Exclusive: Canadian animation firm Tangent, whose project Next Gen was snapped up by Netflix for big money in Cannes, is teaming up with sales firm Ddi and Eum Entertainment to launch family film Jill & Evan at the Afm this week.
Pic follows twin ten year-old adventurers Jill and Evan who, after their famous archaeologist Dad goes missing in search of the mysterious Crown of Loxocronos – a mythical artifact that allows the wearer to speak to animals – decide to pick up the trail hoping to find out what happened. In the process, they discover a plot by poachers who are also after the Crown. The project is currently in pre-production at Tangent’s studios in Toronto, Canada.
Screenplay comes from Michael Schwartz and Peter Lepeniotis (The Nut Job) and is based on an original script by Lorne Cameron (Over The Hedge) with Lepeniotis also set to direct.
Producers are Ken Zorniak,...
Pic follows twin ten year-old adventurers Jill and Evan who, after their famous archaeologist Dad goes missing in search of the mysterious Crown of Loxocronos – a mythical artifact that allows the wearer to speak to animals – decide to pick up the trail hoping to find out what happened. In the process, they discover a plot by poachers who are also after the Crown. The project is currently in pre-production at Tangent’s studios in Toronto, Canada.
Screenplay comes from Michael Schwartz and Peter Lepeniotis (The Nut Job) and is based on an original script by Lorne Cameron (Over The Hedge) with Lepeniotis also set to direct.
Producers are Ken Zorniak,...
- 11/1/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
(Left to right) Surly (voiced by Will Arnett) and Andie (voiced by Katherine Heigl) in Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature. Photo courtesy of Open Road Films / Distributor: Open Road Films ©
The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature brings back the characters of the 2014 animated film The Nut Job for another round of puns and slapstick, in a sequel that is a bit better than the original. It works as a summer afternoon’s distraction for young kids but this unoriginal 3D animated movie won’t impress their parents much.
Instead of another heist plot, this time the animals are fighting to save their home from development. Surly Squirrel (Will Arnett), his wordless pal Buddy the rat, pug dog Precious (Maya Rudolph), and the other animals of Liberty Park in Oakton are living the easy life feasting on the contents of the town’s nut shop, even though red squirrel...
The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature brings back the characters of the 2014 animated film The Nut Job for another round of puns and slapstick, in a sequel that is a bit better than the original. It works as a summer afternoon’s distraction for young kids but this unoriginal 3D animated movie won’t impress their parents much.
Instead of another heist plot, this time the animals are fighting to save their home from development. Surly Squirrel (Will Arnett), his wordless pal Buddy the rat, pug dog Precious (Maya Rudolph), and the other animals of Liberty Park in Oakton are living the easy life feasting on the contents of the town’s nut shop, even though red squirrel...
- 8/11/2017
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Director: Peter Lepeniotis; Screenwriters: Peter Lepeniotis; Starring: Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Stephen Lang, Maya Rudolph; Running time: 86 mins; Certificate: U
You don't need to have a nut allergy to experience a bad reaction to this new animated comedy, which arrives on UK shores this week seven months after its initial run Stateside. Director Peter Lepeniotis expands his short Surly Squirrel, but even at an ever-so-brief 86 minutes, the story struggles to fill out its feature-length running time.
Will Arnett lends a Mafia wise guy-style twang to the voice of Surly, a purple squirrel who finds himself cast out from his park after destroying their winter food supply. Banished by leader Raccoon (Liam Neeson), Surly and his mute rat sidekick Buddy face gnarled rodents, a Pug called Precious (Maya Rudolph) and the mob (led by Stephen Lang) as they look for redemption by way of a giant nut heist.
You don't need to have a nut allergy to experience a bad reaction to this new animated comedy, which arrives on UK shores this week seven months after its initial run Stateside. Director Peter Lepeniotis expands his short Surly Squirrel, but even at an ever-so-brief 86 minutes, the story struggles to fill out its feature-length running time.
Will Arnett lends a Mafia wise guy-style twang to the voice of Surly, a purple squirrel who finds himself cast out from his park after destroying their winter food supply. Banished by leader Raccoon (Liam Neeson), Surly and his mute rat sidekick Buddy face gnarled rodents, a Pug called Precious (Maya Rudolph) and the mob (led by Stephen Lang) as they look for redemption by way of a giant nut heist.
- 7/30/2014
- Digital Spy
Update: The Nut Job is a Huge success, making more money in its opening weekend than any other indie animated film. So, of course, the companies behind the nutty film will make a sequel! Nothing else is secured, like if director Peter Lepeniotis or any of the stars will be back. When a movie is expected to be a success, usually they have the stars sign a contract promising to come back but with a small film made out of South Korea, I feel pretty certain they did Not make a deal for future films with the film's key voices, Katherine Heigl or Will Arnett.
