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‘The Divergent Series: Insurgent’ Blu-Ray Details and Review

By
Rebecca Murray
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The Divergent Series: Insurgent Blu-ray Review
Four (Theo James) and Tris (Shailene Woodley) in ‘The Divergent Series: Insurgent’ (Photo Credit: Andrew Cooper)

The Divergent Series: Insurgent continues the story of a dystopian future divided into factions that was established in Divergent, the first film of the franchise released in 2014. The film series is based on the bestselling books by Veronica Roth and centers around Tris (played by Shailene Woodley) and Four (played by Theo James).

The first film established the factions – Abnegation, Erudite, Dauntless, Amity, and Candor – and revealed there are a small number of people who are Divergent (not clearly part of any one faction and possessing attributes of multiple factions). Divergents need to keep hidden as they are feared by those in charge, and in the first film, we learned Tris and Four are both Divergent and therefore hunted by the ruthless faction leader, Jeanine (Kate Winslet).

In Insurgent, we pick up the story as Tris and Four are on the run. Jeanine needs to find the one Divergent capable of opening a mysterious box, with her attempts at finding the perfect Divergent kills those incapable of performing the task. Only Tris is able to make it through the multiple faction simulations, and what she discovers at the end rocks this tightly controlled world.

Insurgent on Blu-ray Review:

The Divergent Series: Insurgent was released in a 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack, in a Blu-ray + Digital HD set, on DVD, and On Demand on August 4, 2015. The Blu-ray + Digital combo pack and the 3D Blu-ray combo pack contain more than four hours of bonus material including a commentary track by producers Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher, a marketing gallery, and an incredible assortment of extra features including “Insurgent Unlocked: The Ultimate Behind the Scenes Access.”

This seven-part featurette provides an extensive look at creating the world featured in the second film of the series. First up is an examination of all the factions and an explanation as to how they were designed. Part one also looks at the Factionless, the overall look of the film, the challenges of shooting Insurgent, and opening up the universe of the film.

Part two is a discussion of adapting Veronica Roth’s second book for the screen, keeping the fans of the books in mind while making the movie accessible to everyone. Part two also includes details on how and why the box became central to the plot, more on the set design, and staging the fight between Tris and Peter (Miles Teller).

Part three looks at Factionless and the design of the set and action scenes. Part four of “Insurgent Unlocked” further examines the Factionless as well as Candor. Part five is a featurette on the weapons, training, stunts, and action scenes. Part six is all about the music of Insurgent and how it helps to tell the story. And part seven concentrates on the film’s final act and the massive amount of work that went into setting up the critical fight scene.

The 3D Blu-ray Comb Pack and Blu-ray + Digital HD set also features “From Divergent to Insurgent” which is a behind-the-scenes look at the world as it evolved in the second film beginning with where we pick up with Tris. “The Others: Cast and Characters” focuses on Uriah (a fan favorite character who should have been in Divergent but didn’t show up on screen until Insurgent), Lynn, Hector, Marlene, and Edgar (a Factionless member who wasn’t in the books).

“Anatomy of a Scene: The Train Fight” provides details on the special effects, production design, and stunt team involved in the incredible fight on the train. And “The Peter Hayes Story” is a featurette spotlighting Peter. Is he an ally, an enemy, or simply a guy who will do whatever it takes and side with whoever he needs to in order to survive? Actor Miles Teller talks about the character and his understanding of Peter’s motivations.

The Bottom Line:

Overall, Insurgent‘s bonus features on the Blu-ray combo packs are well worth checking out. Nearly all of the main cast members participate in the behind-the-scenes videos which span the full length of the shoot. However, if your time is limited, the seven part “Insurgent Unlocked” featurette is the must-see of the batch, with the videos doing a terrific job of exploring every aspect of the filmmaking. They also include more details on why the box was made into such an integral part of the story which is of particular interest to those who’ve read Roth’s books.




