining room!

·         It was nice to see a vibrant New Orleans scene.

·         Matthew Goode just a great job as the ice cold handler behind the science.

·         Little Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen is adorable as Anna.

Things I didn’t like:

·         I love Ben Kingsley and think he’s an excellent actor.  I remember the moment when he won an Oscar for Gandhi .  I thought his New York accent was spot on in this movie, but it just didn’t seem to match his look.

Funny lines:

·         “So much for wisdom and experience.” – Martin (Victor Garber)

·         “I understand you’re disappointed.  You thought you were buying a new car, but instead, you got one with a few miles on it.” – Anton (Derek Luke)

·         What’s that?”   Damien

“It’s something to stop your heart.” – medical worker

·         “I have the physical dexterity of a toddler.” -  Young Damien

Interesting lines:

·         “I’m the only one standing between you and oblivion.” – Albright

·         “Just think of all the great minds we lost, simply because their bodies were failing them:  Edison, Einstein, Steve Jobs.  Imagine what he could have accomplished if he had another 50 years left.” - Albright

Tips for Parents:

·         You see Ryan Reynolds shirtless and bedding a LOT of young women in a “I’m young and hot again” montage.

·         1 F-bomb and other profanity.

·         Some car crashes, blood, and fight scenes.

Survivor is a mash-up of other movies that did it better

Movie:    Survivor

PG-13, 1 hour 36 minutes

Grade:  C

In a Nutshell:   Not particularly great, nor terrible, this international thriller is a mash-up of movies you probably really enjoyed, like: The Bourne Identity , Salt , and The Fugitive .  I think it’s safe to say we love watching Milla Jovovich play a tough girl, preferably with a Russian accent.  In this action flick, however, she plays an American Foreign Service Officer who gets mixed up in a terrorist plot that makes her look guilty.  Unfortunately, she doesn’t have Jason Bourne’s cool skills or the super-babe, kick-butt grit that her character has in the Resident Evil franchise. 

By the way, if YOU want to learn some of those skills, my son teaches them in a class you probably learned about in the TV show "Shark Tank" or "Rachel Ray".  Check out his classes at www.SpyEscapePhoenix.com

Still, the movie is mildly entertaining, but only worth renting on DVD when it comes out if there’s nothing better on.  The movie informs us that since 9/11, American Law Enforcement has stopped 53 terrorist attacks in New York alone. 

Uplifting Theme:

·         A job is where you go to work to make money.  A career is a lifetime passion where you get paid to make a difference in the world.

·         Don’t mess with America.

Things I liked:

·         The cast is filled with great names that should make for a great movie: Dylan McDermott, Milla Jovovich, Angela Bassett, Pierce Brosnan, Robert Forester.  Unfortunately, most of their talents are wasted on a script that doesn’t truly let them blossom.

·         Great aerial shots of London and New York.

·         It was kind of interesting to learn a little bit more about how they screen travelers in and out of countries.

Things I didn’t like:

·         It’s pretty predictable with nothing very original to add to the “I’m not guilty so I better hide and figure out what’s really going on” genre.

·         Pierce Brosnon looks old and tired.  In the movie, Sam Parker (played by the handsome Dylan McDermott) explains “He’s had so much reconstructive surgery, no one knows the he## what he looks like.”  Ha ha

·         It’s a little slow-moving in the beginning.

·         For the “world’s deadliest assassin”, Nash (Pierce Brosnan) sure misses a lot of his shots.

·         It’s always New York City….

·         “I have been waiting 10 years for this moment to see the Americans pay for what they have done.”  - bad guy (NO spoiler alert)   Pretty cliché, right?

·         I never saw a trailer or billboards or poster for this movie before opening day.  It has had such little advertisement that it will probably come and go without most people even noticing.

      It's kind of annoying how Angela Bassett's character continuously makes the wrong decision EVERY time. 

·         Funny lines:

·         “Geez, you look how I feel.” –  Sally (played by Frances de la Tour)  We most recently saw her play the giant in Into the Woods and a visiting headmistress in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Interesting lines:

·         “Fortunes are made when there’s blood on the streets.” – Nash

Tips for Parents:

·         Pierce Brosnan is the one to utter the only F-bomb in the movie.  There are a few other  moments of profanity, most often coming out of his mouth.

·         There is violence and a body count.

5 Flights Up features Morgan Freeman warmth and Diane Keaton charm

Movie:   5 Flights Up

PG-13, 1 hour 32 minutes

Grade:  B

In a Nutshell:   Based on the novel Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment, this wry dramedy showcases the charming duo Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton.

It's a coming-of-age look at life and the crazy things we do to ourselves to find happiness.

Uplifting Theme:

·         No one is promised tomorrow.

·         Take control of your life and create the one you want.
*   Morgan Freeman's character (Alex) explains "Those few days were like one big roller coaster ride, and like most rides, we ended up where we began.  Still, it reminded us of who we are, what we have.  It was worth it if only for that.