April 11, 2013 - The Nut Job isn't looking so squirrley anymore. Open Road Films, the folks behind The Host, has picked up the 3D animated film about a squirrel and a rat who plan to steal the nuts from a nut store. It will be in theaters Jan.
April 11, 2013 - The Nut Job isn't looking so squirrley anymore. Open Road Films, the folks behind The Host, has picked up the 3D animated film about a squirrel and a rat who plan to steal the nuts from a nut store. It will be in theaters Jan.
- 1/24/2014
- by tara@kidspickflicks.com (Tara the Mom)
- kidspickflicks
Photo Credit: Toonbox Entertainment, Ltd. – Distributor: Open Road Films
Open Road Films, Redrover Co., Ltd., ToonBox Entertainment Ltd., and Gulfstream Pictures have announced that The Nut Job 2, a sequel to the hit film The Nut Job – which opened on January 17, 2014, taking in over $25,700,00 at the holiday weekend box-office as the biggest independent animated film opening of all time – will hit theaters January 15, 2016. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films and Hoe-jin Ha, CEO and President of Redrover Co., Ltd.
In animated 3D, The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy that follows Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, who must plan a heist to get into his town’s biggest nut shop in order to help his pals in the park gather food to survive the winter. Together with his sidekick, Buddy, Surly assembles a ragtag crew to help him get inside – and...
Open Road Films, Redrover Co., Ltd., ToonBox Entertainment Ltd., and Gulfstream Pictures have announced that The Nut Job 2, a sequel to the hit film The Nut Job – which opened on January 17, 2014, taking in over $25,700,00 at the holiday weekend box-office as the biggest independent animated film opening of all time – will hit theaters January 15, 2016. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films and Hoe-jin Ha, CEO and President of Redrover Co., Ltd.
In animated 3D, The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy that follows Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, who must plan a heist to get into his town’s biggest nut shop in order to help his pals in the park gather food to survive the winter. Together with his sidekick, Buddy, Surly assembles a ragtag crew to help him get inside – and...
- 1/23/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Open Road Films, Redrover Co., Ltd., ToonBox Entertainment Ltd., and Gulfstream Pictures are pleased to announce that The Nut Job 2, a sequel to the hit film The Nut Job – which opened on January 17, 2014, taking in over $25,700,00 at the holiday weekend box-office as the biggest independent animated film opening of all time – will hit theaters January 15, 2016. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films and Hoe-jin Ha, CEO and President of Redrover Co., Ltd.
In animated 3D, The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy that follows Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, who must plan a heist to get into his town’s biggest nut shop in order to help his pals in the park gather food to survive the winter. Together with his sidekick, Buddy, Surly assembles a ragtag crew to help him get inside – and takes them on a fun-filled adventure that they’ll never forget.
In animated 3D, The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy that follows Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, who must plan a heist to get into his town’s biggest nut shop in order to help his pals in the park gather food to survive the winter. Together with his sidekick, Buddy, Surly assembles a ragtag crew to help him get inside – and takes them on a fun-filled adventure that they’ll never forget.
- 1/23/2014
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Chicago – It feels like when any studio besides Walt Disney or Pixar does an animated film with celebrity voices, there is a little less lacquer on it. What the other two remember, and others forget, is that it starts with a script. All the toon landscapes in the world can’t fix a dull story.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
“The Nut Job” is a case in point. It looks lovely, with well-defined characters and scenic composition – set in the “Guys and Dolls” era of caper heists. But the story lacks substance or verve, and there were stretches of dead audience silence in the preview screening. Not a good sign, because the room was populated by the target audience of kiddies. Also, the film steals gags from the Warner Brothers era of cartoons, in more of a rip-off than a tribute. All these poisonous bits add up to a long 86 minutes. That’s right,...
Rating: 2.5/5.0
“The Nut Job” is a case in point. It looks lovely, with well-defined characters and scenic composition – set in the “Guys and Dolls” era of caper heists. But the story lacks substance or verve, and there were stretches of dead audience silence in the preview screening. Not a good sign, because the room was populated by the target audience of kiddies. Also, the film steals gags from the Warner Brothers era of cartoons, in more of a rip-off than a tribute. All these poisonous bits add up to a long 86 minutes. That’s right,...
- 1/17/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The Nut Job
Directed by: Peter Lepeniotis
Cast: Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Katherine Heigl, Liam Neeson
Running Time: 1 hr 26 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: January 17, 2014
Plot: Rogue squirrel Surly (Arnett) discovers a nut shop that is also the front for an underground bank robbery.
Who’S It For? With its key demographics having already seen Frozen, the film may provide decent satiation for its crowd, but without any rich spectacle, only its animal-talking zaniness to carry it through an ironically turgid running time.
Overall
Looking back on the moment, it was probably intended by the Nut Job filmmakers that my Saturday morning screening of The Nut Job began with the image presented inescapably out of focus, in need of a restart that would repeat the film’s first five minutes. Even through squinted eyes, forever damaged by not being able to experience 3D even with the glasses on due to the film’s presentation itself,...
Directed by: Peter Lepeniotis
Cast: Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Katherine Heigl, Liam Neeson
Running Time: 1 hr 26 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: January 17, 2014
Plot: Rogue squirrel Surly (Arnett) discovers a nut shop that is also the front for an underground bank robbery.
Who’S It For? With its key demographics having already seen Frozen, the film may provide decent satiation for its crowd, but without any rich spectacle, only its animal-talking zaniness to carry it through an ironically turgid running time.
Overall
Looking back on the moment, it was probably intended by the Nut Job filmmakers that my Saturday morning screening of The Nut Job began with the image presented inescapably out of focus, in need of a restart that would repeat the film’s first five minutes. Even through squinted eyes, forever damaged by not being able to experience 3D even with the glasses on due to the film’s presentation itself,...
- 1/17/2014
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
It was not long ago when Will Arnett mined gold with a curt, hilarious voice-acting role in Pixar’s Ratatouille as intimidating cook Horst, who brags about conquests of killing a man with his thumb. Well, Arnett’s thumb has about as much personality as his dithery voice in The Nut Job, a new animated film where the Canadian actor has the leading role. Here, however, he gives a rather unexpressive tone to Surly, a purple squirrel who is bossy, selfish and has little pity for anyone – even his mute, dependable rat sidekick, Buddy.
Surly is not just a bland protagonist, but he is intensely dislikable and Arnett’s smarmy voice does the protagonist no favors. By the film’s end, you wish that another of the actor’s characters, G.O.B. from Arrested Development, had passed you a “Forget-Me-Now” pill to remove this weak, children-aimed adventure from your memory.
Surly is not just a bland protagonist, but he is intensely dislikable and Arnett’s smarmy voice does the protagonist no favors. By the film’s end, you wish that another of the actor’s characters, G.O.B. from Arrested Development, had passed you a “Forget-Me-Now” pill to remove this weak, children-aimed adventure from your memory.
- 1/16/2014
- by Jordan Adler
- We Got This Covered
Chicago – Family 4-packs! In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 10 family 4-packs (40 seats in total) up for grabs to the new animated 3D film “The Nut Job” with Will Arnett and Katherine Heigl!
“The Nut Job,” which is rated “PG” and opens on Jan. 17, 2014, also stars Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Maya Rudolph, Gabriel Iglesias, Jeff Dunham, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon and James Rankin from writer and director Peter Lepeniotis and writer Lorne Cameron. Note: When entering, you Must enter your preference for a family 4-pack or admit-two tickets.
To win your free “The Nut Job” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 at 10 a.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning!
“The Nut Job,” which is rated “PG” and opens on Jan. 17, 2014, also stars Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Maya Rudolph, Gabriel Iglesias, Jeff Dunham, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon and James Rankin from writer and director Peter Lepeniotis and writer Lorne Cameron. Note: When entering, you Must enter your preference for a family 4-pack or admit-two tickets.
To win your free “The Nut Job” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 at 10 a.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning!
- 1/10/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Will Arnett lends his voice to not one, but two animated blockbusters next year, and whilst all ears will be listening out for his role as Batman in The Lego Movie, he’ll first be heard leading the charge as Surly in Open Road’s The Nut Job.
The first teaser trailer launched a few weeks back, giving a great little introduction to Arnett’s leading squirrel. And after recently catching a new poster, the studio has released the first full-length trailer today, as promised, over on Fandango.
In animated 3D, “The Nut Job” is an action-packed comedy in fictional Oakton that follows the travails of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure.
Joining Arnett for the ride is a great voice cast ensemble,...
The first teaser trailer launched a few weeks back, giving a great little introduction to Arnett’s leading squirrel. And after recently catching a new poster, the studio has released the first full-length trailer today, as promised, over on Fandango.
In animated 3D, “The Nut Job” is an action-packed comedy in fictional Oakton that follows the travails of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure.
Joining Arnett for the ride is a great voice cast ensemble,...
- 11/18/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Open Road Films has released a new trailer and a cool new poster for The Nut Job animated comedy starring Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon, Jeff Dunham, Joe Pingue and Christian Potenza. Peter Lepeniotis directs the film scripted by Daniel Woo and Lorne Cameron. Thom Chapman and Graham Moloy produce. The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy that follows the travails of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure.
- 11/18/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Marking the first big animated movie of the year, The Nut Job has shown plenty of promise so far, with the first teaser trailer introducing Will Arnett’s leading little squirrel, Surly.
The new trailer is set to land online later today, and Open Road has launched the new poster in advance over on Fandango, giving a look at Surly and all his friends, taunted by the prospect of nuts just out of their reach.
In animated 3D, “The Nut Job” is an action-packed comedy in fictional Oakton that follows the travails of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure.
Lending their voices alongside Arnett for the animated pic are Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon, Maya Rudolph,...