Netflix Renews ‘Sense8’ for Season Two

By
Rebecca Murray
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Netflix Renews Sense8 For Season 2
Naveen Andrews and Daryl Hannah in a scene from Netflix’s ’Sense8.’ (Photo credit: Murray Close / Netflix)

Netflix has renewed the dramatic sci-fi thriller Sense8 for a second season. The streaming service made the announcement on August 8th which is the birthday of the eight lead characters in the series. Cast members helped make the announcement in short videos after getting the renewal confirmation.

Netflix has not set a premiere date for season two of the series created by Andy and Lana Wachowski. The cast of season one included Naveen Andrews, Daryl Hannah, Brian J. Smith, Tuppence Middleton, Jamie Clayton, Miguel Angel Silvestre, Tina Desai, Doona Bae, Aml Ameen Joe Pantoliano, Terrence Mann, and Max Riemelt.

The season one plot: “Sense8 is centered around eight characters that live in different cities around the world who experience a violent vision, and soon find themselves mentally connected by this experience. They are suddenly able to see and talk to each other as though they were in the same place, and have access to each other’s deepest secrets. Not only must these eight adapt to this new ability and to each other, they must figure out what happened and why and what it means for the future of humanity, while being hunted by an organization out to capture, kill or vivisect them.”

Also of Interest: Daryl Hannah and Naveen Andrews Interview


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Reggie Lee Interview: ‘Grimm’ Season 5 and Wu Wants a Girlfriend

By
Rebecca Murray
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Reggie Lee Interview - Grimm Season 5
Reggie Lee as Sgt. Wu and Jacqueline Toboni as Trubel in ‘Grimm’ (Photo by Scott Green / NBC)

Sergeant Wu is an official member of Grimm‘s small band of Wesen hunters now that he was let in on the secret during season four of the popular NBC series. What that means for Reggie Lee as an actor is that it’s made for a far more interesting character to play. Discussing the series and season five at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, Lee talked about how he’s enjoying playing a guy who is in the know and who’s now an integral member of the team.

“I think with whatever character I’m given, I always try to put some spice or flavor in there. But he’s also been so passive. So this is like, ‘How does my personality incorporate into this knowing now? What do I do with this?’ But I do think as a cop, I wanted to be the best cop ever. Like know my stuff, know everything, solve the crime before Nick and Hank do, in my mind. So now I’m kind of the same with Wesen. It’s like I want every crime to be a Wesen crime because I want to show them that I can do this,” explained Lee during our roundtable interview.

“After having a hell of a time finding out and being freaked out most of the time, I think I’ve turned a corner and kind of gone the other way. But from what I hear, this season is not going to be so easy for Wu. It’s never easy for Wu! It’s never easy. It’s like all the peril comes towards me. But as an actor that’s exciting. That’s the exciting part, so I’m looking forward to it. And it’s going to be a whole reboot this season. It really is with no Juliette – it’s a whole different thing. With Nick, the way he’s reacting, that’s going to be a whole different thing and it’s going to be like a domino effect for all of us. I mean the first episode he’s freaked out. He’s on a rampage.”

With Nick (played by David Giuntoli) now out for revenge, the dynamics between the characters in season five will change. “I think we’re going to have to hold his hand for certain things and lead him along, rather than go down a direction that’s going to be so destructive. Because in the past he has taken the lead and I’ve followed that lead, especially when it comes to Wesen. Now, it’s like he’s teaching me and I’m learning from him, but now all of this stuff is going on and it’s emotional stuff,” said Lee. “It’s great for David because he’s really wonderful at it but that’s where I think the human aspect of life really comes into play in the show, and I think that that’s really going to be great because you see how friends can be supportive in this way. I think that brings the humanity to it. I think that’s kind of going to be at the forefront of this next season.”

Looking back at season four, Juliette (played by Bitsie Tulloch) went on a ramage, destroying everything that Nick held dear including the trailer with all of the Wesen books and weapons. Fans have been speculating that maybe all is not lost and that may Sgt. Wu copied some of the books before Juliette torched the trailer. Asked about that possibility, Lee replied, “That was brought up to me so many times. I’m like, ‘Please let that happen!’ How can I kind of hand this over to the directors and tell them…but you know I can’t. I can’t do that. They’re going to write it the way they need to write it. That would make Wu the hero for the rest of eternity. That can’t happen.”

But what might happen if Lee’s wishes come true is we could see the bachelor sergeant finally get a girlfriend. Lee says he doesn’t even care if she’s a Wesen. “Whatever. I know there has to be something – it can’t just be a regular person. There has to be some kind of twist. Who knows? They like the balance of people being singled and people being coupled up. But they also like the balance of people knowing and people not knowing and now everyone knows. So who knows what may be in store,” said Lee. “Hank’s always had the love interest so gosh darn it, it’s my turn!”

What kind of woman is Wu attracted to? “I’m not saying it should be Rosalee because Rosalee is taken, but someone that is soft and sexy but someone who is badass. I like that.”

And, it’s a possibility that Lee’s dream for Wu could come true. I mentioned to Lee that I find Sgt. Wu sexier now that he’s more empowered and Lee responded, saying, “Wow. I will take that and run with that. I’m so going to walk with more swagger in that belt.”

More on Grimm Season 5: David Giuntoli Interview / Claire Coffee Interview / Sasha Roiz

Watch the full interview with Reggie Lee on Grimm season 5:




‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Behind the Scenes Video

By
Rebecca Murray
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Fear the Walking Dead Behind the Scenes Video
Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Alycia Debnam-Carey and Frank Dillane in ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3 / AMC)

AMC’s set an August 23, 2015 premiere date for The Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead and they’ve just released a new behind-the-scenes video exploring the setting of the series. The new series starring Kim Dickens and Cliff Curtis takes place during the time period when Sheriff Rick (Andrew Lincoln in The Walking Dead) was in a coma. In the new video, the executive producers reveal more information about what audiences can expect when they tune in to the series set at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse.


The Fear the Walking Dead Plot:

Living in the same universe as The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead is a gritty drama that explores the onset of the undead apocalypse through the lens of a fractured family. Set in a city where people come to escape, shield secrets, and bury their pasts, a mysterious outbreak threatens to disrupt what little stability high school guidance counselor Madison Clark and English teacher Travis Manawa have managed to assemble. The everyday pressure of blending two families while dealing with resentful, escapist, and strung out children takes a back seat when society begins to break down. A forced evolution, a necessary survival of the fittest takes hold, and our dysfunctional family must either reinvent themselves or embrace their darker histories. 

Watch the Fear the Walking Dead video:

More on Fear the Walking Dead:

FXX Orders ‘Cassius and Clay’ and Gets ‘Archer’s Seventh Season

By
Rebecca Murray
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FXX Greenlights Cassius and Clay, Gets Archer Season 7
Clay (voice of Lake Bell) and Cassius (voice Kaitlin Olson) – Photo Credit: FXX

Kaitlin Olson and Lake Bell will be voicing the lead characters in the animated comedy Cassius and Clay coming to FXX in 2016. Also heading to FXX is the seventh season of the boundary-pushing animated series Archer which will, according to the network, be paired with Cassius and Clay. Archer‘s Adam Reed is writing and executive producing Cassius and Clay‘s 10 episode first season. Megan Ganz and Matt Thompson are also on board as executive producers.

Susan Sarandon will also have a starring role in Cassius and Clay, with Jeffrey Tambor, JB Smoove, Kevin Michael Richardson, Stephen Root, Katy Mixon, and Robert Patrick contributing to season one.

