FAMILY
RYAN: As I’ve been off interviewing stars for their new movies next week, I took time off from reviewing and sent associate Chuck Walker to screen this one. I know you loved the first installment. How was it? CHUCK: You’re so right – I have anxiously been anticipating this movie since even before the credits ..
FAMILY
As a diehard fan of all things Oz, I have anticipated the theatrical release of Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return for several years. The film has been in development for almost a decade and faced a series of behind-the-scenes obstacles (delays, rewrites, casting and title changes); the fact that this new animated sequel has triumphed over them may one day ..
FAMILY
RYAN: This is the new, animated sequel to Rio. It’s a musical and features the vocal talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Andy Garcia, Jamie Foxx, Bruno Mars, Kristin Chenoweth. It’s a fun family film with a great message. NOAH: I thought it was really good and surprised me that it was better than the ..
FAMILY
RYAN: It’s the sequel to The Muppets and I’ve always been a Muppets fan; love that the franchise is relaunched. Amy Adams and Jason Segel didn’t return, but we have RIcky Gervais, Tina Fey and Ty Burrell. What I love most about it is that it’s a musical and during each number I was smiling. NATHAN: I ..
FAMILY
RYAN: I’m glad to be joined by my niece, Gaby, for this review! This is the new 3D animated family adventure film featuring Mr. Peabody & Sherman, characters spun off from the old Rocky & Bullwinkle Show. I wasn’t familiar with them before this and they certain adapt well to modern computer animation. It’s very Indiana Jones meets Sherlock Holmes ..
DRAMA
RYAN: This is reportedly the swan song film for visionary director Hayao Miyazaki, whose films I’ve largely adored over the years: Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, etc… But this one, not so much; and I really wanted to. CAROLINE: I’m sorry to hear that. Why didn’t you like it as much as his previous ..
FAMILY
RYAN: The Lego Movie surprised me as highly anticipated as it is by young’uns everywhere. There’s great buzz for the movie and now we know why. It’s a fun, happy movie. Everything is Awesome. It feels like something that should have been done before; now here it is and it was done so right. It manages ..
FAMILY
RYAN: The Nut Job is the first new animated movie of the year and I like a family film, but coming off the heels of 2013, a stellar year for animated features with Frozen, The Croods, Monsters University, Despicable Me 2, Cloudy 2, etc… this movie was all over the place. This one is substandard in comparison; should have ..
FAMILY
RYAN: Finally! I feel like I’ve been waiting for this movie forever! CHUCK: Since I was 12. RYAN: (laughs) This movie is so right. Disney went back to their roots by tapping an age-old fairy tale for the basis of Frozen, Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen; and this is the second Anderson story they’ve adapted. The first, of ..
FAMILY
RYAN: I’m thrilled to be joined in this review by my niece, Gaby! This is the first big, animated Thanksgiving movie I can think of and it’s really about turkeys as relates to the holiday but aside from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, this is the one. GABY: Yeah and I liked this. I thought it ..
FAMILY
RYAN: This is the new sequel and I didn’t love the first one as far as animated family films go. It was very average but I enjoyed this one much more. It’s much smarter with more layers to it. The humor and story are good. There’s a nice message too. CHUCK: I did like the ..
FAMILY
RYAN: This has been scoffed at as “Cars with wings,” because it just looks like the same thing. CHUCK: It’s actually part of the same franchise, from the World of Cars. RYAN: This movie skews juvenile. Young kids will like this but it’s not really a crowd-pleaser for the whole family. CHUCK: Agreed. You have ..