The new trailer is set to land online later today, and Open Road has launched the new poster in advance over on Fandango, giving a look at Surly and all his friends, taunted by the prospect of nuts just out of their reach.
In animated 3D, “The Nut Job” is an action-packed comedy in fictional Oakton that follows the travails of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure.
Lending their voices alongside Arnett for the animated pic are Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon, Maya Rudolph,...
- 11/18/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
When you have Will Arnett (Arrested Development, 30 Rock) voicing the leading character in an animated movie, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a lot of fun, which is a big reason why The Nut Job is one of the most anticipated animated movies of next year.
With the film due to hit cinemas in January, Open Road has launched the first teaser trailer over on Yahoo Movies.
Surly, a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure.
Arnett is joined by a great voice cast, lending his vocal talents alongside Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon, Maya Rudolph, and Jeff Dunham.
Peter Lepeniotis, who worked as an animator on the likes of Casper and Toy Story 2, is making his feature debut as a director.
With the film due to hit cinemas in January, Open Road has launched the first teaser trailer over on Yahoo Movies.
Surly, a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure.
Arnett is joined by a great voice cast, lending his vocal talents alongside Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon, Maya Rudolph, and Jeff Dunham.
Peter Lepeniotis, who worked as an animator on the likes of Casper and Toy Story 2, is making his feature debut as a director.
- 10/1/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Watch the first teaser trailer for Peter Lepeniotis' The Nut Job, starring Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon, Jeff Dunham, Joe Pingue and Christian Potenza. The Open Road Films upcoming animated film is an action-packed comedy that follows the travails of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure. Lepeniotis also writes alongside Daniel Woo and Lorne Cameron.
- 9/27/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Open Road Films has acquired domestic distribution rights to "The Nut Job," a 3D animated action-comedy featuring the voices of Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl and Will Arnett, the company announced on Thursday. The independent distributor will release the film, the first animated movie in Open Road's two-year history, Jan. 17, 2014. Based on director and co-writer Peter Lepeniotis' 2005 short "Surly Squirrel," the film follows a mischievous squirrel (Arnett) and rat whose plans to rob a nut store propel them into a far larger adventure. Lorne Cameron wrote the screenplay for the film,...
- 4/11/2013
- by Lucas Shaw
- The Wrap
Open Road Films has acquired U.S. rights to the 3D-animated film The Nut Job and has set Jan. 17 as its release date. Featuring the voices of Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon and Jeff Dunham, the family film is set in fictional Oakton and follows the travails of Surly (Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut-store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a complicated adventure. Peter Lepeniotis directed from a screenplay he wrote with Lorne Cameron. Story: 'A Haunted House' Sequel Set
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- 4/11/2013
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Breaking: Open Road Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to The Nut Job, a 3D animated family film. The distributor has set a January 17, 2014 opening date. The film features the voices of Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon and Jeff Dunham. It’s a comedy focusing on a squirrel and his rat friend as they plan a nut store heist. The film is directed by Peter Lepeniotis and scripted by Lorne Cameron and Lepeniotis, and based on the latter’s 2005 short film Surly Squirrel. It’s produced by Graham Moloy and Wk Jung and the exec producers are Mike Karz and Bill Bindley of Gulfstream Pictures, Jay Ahn, Daniel Woo, Hong Kim and Tom Yoon, in a co-production between ToonBox Entertainment, Redrover Co, Ltd. and Gulfstream Pictures. The distribution deal was made between Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg and Redrover president Hoe-jin Ha.
- 4/11/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
The Nut Job 3D animation lands on Open Road. Stars Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Will Arnett and Brendan Fraser. Open Road will send the film to theaters on January 17th, 2014, report sources. Also in the cast of the animated comedy helmed by Peter Lepeniotis from the script by Lorne Cameron, are Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon and Jeff Dunham. The Nut Job tells of Surly, an independent squirrel who, after being banished from his park and forced to survive in the city, stumbles upon one thing that could save his life, and the park community as they get ready for winter - Maury's Nut Store. After they hatch a plan to pull off a heist on the store, they end up in a rather complicated adventure.
- 4/11/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The Nut Job 3D animation lands on Open Road. Stars Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Will Arnett and Brendan Fraser. Open Road will send the film to theaters on January 17th, 2014, report sources. Also in the cast of the animated comedy helmed by Peter Lepeniotis from the script by Lorne Cameron, are Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon and Jeff Dunham. The Nut Job tells of Surly, an independent squirrel who, after being banished from his park and forced to survive in the city, stumbles upon one thing that could save his life, and the park community as they get ready for winter - Maury's Nut Store. After they hatch a plan to pull off a heist on the store, they end up in a rather complicated adventure.