“Tearing through the Smoky Mountains, Cassius and Clay don’t just survive the end of the world – they thrive on it with a pack of misfits who persevere against all odds in this Southern-fried apocalypse,” said Nick Grad, President of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions. “Our thanks to Adam and Megan for creating this hilarious and twisted tale and to Kaitlin, Lake, Susan and the rest of the voice cast for bringing these characters to life in all their damaged glory.”

The Cassius and Clay Cast, Courtesy of FXX:

Kaitlin Olson will play CASSIUS CORDWOOD, a hard-drinking, quick-thinking, fast-talking bull-shitter who has more debts than sense.

Lake Bell will play SHOPCARTER CLAY, the fastest gun in the post-apocalyptic South — she doesn’t go looking for trouble, she shares a station wagon with it.

Susan Sarandon will play CONNIE MACK, the ruthless and cutthroat owner of Wilke’s only saloon and brothel. Mack runs the booze, the girls, the whole goddamn town, really.

JB Smoove will play DOC BENZ, the town’s only doctor, locked in a dysfunctional, co-dependent relationship with Smiffy (who carts the Doc’s ornery, legless ass around).

Kevin Michael Richardson will play SMIFFY, the enormous blacksmith, a gentle giant who can fix anything so long as Doc says it’s okay.

Jeffrey Tambor will play MAYOR WAITSTILL WEEKS, the utterly powerless and disregarded mayor of Wilke, who’s barely in charge of his own newspaper, which only he reads.

Katy Mixon will play JACK RUBY, head-whore of The Snug, Connie Mack’s number two and the Mayor’s number one.

Robert Patrick will play REEVER GRINT, the terrifying tax-collector from Richway, the crookedest of all the crooked sheriffs.

Stephen Root will play ODUM, the ever-scheming deputy who’s always under Grint’s bootheel, which is really the best place for such a greasy lickspittle.

Also of Interest:




Sean Maguire and Rebecca Mader Interview – ‘Once Upon a Time’ Season 5

By
Rebecca Murray
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Rebecca Mader, Sean Maguire Once Upon a Time Interview
Rebecca Mader and Sean Maguire at the 2015 SD Comic Con (Photo by Richard Chavez)

It doesn’t take much to get either Sean Maguire or Rebecca Mader talking about Once Upon a Time‘s fifth season which debuts on September 27, 2015 on ABC. During the San Diego Comic-Con, Maguire (‘Robin Hood’) and Mader (‘Zelena’) were paired up for roundtable interviews and a question about Zelena’s pregnancy set them off on a lengthy discussion of why turning the pregnancy into a lie Zelena made up would be a big cheat.

Asked what’s going on with that storyline, Mader replied, “I don’t know what they’re going to do with that. I think Eddie has teased recently that the pregnancy is real because we’re all thinking she’s lying. This is so something she would do! Like, ‘Oh, okay, I’m pregnant.’ But apparently, it’s a real thing.”

“It might seem a bit of a cop-out to go, ‘It was a trick.’ I think the audience might feel short-changed,” said Maguire.

“But it is something Selena would do…,” added Mader.

“Even though the fans generally are not happy about this and they get… I think it’s weird because there’s confusion and ‘I hate this.’ But then you go, ‘But that’s what drama is.’ Put obstacles in the way, put things you don’t like, so that your heroes can overcome them. I often say when people are like, ‘Oh, why don’t you and Regina just be happy?’ if the whole episode is us going to IKEA, the show might not fare well,” said Maguire, laughing. “The show probably wouldn’t have the extraordinary fandom that it does.”

“Then it would be like a telenovela,” joked Mader.

“But the answer is we genuinely don’t know almost anything,” offered Maguire. “We’ve read the first episode which is so brilliant. It’s like a finale rather than a start.”

“It’s like a movie,” said Mader, enthusiastically.

