HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON is Colorful on Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and Digital from director Carlos Saldanha and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the adventure of HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON.

Harold (Zachary Levi) is a colorful character with a purple crayon that lets him do amazing things. Along with his friends Moose (Lil Rey Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds), there time is spent having adventures and drawing inside their world. They listen to the Old Man (voiced by Alfred Molina) until, one day, the Old Man stops speaking to them. Harold decides that its time to go into the Real World to find him.

Opening a portal, he goes through and is filled with childlike wonder at a world of color and people. He sees and old man but quickly realizes there might be more than one in this world. He quickly finds Moose and draws up a mode of transportation to begin their search for the Old Man. What they don’t expect is a swipe by a car driven by Terri (Zooey Deschanel) and son Mel (Benjamin Bottani). Mel is instantly taken with Harold and Moose and when he learns they have no place to stay, talks Terri into allowing them to stay in the garage attic.

Again, Harold and Moose are just amazed at their surroundings but back to the business of finding the OLD Man. Mel has an idea of going to the library seeking the help of Gary (Jermaine Clement), the librarian who writes fantastical stories that can’t seem to find a publisher. Using his powers of persuasion (i.e. his mom), Mel gets Gary to use the internet to possibly track down the Old Man. When it doesn’t work, Harold, Moose and Mel decide to look around for themselves. Gary looks out the window and sees Harold and his purple crayon going to work.

Doing a bit of investigating himself, he discovers that Harold is actually looking for Crockett Johnson, Harold’s creator. Gary decides he has finally found a way to bring his own dreams to life and goes after the purple crayon. Harold could never have imagined that the real world has its own set of adventures!

Levi as Harold is so lovely giving with his childlike attitude of this character. He gives Harold a brightness and light that just brings a smile whether you want to or not. Seeing the world as such a wonderful place, he refuses to see any bad. Levi does such a wonderful job in this role and my family just fell for him and the purple crayon.

Bottani as Mel is just as childlike as Harold with his imaginary friends that mom doesn’t see. He believes in Harold and will do anything to help as Bottani embraces Harold’s world. It is fun to watch the young actor mix in with the adults and doing such a wonderful job. Deschanel as mom Terri is trying to understand her son’s need for imaginary friends while dealing with his new friends. Yet it is Harold that reminds Terri that dreams can come true no matter what our age. Deschanel is charming, as she usually is, as Mel’s Mom.

Clement as Gary is a bit whacky as he sees his creative writing dreams not coming to pass. Frustrated that his work isn’t being recognized or that his affections for Terri also go unrecognized, he turns a bit toward the dark side. Clement is actually funny in a dark way and I really loved his characters story idea even if the name is a tad strange.

Howery as Moose is Harold’s sidekick in the real world trying to keep him out of trouble. He doesn’t openly admit to liking the real world but Howery offers up a childlike wonder of it all. Reynolds as Porcupine is a sassy animal that has no time for nonsense. I actually enjoyed her way of thinking in the real world.

Other cast include Elizabeth Becka as Ms. Barnaby, Seth Robbins as Oscar, Camille Guaty as Detective Silva, Pete Gardner as Detective Love and Ravi Patel as Prasad.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Special Features include How to Draw Harold, porcupine & Moose, “Colors” Sing Along, How Do You Spell Imagination? and Deleted & Extended Scenes.

HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON is so much fun to watch. Harold sees his own world as a place of wonder but when he doesn’t hear the Old Man anymore, that’s when another adventure begins. It is one that he could have never imagined and Levi gives us that childlike wonder from beginning to end. Even though the search is for one thing, Harold, Moose and Porcupine find a colorful adventure they could never have imagined.

Deschanel and Bottani are in the real world dealing with real life problems but that is all about to change for them. Mom has forgotten her dreams and Bottani has an imaginary life that he loves – both of these characters are relatable for us all in one way or another. So, this film is a way to reignite dull imaginations into blooming and colorful ones once again. There is nothing wrong with being reminded that dreams don’t have an age limit nor do they expire unless we let them.

The animation in the film is so vivid and adds the perfect touch to a story about color and life! The children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon began its own journey in 1955 being written and illustrated by Crocket Johnson. This is not his only book as Harold has nine other adventures finishing with Harold’s Treasure Hunt in 2020. Get the family together to enjoy the adventure of HAROLD AND THE PURPLE crayon on Bluray.

In the end – everything he draws is about to get real!

 

 

He is the Loyal Bull Called FERDINAND

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray, DVD and Digital this week from director Carlos Saldanha, Blue Sky and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is a delightful tail of fun and flowers from FERDINAND.

Living with his father and others at the Casa del Toro bull-training camp run by Moreno (Raul Esparza), Ferdinand isn't the average calf. Watching his father train and be chosen for the bull ring, the young bull is proud and awaits fathers return. He ignores the bullying from the younger calves while he waits. When that doesn't happen, a hard reality sends the Ferdinand running as far away as he can.