- 4/11/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Update: The Nut Job isn't looking so squirrley anymore. Open Road Films, the folks behind The Host, has picked up the 3D animated film about a squirrel and a rat who plan to steal the nuts from a nut store. It will be in theaters Jan. 17 of next year. The voice cast includes Will Arnett ("30 Rock," "Up All Night"), Brendan Fraser (Journey to the Center of the Earth), Katherine Heigl (Life as We Know It), Liam Neeson (The Dark Knight Rises, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Battleship), Stephen Lang (Avatar), ventriloquist Jeff Dunham (Dinner with Schmucks) and Sarah Gadon (Cosmopolis).
Will Arnett has had Gobs of Vo jobs including as villainous Mr. Perkins in Despicable Me and The Missing Link in Monsters vs. Aliens. Fraser, who makes a point of starring in movies for kids, was the lead voice as Scorch Supernova in February's Escape from Planet Earth.
Will Arnett has had Gobs of Vo jobs including as villainous Mr. Perkins in Despicable Me and The Missing Link in Monsters vs. Aliens. Fraser, who makes a point of starring in movies for kids, was the lead voice as Scorch Supernova in February's Escape from Planet Earth.
- 4/11/2013
- by tara@kidspickflicks.com (Tara the Mom)
- kidspickflicks
• Kelsey Grammer, Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Connolly (Entourage), Thomas Jane (Hung), Tom Berenger, and Cary Elwes have signed onto the ensemble drama Reach Me, about a group of disparate people whose lives intersect thanks to a self-improvement book penned by a former football coach. Sylvester Stallone, Danny Aiello, Terry Crews, rapper Nelly, and Omari Hardwick (Sparkle) all costar. Director John Herzfeld (2 Days in the Valley) also penned the script. [Deadline]
• Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Stephen Lang (Avatar), Sarah Gadon (A Dangerous Method), and ventriloquist comedian Jeff Dunham will all lend their voices to the indie animated feature The Nut Job,...
• Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Stephen Lang (Avatar), Sarah Gadon (A Dangerous Method), and ventriloquist comedian Jeff Dunham will all lend their voices to the indie animated feature The Nut Job,...
- 11/16/2012
- by Adam B. Vary
- EW - Inside Movies
Though the box office is usually dominated by the behemoths of animation – your Pixars, your DreamWorks, your Illumination, 20th Century Fox and Sony Animation, etc. – there’s always a chance for indie ‘toon directors to slip through once in a while. A case in point ins Peter Lepeniotis, who has dragooned Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fraser, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon and Jeff Dunham to star in The Nut Job.Based on his 2005 short Surly Squirrel (which you can watch at the bottom of the page), Job is set a fictional 1950s town called Oakton. There, Surly the squirrel and rat pal Buddy plot a nut store heist that quickly gets out of hand.Lepeniotis is a Pixar and Ilm veteran, and he’s got a script by ‘toon writer Lorne Cameron, who worked on both Brother Bear and Over The Hedge (which is what the poster below makes the movie most resemble,...
- 11/15/2012
- EmpireOnline
Exclusive: The animated feature The Nut Job has drawn a voice cast that will be led by Katherine Heigl, Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon, and Jeff Dunham. The feature, which Peter Lepeniotis will direct based on his 2005 short film Surly Squirrel, is a co-production between Canada-based ToonBox Entertainment and Korea-based Redrover Co, Ltd. Redrover is financing with plans to release next year. Written by veteran Disney animation scribe Lorne Cameron (Brother Bear, Over The Hedge), The Nut Job is an action-packed comedy set in the late 1950s in fictional Oakton. Pic follows the travails of the mischievous squirrel Surly and his rat pal Buddy as they plan a nut store heist that gets out of hand. Thom Chapman and Graham Moloy are producing and Daniel Woo, Hong Kim, Mike Karz, and Tom Yoon are executive producers, in association with Gulfstream, headed by Karz and Bill Bindley.
- 11/15/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING JR.
- Deadline
Over the Hedge
DreamWorks' animated film, "Over the Hedge", is a backyard ecological comedy outfitted with some fine, silly slapstick and clever animal characters. This one is aimed more at a younger audience than, say, "Shrek" but has plenty of entertainment value for older family members to ensure substantial boxoffice returns in both domestic and foreign markets.
One gets the sense though that the DreamWorks/PDI 3-D animation team isn't pushing the edges of their computers the way the Pixar gang does. DreamWorks is playing it safe here with a PC comedy that delivers an ecological message while pitching family values to the point that one wants to shout, "Enough already!" The CG animation is routine, but the writers (working from the popular comic strip) and character animators under the supervision of directors Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick do a crackerjack job of filling the screen with lively, ingratiating creatures. The humans are crudely drawn, but the two prominently featured have distinctly evil personalities that make up for their rudimentary design.
Because the family in question here consists of porcupines, possums, a squirrel, skunk and chipmunk, all led by a tortoise, DreamWorks has amusingly messed up the animal kingdom on a par with Walt Disney's old Mickey Mouse shorts. Our family awakens from a winter hibernation to discover their forest is gone. In its place is a housing development that has destroyed their food source. A huge hedge separates them from the enemy.