Things I liked:

·         Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City: The Movie) seems right at home as a hard-hitting New York City realtor.
*    I had to laugh at the couple whose day was completely turned around as they got caught up in the real estate frenzy.  Alex asks Ruth "Why are we moving?  What are we chasing?"  I laughed because my husband and I have gone through that too.
*  Of course Diane Keaton wears a hat. Classic Diane Keaton.
*  There is a meager attempt to create a side story of a terrorist in the Big Apple to underline the message about what's truly important in life.
*  I liked looking back at Alex and Ruth in their earlier years, although it made me feel kind of sad, as I'm reminded at how fast time goes by.
*  While the script isn't exactly riveting, Freeman and Keaton successfully add warmth to it.

Things I didn’t like:

·         There are no big surprises in the end.   SPOILER ALERT:  I thought a better ending would have been to show Alex having tea with that little girl he kept running into at Open Houses.
*    The only hint of action is in the news reports...as they report there is no action in the terrorist story.  You have to laugh at the media who can talk for hours about nothing.

Funny lines:

·         “I thought you were watching the news.” – Ruth

“There’s nothing new about it.” – Alex

·         They ought to make it one of the ten plagues: first locusts, then house hunters.  - Alex

Interesting lines:

·         “Who would have thought the whole of my life’s work my whole life’s work is worth less than the room I painted it in?” –  Alex

     

Tips for Parents:

·         Some profanity, including 1 F-bomb.

·         Children will be pretty bored watching old people figure out what to do with their New York City apartment.

If you liked this movie, then you'll probably like:


         


If you loved it, then check out the book:

The new Annie is just ok for a Redbox slumber party

Movie:  Annie

 PG, 1 hour 58 minutes

Grade: B

In a Nutshell:   In the midst of the current Sony hacking drama, the studio released a family-friendly film that is loosely based on the original comic strip by Harold Graycorny, as well as the 1982 movie.  It’s a modern take that is somewhat cheesy, and sometimes charming.   Selfies, cell phones, Social Media, and high-tech gadgets speak to a younger generation who is discovering Annie’s uplifting tale for the first time.  (I’ll bet you didn’t know there was a cell tower in the Statue of Liberty, eh?) 

This modern “Harlem” version of Annie includes some new songs, but don’t expect the big production numbers you saw in the original movie.  It’s not as magical as I wanted it to be, but it’s certainly  Redbox-worthy for a girls’ slumber party.

Uplifting Theme:

·         The sun will come out…tomorrow.  Duh.

·         “No matter who you are or what you are, you’ve got to work with what you’ve got.” – Will Stacks

·         “Sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you.” – Will Stacks

Things I liked:

·         Jamie Foxx (Will Stacks) is the highlight of the movie and the best singer by far.

·         Miss Hannigan is always playing good dance music in her apartment.  The soundtrack to the movie should be popular with young girls.  They might even turn off Frozen for a few minutes.

·         I loved Will Stacks’ “Smart House” apartment with the awesome, digital, changing wall designs and dancing fountains, not to mention the incredible view of New York City. 

·         New York City stars in the movie. The cast spends quite a bit of time flying around in a helicopter, giving you plenty of beautiful aerial views of the Big Apple.  We took the fam there a couple of years ago and had a great time.  What an incredible city.

Things I didn’t like:          

·         Quvenzhane Wallis (Annie ) is charming at times, but doesn’t have the million dollar voice that Broadway Annies are known for.  She should dazzle when compared to the other orphans surrounding her, but she often looks like she’s acting, and sometimes even has a vacant stare.

·         Bad transitions and editing pull energy out of scenes.

·         The moment Annie meets her parents should be more powerful since the story leads up to it, but it seemed pretty bland and dismissed quickly.

·         While I really like Cameron Diaz, I’m sad to say she can’t sing.  (I can’t either.) During her big moments, the music played louder than her voice and I wondered if it was intentional to cover up the lack of talent.  It’s not very believable to cast a beautiful young woman as the curmudgeonly foster care mother to begin with.  Strange choice.

·         While the movie is a fresh take on the original, the dance moves and music feel like the movie was made a decade ago.

Fun cameo celebrity moments:

·         Michael J. Fox      Will Stacks says “Michael J. Fox is a saint. “   Guy (Bobby Cannavale) then says “I hear there’s a tape…”

·         Rhianna

·         Mila Kunis

·         Where was Emma Thompson?  She helped write the script!

·         Where were Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith?  They helped produce this Broadway classic, along with Shawn “Jay Z” Carter, Laurence “Jay” Brown, and Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith.

Funny lines:

·         “I’m ten.  I’m not an idiot.” – Annie

·         “I haven’t been to Disneyland, but I don’t think they have a paperwork ride.” - Annie

·         “Wanna go out tonight?  I got my dance pants on.”  -  Lou (David Zayas)

·         “He has nice hair.” – Grace

“I wouldn’t bank on the hair, sista.” - Annie

·         “Don’t pick that one – it’s licking it’s own hoohah.” – Will Stacks while letting Annie choose a pet dog

Interesting lines:

·         “I think when people say no, they’re really afraid of saying yes.” – Annie

·         “People shouldn’t be scared of governments.  They should be scared of cell phone companies.” –  Adewale   (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)

Tips for Parents:

·         Some “light” foul language.

·         Sexual innuendos, including a hooker joke.  In a kid movie? Really?

·         Four barfing scenes…count them.

Want to see the original musical or hear the new soundtrack? Check out these products on sale now: