It’s the Holidays in July with THE CHRISTMAS DANCE

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and on demand from writer/director Michael Arcell and Gravitas Ventures is a little holiday reminder a few months early about THE CHRISTMAS DANCE.

Sarah (Kristen Vaganos) is a big city girl with a writing career that keeps her away from home. Never letting her forget that she is, brother Sherman Jr. (Miles Faber) pesters her with telephone calls letting her know that Mom Mary (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Dad Sherman (Richard Karn) want her home.

At work, Sarah is dealing with Mr. Davenport (Scott Bailey) who wants a story for the holidays but something told from a different standpoint than the way Sarah usually does her pieces. Complaining once again on the phone with Sherman Jr., she hears the sound of a crash!

Rushing back to her hometown, she finds her brother in the hospital along with Mom and Dad by his side. Also visiting is Jason (Carson Nicely) who recognizes Sarah from when they were young. Sarah prefers to forget things, especially the night she danced at the church Christmas pageant, and it did not go well.

Worrying about her brother and trying to write her article, Sarah gets talked into helping Jason with taking over for Sherman Jr. and the Christmas pageant. Needing some inspiration, Dad takes Sarah to visit Brother Moore (Master P), Sister Grace (Melissa Joe Bailey) and help with the local dinner. Also trying to keep her spirits up is Jason and it does not go unnoticed by the lovely Kate (Briana White) who still has issues with Sarah.

Sarah begins to see what it is she has been missing by finding excuses for not coming home and it is time to change, and it can all start with a dance!

Vaganos as Sarah is a young career woman who buries herself in her work and the city away from home. When it is time to acknowledge what she has been missing through the years, it is an awakening on levels she could not have imagined. Faber as Sherman Jr. has kept his faith and will not let his sister forget where it is she came from nor the love that is waiting for her.

Nicely as Jason is a good friend to Sarah's brother and believes in the community of faith he lives in. Seeing Sarah again reminds him of the night of the pageant and has memories of his own he would like to make right with Sarah. Long as Mom Mary is a caring and Christmas-y woman who is thrilled Sarah is home. Karn as Sherman is a man of faith who believes his daughter just needs a little push to see the world as a place of goodness.

Other cast include Symonne Harrison as Taylor, Jessica Richards as Karen, Josh Hooks as Brother Ron, Sinorice Moss as Dr. Leon McCoy, Cassady Jane Lorentzen as Young Kate and Brady Amaya as Young Sherman Jr.

Gravitas Ventures is a worldwide film distribution company that connections the global audience of over a billion people. Celebrating 15 years, they have had the honor to collaborate with thousands of artists to share important films. Gravitas was one of the first companies to develop a global network of digital media platforms like Video on Demand with a simple mission to deliver ideas that could bridge filmmakers to audiences. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.gravitasventures.com.

THE CHRISTMAS DANCE is a delightful look at what we can all relate too. First of all, letting our careers interfere with family life by excusing time after time the reasons we do not visit home. It also reminds us that there is so much to experience in a smaller community that allows people to be part of something that feels bigger than themselves - giving in all forms.

Sarah let one incident in her life cause her to continually break away from the family she clearly loves. Now we all do not get the opportunity to relive a moment so that it become a new memory, but we all have the same ability to see past our own excuses and open up to something wonderful.

THE CHRISTMAS DANCE is a nice little jingle in the middle of July as we all look forward to perhaps a better holiday season than 2020.

In the end - let the joy in early and celebrate a dance longer!

Now on Bluray and DVD is DR. SEUSS' THE GRINCH

Jeri Jacquin

This week on Bluray/DVD and Digital from directors Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier, Illumination and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the one we know as THE GRINCH.

In Who-ville it is that time of year as the Who-ville-ians prepare themselves for their favorite holiday of Christmas. Of course there is always one who isn't quite so thrilled about the excitement and that's The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch). Living atop Mount Crumpit with his dog Max, Grinch gets a little grumpier when he realizes that he has to make a grocery stop in Who-ville which is the last thing he wants to do.

Also in Who-ville is Cindy Lou Who (Cameron Seely), a very sweet six-year-old who is very aware that her mother is overworked. Taking care of twin boys Buster and Bean, Mom Donna (Rashida Jones) keeps a happy face for her family but Cindy reaches out to Santa for a little help. The Grinch and Cindy meet and the outcomes is that Cindy Lou decides to go to the North Pole and ask Santa straight out for help. The problem is that the traveling she would have to do to make that happen means that Cindy Lou has to go to plan B - trap Santa!

The Grinch has his own idea for messing with Who-ville and the holidays he hates so much. On Christmas Eve with the help of Max, he decides to be Santa Claus and take every little gizmo and gadget from the towns people. While heisting the Who's house, he meets Cindy Lou again as she explains that she wants nothing for herself, only her mother and there is a crack in the Grinch's nasty ole heart.

That doesn't stop him from stealing everything in Who-ville and back up to Mount Crumpit. What he doesn't expect is that all the people of Who-ville see past the trappings of Christmas and celebrate the holiday with love in their hearts. Well, the Grinch can't get away from the feelings that snowball to the point of doing the right thing and becoming part of Who-ville the way it always should have been.

The Grinch toasts, "To kindness and love, the things we need the most"!

Cumberbatch as The Grinch is funny and charming in his grumpy way but that is what is expected of this iconic character. It is difficult to carry on the tradition of the Dr. Seuss' from it's 1966 Boris Karloff voice narration that I grew up with to the 2000 Jim Carrey hilarious version that my daughter grew up with but Cumberbatch has a little help from Illumination to make his version come to life.

Seely as Cindy Lou Who is a very sweet girl who sees the day to day struggles of her mother and although tries to help the best she can, she feels it might not be enough. That's a child with an amazing heart that should all be blessed to know.

Jones as Donna is a Mom who is trying to be everything to everyone and does so with the Who-ville positive attitude - even if it is exhausting. I found her creative, skillful and someone I'd like to have around my kitchen at breakfast time.

Lansbury as the Mayor is a voice I can say that I always love to hear and am thrilled that she is The part of the Grinch memorable universe.

Other cast include: Kenan Thompson as Bricklebaum, Tristan O'Hare as Groopert, Ramone Hamilton as Axle, Sam Lavagnino as Ozzy, Scarlett Estevez as Izzy and Pharrell Williams as the Narrator and the glorious Ms. Angela Lansbury as Mayor McGerkle.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

The Bluray of THE GRINCH includes the Bonus Features of 3 Mini-Movies, The Making of the Mini-Movies, From Green to Screen, Who's Who in Who-ville, My Earliest Grinch Memories, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" Lyric Video, Songs from His Little Heart, Grinchy Gadgets, Anyone Who Can Draw: The Grinch, Max, Fred, Cindy Lou's Yule Log and so much more!

The Digital Movie included in this pack has Movies Anywhere and with the Movies Anywhere App you can download and stream from any device which means you can go to Who-ville from almost anywhere.

THE GRINCH is a film that will be part of holiday viewing for years to come. The animation is green and vivid which is what we'd expect of the world created by Dr. Seuss and it adds to the fun of the film.

What is also in this film is the importance of family and helping one another because if you do that, it is so easy to reach out that feeling to a Grinch we all might know. Let's face it, no one wants to be left out of the holiday fun and watch it from afar. THE GRINCH invites us to be caring, giving, loving and full of holiday fun.

Now that's something we can all get behind all year long.

In the end - it's never too early to be annoyed by Christmas!

Prepare for the Holidays with ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE

 Jeri Jacquin

Currently on DVD from director John McPhail and Cinedigm comes a biting end to the beginning of the holidays as we know it with ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE.

In the town of Little Haven, Anna (Ella Hunt) is a young girl with big dreams out of high school. Unable to talk about it with Dad (Mark Benton), her big plans include traveling with a ticket hidden from view. The only other person who knows is best friend John (Malcom Cummings) who supports her but has a secret of his own.

Singing their way through teen angst, they are more involved in their mundane teenage-hood lives of unrequited love and parental misunderstandings to notice something different going on. That is until they see a snowman who seems a little friendlier than it should be but Anna takes care of it.

Walking through town they notice the destruction and everyone heads for the school. Anna and John meet up with Steph (Sarah Swire) and Chris (Christopher Leveaux) at the local bowling alley. The Headmaster (Paul Kaye) has a group locked down at school telling everyone it will be fine.

Trying to pass the time, Chris and John wonder who has been turned from the upsetting thought that Robert Downey, Jr. and Taylor Swift might be among the undead! Anna and Sarah are just trying to keep the bowling dead off of them.

Even in the midst of destruction and no internet access (selfie withdrawn imminent), the group still has the one thing the shuffling dead can't take from them - breaking out into lamenting song!

Hunt as Anna first of all has an amazing singing voice but even more than that she has a presence that I just love. Portraying Anna as a strong young woman who questions everything but still knows that she wants to experience more than the town of Little Haven, Hunt nails it.

Cumming as John as the look of a young man in love and not knowing the rules of how to make that known. Joining in with Anna, he tries to put his mind in a different place because zombies aren't exactly in his life lane. I love his portrayal of John because in the midst of chaos there is a little bit of a sweet naivetés.

Swire as Steph is dealing with her own issues feeling as if her parents dumped her in this little town and no one understands her. This actress also has an amazing voice as well and her snide comments and standoffish attitude is one that servers her will during this unusual holiday film.

Leveaux as Chris is the zombie resident expert on how to avoid getting bit and seems to be enjoying it all a little too much. Another great surprise here is Ben Wiggins as Nick, notably the school jock, he certainly knows how to swing a bat and is having a good time with his boys fighting the zombie war and singing about it too.

Other cast include: Marli Siu as Lisa, Sean Connor as Graham, John Winchester as Tibbsy, Euan Bennet as Jake, Ella Jarvis as Katie, Janet Lawson as Mrs. Hinzmann, Ruth McGhie as Bea, Kirsty Strain as Ms. Wright, Therese Bradley as Julie, Jake Richardson as Chas and Paul Kaye as Arthur Savage.

CINEDIGM has strategic relationships with over 60,000 physical retail storefronts and digital platforms with Wal-Mark, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon as well as national cable and satellite Video On Demand with an impressive distribution footprint that reaches ninety-three percent of all connected devices in the United States. The company's vast content library boasts over 52,000 feature films and television episodes. To learn more please visit www.cinedigm.com.

The DVD includes the Bonus Feature of ANNA & THE APOCALYPSE: Behind the Scenes.

ANNA & THE APOCALYPSE might just become a holiday classic in my home. We love all things zombie but this, THIS has everything else. From teen singing and dancing to surviving the holidays in a unique way, the film doesn't mind adding a little camp like sprinkles on holiday sugar cookies.

Trying to reach their families for holiday dinner is kind of like fighting traffic through L.A. on Christmas Eve - except they are on the menu! The film had me laughing, toe tapping, rooting for the teenagers (I know, I mean what???) and feeling like this is the Undead Breakfast Club meets High School Musical.

The film is also about friendships, truth, the craziness of being a teen, family, loss and discovering that each of them isn't so different than the other. One thing we can all be sure is that a zombie apocalypse can certainly bring out the good and bad in them all.

One thing is for certain, they are all in this together and they don't care about the naughty or nice part of the holidays.

In the end - zombies are coming to town!