“Eddie [Kitsis] and Adam [Horowitz], when they sit down together they can really turn it into a movie. It really kicks off the season in an exciting way. I think the Camelot stuff is going to be really cool. I’ve seen some of the sketches by our brilliant designer for the costumes. They look amazing. Also, I think that the guys said they kind of want to go back to the original. I think they’re going to focus a bit more on the regular cast and the Camelot cast,” revealed Maguire.

“Back to the heart of Once Upon a Time like how it was in season one,” interjected Mader.

“I think real fans of the show are going to dig this season. I really do. I mean obviously last year we had the epic thing of Frozen and that was a great boon for the show. But I think that this year they’re like, ‘Right, let’s get back to the original core of what made this show a success.’ I think it’s going to be really good. I’m excited, obviously for both of us, because we both love being on the show and we both love our cast members and our crew,” said Maguire.

And as a follow-up question, Mader and Maguire were asked about the show’s very modern twist on fairytale stories. “The thing is that no matter what universe you set the drama in, the same things resonant with us as human beings: death, births, pregnancies, marriages,” explained Maguire. “It doesn’t matter what show, what universe you’re in, those things are always going to be…”

“…the drama,” agreed Mader.

“That’s what raises the stakes if you will,” said Maguire. “I remember when it came out that I’d gotten her pregnant people were like, ‘Oh my god, it’s like a Spanish soap opera.’ And you’re like ‘Yeah, and why do the Spanish soap operas do that? Because that’s drama.’ That’s what keeps bringing people back. But how it will all end, we really do not have any idea.”

More Season 5 Interviews: Colin O’Donoghue & Jennifer Morrison / Lana Parrilla / Josh Dallas & Ginnifer Goodwin

Watch the full interview with Rebecca Mader and Sean Maguire on Once Upon a Time season five:





Salma Hayek and Jimmy Fallon Face Off in a Pup Quiz

By
Rebecca Murray
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Salma Hayek Takes on Jimmy Fallon in a Game of Pup Quiz
Salma Hayek, announcer Steve Higgins and host Jimmy Fallon play “Pup Quiz” (Photo by: Douglas Gorenstein / NBC)

In the best competition ever conceived by Jimmy Fallon and his staff, Salma Hayek took on The Tonight Show host in a game called Pup Quiz. The object was to answer questions that had something to do with animals. If the answer was correct, the person would be given one puppy (or two during the special Double Puppy round)to cuddle. The first competitor to reach five puppies was the winner.

Hayek, being a huge dog lover, was in puppy heaven as she snuggled with her winning puppies.

Hayek was on The Tonight Show on August 6, 2015 in support of her new movie The Prophet. During her interview, she also talked about how she’s sort of addicted to rescuing dogs and how she attempted to fool her hubby into letting her keep her ninth rescue, a dog she named Ocho.

Watch the videos:

Corey Stoll Gets a New Look on ‘The Strain’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Corey Stoll's New Look in The Strain
Corey Stoll as Ephraim Goodweather in ‘The Strain’ Season 2 Episode 5 (Photo by Michael Gibson / Copyright 2015, FX Networks)

Dr. Ephraim Goodweather’s going undercover and he looks a lot like Corey Stoll in The Strain season two’s fifth episode. Stoll’s been sporting a hairpiece throughout season one and the first four episodes of the critically acclaimed FX series, but with episode five titled “Quick and Painless” Stoll’s Eph shaves off the hair as part of a disguise.

The change in Eph’s hair will likely be permanent as the character needs to blend in using multiple disguises moving forward. Stoll’s new look will debut on August 9, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT.

The “Quick and Painless” Plot: “Eph changes his appearance to leave the city while Nora is left as the reluctant parent for Zack. Dutch and Nora make a deal with Justine to secure Fet’s release from jail.”