While pondering their dilemma, a "savior" emerges in the form of RJ (voiced by Bruce Willis), a rascally raccoon. He labors under an urgent deadline, imposed by a large and angry grizzly (Nick Nolte), to restock the food larder the bear caught RJ stealing. The raccoon offers the family an apparent solution: Humans throw all sorts of food away in shiny outdoor metal cans. By combining the family's foraging skills with RJ's strategic talents, they can fill next winter's larder in no time.
The family's leader, a turtle named Verne (Garry Shandling), is dubious. He is as wary of humans as he is of the junk they eat. But tree bark can't compete with donuts and pizzas. So the family makes it over the hedge -- well, actually they tunnel through it -- where they pilfer food at will, led by Hammy, a squirrel (Steve Carell) who is overcaffeinated even before eating junk food. So much so that a shrill homeowners association lady (Allison Janney) calls pest control in the hulking form of Dwayne the Verminator (Thomas Haden Church).
This story sets in motion more than enough comic action sequences to fill the movie's 84 minutes. The final caper mimics and rivals the "Mission: Impossible" films' derring-do to hilarious results.
Character animators beautifully marry their creatures to the voice actors' individual eccentricities. Especially noteworthy are Wanda Sykes' slinky skunk, Carell's hyperactive Hammy, Omid Djalili's Persian housecat, Shandling's thoughtful tortoise and Willis' conniving raccoon with a touch of wistful loneliness coming through his bandit exterior.
Production designer Kathy Altieri's witty suburban landscape and Rupert Gregson-Williams' bouncy music keep things light and playful.
OVER THE HEDGE
Paramount Pictures
DreamWorks Animation
Credits:
Directors: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick
Screenwriters: Len Blum, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton, Karey Kirkpatrick
Based on the comic strip by: Michael Fry, T Lewis
Producers: Bonnie Arnold
Executive producer: Bill Damaschke
Production designer: Kathy Altieri
Music: Rupert Gregson-Williams
Songs: Ben Folds
Visual effects supervisor: Craig Ring
Editor: John K. Carr
Voices:
RJ: Bruce Willis
Verne: Garry Shandling
Hammy: Steve Carell
Stella: Wanda Sykes
Ozzie: William Shatner
Vincent: Nick Nolte
Dwayne: Thomas Haden Church
Gladys: Allison Janney
Lou: Eugene Levy
Penny: Catherine O'Hara
Tiger: Omid Djalili
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 84 minutes...
One gets the sense though that the DreamWorks/PDI 3-D animation team isn't pushing the edges of their computers the way the Pixar gang does. DreamWorks is playing it safe here with a PC comedy that delivers an ecological message while pitching family values to the point that one wants to shout, "Enough already!" The CG animation is routine, but the writers (working from the popular comic strip) and character animators under the supervision of directors Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick do a crackerjack job of filling the screen with lively, ingratiating creatures. The humans are crudely drawn, but the two prominently featured have distinctly evil personalities that make up for their rudimentary design.
Because the family in question here consists of porcupines, possums, a squirrel, skunk and chipmunk, all led by a tortoise, DreamWorks has amusingly messed up the animal kingdom on a par with Walt Disney's old Mickey Mouse shorts. Our family awakens from a winter hibernation to discover their forest is gone. In its place is a housing development that has destroyed their food source. A huge hedge separates them from the enemy.
While pondering their dilemma, a "savior" emerges in the form of RJ (voiced by Bruce Willis), a rascally raccoon. He labors under an urgent deadline, imposed by a large and angry grizzly (Nick Nolte), to restock the food larder the bear caught RJ stealing. The raccoon offers the family an apparent solution: Humans throw all sorts of food away in shiny outdoor metal cans. By combining the family's foraging skills with RJ's strategic talents, they can fill next winter's larder in no time.
The family's leader, a turtle named Verne (Garry Shandling), is dubious. He is as wary of humans as he is of the junk they eat. But tree bark can't compete with donuts and pizzas. So the family makes it over the hedge -- well, actually they tunnel through it -- where they pilfer food at will, led by Hammy, a squirrel (Steve Carell) who is overcaffeinated even before eating junk food. So much so that a shrill homeowners association lady (Allison Janney) calls pest control in the hulking form of Dwayne the Verminator (Thomas Haden Church).
This story sets in motion more than enough comic action sequences to fill the movie's 84 minutes. The final caper mimics and rivals the "Mission: Impossible" films' derring-do to hilarious results.
Character animators beautifully marry their creatures to the voice actors' individual eccentricities. Especially noteworthy are Wanda Sykes' slinky skunk, Carell's hyperactive Hammy, Omid Djalili's Persian housecat, Shandling's thoughtful tortoise and Willis' conniving raccoon with a touch of wistful loneliness coming through his bandit exterior.