Ferdinand wakes up and finds himself staring into the face of a young girl. Nina (Lily Day) is immediately taken when Ferdinand and shown a beautiful farm life along with her father Juan (Juanes), he grows into a very large bull. Ferdinand (Jon Cena) spends his days with Nina, her father being and dog Paco (Jerrod Carmichael) well loved and loving in return.

When the flower festival comes around, Ferdinand is filled with joy as flower is his favorite thing. He is a little hurt when Juan tells his daughter that he is to big to go to the festival and must stay at the farm. Not willing to take no for an answer, Ferdinand decides that he is capable of being gentle and that the towns people just need to get to know him.

Unfortunately, the term 'bull in a china shop' plays out and Ferdinand is taken away from Nina! He is taken to Casa del Toro, Ferdinand sees a familiar faces in a still angry Angus (David Tennant), Guapo (Peyton Manning), Bones (Anthony Edwards), and a new face in goat Lupe (Kate McKinnon).

Also still there Valiente (Bobby Cannavale), he still carries the same anger as when he was young and makes it clear he tends to take Ferdinand down. Arriving to look for the best bull for the best bullfighter is El Primero (Miguel Angel Silvestre). He spends a few days looking over all the bulls and after a scuffle in the ring between he and Valiente - chooses Ferdinand.

Not wanting to fight Ferdinand realizes that the only way he can stop it all is convincing the others that there is an amazing life on the farm waiting for them where they will be loved by one special family!

Cena as the voice of Ferdinand has the right inflection to pull off this loveable character. He is a flower loving bull is quite happy with his farm life and doesn't understand why people might be afraid of him. That lesson becomes quickly clear and he is right back where he doesn't want to be! At Casa del Toro he comes face to face with a bull who doesn't have a reason not to be his friend other than he's has daddy issues. Ferdinand is as loyal as you would want a friend to be and even more loyal to those who aren't very friendly. Its a great lesson for kids to learn.

Day as young Nina absolutely adores her very large friend and doesn't see what those off the farm think they see. She is adorable and is the epitome of an animal lover. Carmichael as Paco pretends not to care but we all can see from the get go that he isn't very good at it.

Cannavale as Valiente has anger issues that stem from having a father who has anger issues. Trying to keep Ferdinand down from childhood and reuniting as a full grown bull, Cannavale gives his character a rough edge. Tennant as Angus is hilarious plain and simple. Manning and Edwards are just followers who start to realize that it is no way to go through life.

McKinnon as Lupe is such a riot from start to finish! We all have that friend who is just a little nutty in a way that makes them extremely special. I couldn't keep up with her infectious words of wisdom and her unwavering support of her very large friend.

Silvestre as El Primero is full of himself and there comes a moment where he is in the ring with Ferdinand that he must choose between his ego and a bull named Ferdinand.

Other cast include Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Inglesias, Flula Borg, Sally Phillips, Boris Kodjoe, Jack Gore, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Nile Diaz, Colin H. Murphy, Juanes, Jerrod Carmichael, Gina Rodriguez and Jeremy Sisto.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

With the overwhelming success of Ice Age, Blue Sky suddenly found itself a frontrunner in what has blossomed into a powerful, billion dollar marketplace.  Together, Fox and Blue Sky Studios have broken records, growing their diversely talented staff and crew, developing their breakthrough renderer CG Studio, and producing hit after hit: Robots (2005), Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (2008), the wildly successful Ice Age sequels: Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), and the vibrant musical comedy, Rio (2011).

The Bluray and DVD include the Special Features of Ferdinand's Team Supreme, "Home" Nick Jonas Music Video, Creating a Remarka-Bull Song, Learn to Dance with Ferdinand, Ferdinand's Do-It-Yourself Flower Garden and so much more. The Digital Movie is also included so the entire family can watch anywhere.

FERDINAND is from the creators of RIO and ICE AGE, both of which are high on my granddaughters watch list - over and over. This animated film is surely a must-have in the family home entertainment library because of its color, vibrancy, story line and cast of characters that will become iconic on their own.

What makes FERDINAND so beautifully done is Ferdinand himself! He sees the joy in the simplest things - such as his beloved flowers, and believes in helping all those that need it. Just as he was helped by a little girl named Nina who saw something beautiful in him, this lovely and large bull pays it forward but does so without a thought toward himself.

FERDINAND was an Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated film and also nominated at the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture and Best Original Song. The film won the HUMANITAS PRIZE in the Feature Film Category for the screenplay by Robert L. Baird.

As this is a week of indoor weather, let FERDINAND bring color and fun to a home movie family night!

In the end - you will bullieve!