‘Bastard Executioner,’ ‘Fargo,’ ‘American Horror Story: Hotel’ Premiere Dates Announced

By
Rebecca Murray
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Bastard Executioner, AHS: Hotel and Fargo 2015 Premiere Dates

FX just announced the fall premiere dates for the fifth season of American Horror Story, the second season of Fargo, and the first season of Kurt Sutter’s new series, The Bastard Executioner. The Bastard Executioner will arrive first, debuting at 10pm ET/PT on September 15, 2015. AHS: Hotel kicks off on October 7th at 10pm ET/PT, and audiences will be able to visit Fargo starting on October 12th at 10pm ET/PT.


In addition to announcing the premiere dates, FX released details on the three shows including cast info and synopses:

The Bastard Executioner

The 10-episode first season of The Bastard Executioner from Kurt Sutter, the Creator/Showrunner of the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy, debuts on FX on September 15th with a two-hour premiere.

The Bastard Executioner is a blood-soaked, medieval epic that tells the story of Wilkin Brattle (Lee Jones), a 14th century warrior, whose life is forever changed when a divine messenger beseeches him to lay down his sword and lead the life of another man: a journeyman executioner. Set in northern Wales during a time rife with rebellion and political upheaval, Wilkin must walk a tight rope between protecting his true identity while also serving a mysterious destiny. Guided by Annora (Katey Sagal), a mystical healer whose seeming omniscience keeps Wilkin under her sway; manipulated by Milus Corbett (Stephen Moyer), a devious Chamberlain with grand political aspirations; and driven by a deepening connection with the Baroness Lady Love Ventris (Flora Spencer-Longhurst), Wilkin struggles to navigate political, emotional and supernal pitfalls in his quest to understand his greater purpose.

The Bastard Executioner also features series regulars Kurt Sutter, Sam Spruell, Darren Evans, Danny Sapani, Timothy V. Murphy, Sarah White, Sarah Sweeney, Elen Rhys, Ethan Griffiths and guest star Matthew Rhys.

The Bastard Executioner was created by Sutter, who will serve as Executive Producer along with award-winning producers Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo and Paris Barclay. Sutter wrote the script for the pilot of The Bastard Executioner, which was directed by Barclay. The project is being produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.

American Horror Story Hotel Poster

American Horror Story: Hotel

The 13-episode fifth installment of the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning franchise, American Horror Story: Hotel, premieres on FX on October 7th.

American Horror Story: Hotel features an all-star cast of Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Wes Bentley, Matt Bomer, Chloë Sevigny, Denis O’Hare, Cheyenne Jackson, Evan Peters and Finn Wittrock.

Ryan Murphy serves as Co-Creator, Showrunner, Executive Producer, Writer and Director of American Horror Story: Hotel and Brad Falchuk is Co-Creator, Executive Producer and Writer. Tim Minear, Brad Buecker, Jennifer Salt, James Wong and Alexis Martin Woodall also serve as Executive Producers. The American Horror Story franchise is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.

The most recent installment, American Horror Story: Freak Show, has been nominated for a franchise-record 19 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series. Over its first four installments, the American Horror Story franchise has received a total of 70 Emmy Award nominations, with the first three installments earning a total of eight Emmy awards.

Fargo Season 2 Patrick Wilson and Ted Danson Photo
Ted Danson as Hank Larsson and Patrick Wilson as Lou Solverson in ‘Fargo’ (Photo by Chris Large / FX)

Fargo

The 10-episode second installment of the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Fargo premieres on FX on October 12th.

The all new “true crime” case of Fargo’s new chapter travels back to 1979 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Luverne, Minnesota. “Lou Solverson” (Patrick Wilson), a young State Trooper recently back from Vietnam, investigates a case involving a local crime gang, a major Mob syndicate and a small town beautician “Peggy Blumquist” (Kirsten Dunst) and her husband “Ed” (Jesse Plemons), the local butcher’s assistant. Helping Lou piece things together is his father-in-law, “Sheriff Hank Larsson” (Ted Danson). The investigation will lead them to a colorful cast of characters that includes “Karl Weathers” (Nick Offerman), the town lawyer of Luverne, Minnesota. A Korean War vet, Karl is a flowery drunk blessed with the gift of gab and the eloquence of a true con artist. Three-time Emmy winner Brad Garrett will play “Joe Bulo,” the front man for the northern expansion of a Kansas City crime syndicate. The new face of corporate crime, Joe’s bringing a Walmart mentality to small town America. His number two is “Mike Milligan” (Bokeem Woodbine). Part enforcer, part detective, Mike is always smiling – but the joke is usually on you.