Production designer Kathy Altieri's witty suburban landscape and Rupert Gregson-Williams' bouncy music keep things light and playful.
OVER THE HEDGE
Paramount Pictures
DreamWorks Animation
Credits:
Directors: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick
Screenwriters: Len Blum, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton, Karey Kirkpatrick
Based on the comic strip by: Michael Fry, T Lewis
Producers: Bonnie Arnold
Executive producer: Bill Damaschke
Production designer: Kathy Altieri
Music: Rupert Gregson-Williams
Songs: Ben Folds
Visual effects supervisor: Craig Ring
Editor: John K. Carr
Voices:
RJ: Bruce Willis
Verne: Garry Shandling
Hammy: Steve Carell
Stella: Wanda Sykes
Ozzie: William Shatner
Vincent: Nick Nolte
Dwayne: Thomas Haden Church
Gladys: Allison Janney
Lou: Eugene Levy
Penny: Catherine O'Hara
Tiger: Omid Djalili
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 84 minutes...
- 5/8/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Brother Bear
Opens
October 24
Brother Bear will be the last 2-D or cel animated feature cartoon to come out of Disney for a long time. Whether Disney, enthralled with the creative (and boxoffice) potential of 3-D computer animation, will ever return to traditional animation is an open question. But at least Disney bids farewell to 2-D in fine style. For Brother Bear is a playful movie that celebrates nature and the spirit world with striking imagery and a smooth blend of drama and comedy. The film should attract solid family business at the boxoffice.
Directors Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker along with producer Chuck Williams also have fun with the layout and design: The film starts off in an earthen color palette and the standard 1.85:1 format. Then, at the moment the movie's central character, a native American youth named Kenai, is transformed into a grizzly bear, the screen shifts to more saturated colors and Cinemascope or a 2.35:1 format, thus opening up the rich vistas of the Pacific Northwest of 10,000 years ago to our startled eyes. It's a grand moment.
The movie begins as an old man relates a story to a group of young people in a cave, a story about himself and his two brothers. Years before, Tanana (Joan Copeland), the village shaman, gave the youngest brother, Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix), a totem to guide him through life. The totem, a carved bear, the symbol of love, disappoints him. This red-blooded brave would have preferred an eagle, such as the one given to his eldest brother, Sitka (D.B. Sweeny), or even the wolf that belongs to his brother Denahi (Jason Raize).
Later that day, when he discovers a bear has made off with his basket of fish, he hunts the grizzly down only to become trapped in the confrontation. His older brothers race to the rescue, with Sitka sacrificing his life to save Kenai. Heartbroken, Kenai vows revenge against the grizzly. Despite warnings from Denahi and Tanana, Kenai tracks the grizzly down and kills the animal. At that moment, the Great Spirits in the sky transform Kenai into a bear himself. So when Denahi comes upon the scene, he assumes this bear has now killed a second brother and moves to attack the bear, forcing Kenai to flee.
Tanana appears to the young man in a bear's body to explain that he was transformed by Sitka and that Kenai can find Sitka on the "mountain where the light touches the earth." While pondering this, Kenai encounters two dumber-than-dirt Canadian-accented moose (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas hilariously reprising their MacKenzie brothers routine as dimwitted moose). Neither Rutt nor Tuke has any idea where to find this mountain, but they do reappear occasionally for comic relief.
Becoming ensnared in a hunter's trap, Kenai is rescued by a chatterbox bear cub named Koda (Jeremy Suarez) who not only frees him but claims to know where the mountain is. Reluctantly, Kenai takes on the cub as his companion for an adventurous trek through lively forests, glacial caverns and a volcanic field, all the while being tracked by revenge-minded Denahi.
The relationship between the put-upon Kenai and the gabby Koda is more than a little reminiscent of other recent cartoon "road" movies, say, the laconic mammoth Manfred and Sid the chattering sloth in Ice Age or even the loquacious donkey and the cranky ogre in Shrek. But this odd-couple pairing does lead to solid laughs, fueled in no small part by the wonderful comic patter of Suarez as Koda.
All the voice actors in fact are terrific, especially Moranis and Thomas and later Michael Clarke Duncan as Tug, a jovial bear who welcomes fellow bears at the annual salmon run. The mix of 2-D and 3-D effects gives this post-Ice Age wilderness startling, painterly beauty. Disney animators fill the landscapes with spectacular water effects, billowing clouds, drifting snow, volcanic mud pots and the brilliant hues of the Northern Lights aurora. The Cinemascope format gives a vastness to the scenery as if this wilderness goes on forever. The film also benefits from melodic songs written by Phil Collins in his second Disney cartoon outing and his first collaboration (with Mark Mancina) on a film score.
BROTHER BEAR
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Credits:
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Producer: Chuck Williams
Screenwriters: Tab Murphy, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton, Steve Bencich, Ron J. Friedman
Songs: Phil Collins
Music: Mark Mancina, Phil Collins
Associate producer: Igor Khait
Editor: Tim Mertens
Art director: Robh Ruppel
Background stylist: Xiangyuan Jie
Voices:
Kenai/Bear: Joaquin Phoenix
Koda: Jeremy Suarez
Rutt: Rick Moranis
Tuke: Dave Thomas
Sitka: D.B. Sweeny
Denahi: Jason Raize
Tug: Michael Clarke Duncan
Tanana: Joan Copeland
Mabel: Estelle Harris
Running time -- 81 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
October 24
Brother Bear will be the last 2-D or cel animated feature cartoon to come out of Disney for a long time. Whether Disney, enthralled with the creative (and boxoffice) potential of 3-D computer animation, will ever return to traditional animation is an open question. But at least Disney bids farewell to 2-D in fine style. For Brother Bear is a playful movie that celebrates nature and the spirit world with striking imagery and a smooth blend of drama and comedy. The film should attract solid family business at the boxoffice.
Directors Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker along with producer Chuck Williams also have fun with the layout and design: The film starts off in an earthen color palette and the standard 1.85:1 format. Then, at the moment the movie's central character, a native American youth named Kenai, is transformed into a grizzly bear, the screen shifts to more saturated colors and Cinemascope or a 2.35:1 format, thus opening up the rich vistas of the Pacific Northwest of 10,000 years ago to our startled eyes. It's a grand moment.
The movie begins as an old man relates a story to a group of young people in a cave, a story about himself and his two brothers. Years before, Tanana (Joan Copeland), the village shaman, gave the youngest brother, Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix), a totem to guide him through life. The totem, a carved bear, the symbol of love, disappoints him. This red-blooded brave would have preferred an eagle, such as the one given to his eldest brother, Sitka (D.B. Sweeny), or even the wolf that belongs to his brother Denahi (Jason Raize).
Later that day, when he discovers a bear has made off with his basket of fish, he hunts the grizzly down only to become trapped in the confrontation. His older brothers race to the rescue, with Sitka sacrificing his life to save Kenai. Heartbroken, Kenai vows revenge against the grizzly. Despite warnings from Denahi and Tanana, Kenai tracks the grizzly down and kills the animal. At that moment, the Great Spirits in the sky transform Kenai into a bear himself. So when Denahi comes upon the scene, he assumes this bear has now killed a second brother and moves to attack the bear, forcing Kenai to flee.
Tanana appears to the young man in a bear's body to explain that he was transformed by Sitka and that Kenai can find Sitka on the "mountain where the light touches the earth." While pondering this, Kenai encounters two dumber-than-dirt Canadian-accented moose (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas hilariously reprising their MacKenzie brothers routine as dimwitted moose). Neither Rutt nor Tuke has any idea where to find this mountain, but they do reappear occasionally for comic relief.
Becoming ensnared in a hunter's trap, Kenai is rescued by a chatterbox bear cub named Koda (Jeremy Suarez) who not only frees him but claims to know where the mountain is. Reluctantly, Kenai takes on the cub as his companion for an adventurous trek through lively forests, glacial caverns and a volcanic field, all the while being tracked by revenge-minded Denahi.
The relationship between the put-upon Kenai and the gabby Koda is more than a little reminiscent of other recent cartoon "road" movies, say, the laconic mammoth Manfred and Sid the chattering sloth in Ice Age or even the loquacious donkey and the cranky ogre in Shrek. But this odd-couple pairing does lead to solid laughs, fueled in no small part by the wonderful comic patter of Suarez as Koda.
All the voice actors in fact are terrific, especially Moranis and Thomas and later Michael Clarke Duncan as Tug, a jovial bear who welcomes fellow bears at the annual salmon run. The mix of 2-D and 3-D effects gives this post-Ice Age wilderness startling, painterly beauty. Disney animators fill the landscapes with spectacular water effects, billowing clouds, drifting snow, volcanic mud pots and the brilliant hues of the Northern Lights aurora. The Cinemascope format gives a vastness to the scenery as if this wilderness goes on forever. The film also benefits from melodic songs written by Phil Collins in his second Disney cartoon outing and his first collaboration (with Mark Mancina) on a film score.
BROTHER BEAR
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Credits:
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Producer: Chuck Williams
Screenwriters: Tab Murphy, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton, Steve Bencich, Ron J. Friedman
Songs: Phil Collins
Music: Mark Mancina, Phil Collins
Associate producer: Igor Khait
Editor: Tim Mertens
Art director: Robh Ruppel
Background stylist: Xiangyuan Jie
Voices:
Kenai/Bear: Joaquin Phoenix
Koda: Jeremy Suarez
Rutt: Rick Moranis
Tuke: Dave Thomas
Sitka: D.B. Sweeny
Denahi: Jason Raize
Tug: Michael Clarke Duncan
Tanana: Joan Copeland
Mabel: Estelle Harris
Running time -- 81 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
- 11/10/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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