Bulo and his crew have their sights set on the Gerhardt crime family in Fargo, currently led by matriarch “Floyd Gerhardt” (Jean Smart). With her husband at death’s door, Floyd takes over the family business, frustrating her eldest son, “Dodd Gerhardt” (Jeffrey Donovan). An impatient hothead with a cruel streak to match his ambitions, Dodd can’t wait for both his parents to die so he can take over and expand their business from kingdom to empire. “Bear Gerhardt” (Angus Sampson) is the middle son, an intimidatingly large man who, although inarticulate, is the most decent of his clan. “Rye Gerhardt” (Kieran Culkin), the youngest of the Gerhardt family, views himself as a big shot, but in reality he’s just a small dog who barks big.

Emmy Award winning Executive Producers Noah Hawley (showrunner/writer), Joel & Ethan Coen, Warren Littlefield and John Cameron all return for the second installment. Inspired by the classic Academy Award® winning feature film of the same title, FX’s Fargo is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions, with MGM Television serving as the lead studio.

‘Shaun the Sheep’ Movie Review

By
Kevin Finnerty
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Shaun the Sheep Movie Review
A scene from ‘Shaun the Sheep Movie’

Shaun the sheep is in a rut. Every day Shaun and his sheep buddies get up a little after dawn, they get counted and herded by the Farmer and his loyal dog, eat some grass, and go back in the barn at sundown for the night. Day in and day out, it never changes – except for the day every few months when the Farmer shears Shaun and the other sheep – none of whom care for it one bit. So after seeing a sign on the side of a truck advertising vacations, Shaun comes up with the idea to take the day off and have some fun in the stop-motion family-friendly animated film Shaun the Sheep Movie.

Shaun comes up with a plan to trick the unsuspecting farmer into counting all the sheep over and over again until he falls asleep after Shaun and his sheep friends have already had a partner in crime lure away the farmer’s loyal dog by chasing a bone he’ll never actually catch. At first, Shaun’s plan seems to be working, but an accident with the sleeping farmer, a very large hill, and traffic all cause Shaun, the dog, and the rest of the sheep to head to the big city to find the Farmer and bring him back home.

This won’t be easy because, in the big city, Shaun and his pals accidentally encounter and have to stay one step ahead of animal containment, which it seems is determined to put them all behind bars…kennel bars, that is.

Brought to the big screen by the creators of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep Movie is a cute, silly, and terrific-looking stop-motion film that has enough sight gags and pop culture references to entertain the adults in the audience. Unfortunately, it lacks the energy, goofiness, and slapstick to entertain and hold the attention of the young children in the theater … as was this film critic’s experience.

The film looks fantastic with the use of brilliant colors and the woolly sheep so fluffy and white. The story is simple, with Shaun’s day off turning into the most dangerous and exhausting time for Shaun, his buddies, and the Farmer’s poor loyal dog, and even the younger audiences will be able to follow along with the plot.

Writer/directors Mark Burton and Richard Starzak chose to make the film completely free of dialogue. That’s right; no one talks, not even the human characters. This gives the film a certain nuance at first, but after the first 40 minutes, this approach begins to get old and eventually begins to detract from telling the story.

Although Shaun the Sheep Movie is a visual delight and has a very simple, easy-to-follow story with adorable characters, it seems to run out of the steam needed to hold and entertain its core audience: kids.

GRADE: C

MPAA Rating: PG for rude humor

Running Time: 85 minutes




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