It is the Return of our Favorite Ogre SHREK

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack from directors Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is our, well, kinda loveable ogre SHREK.

Lord Farquaad (voiced by John Lithgow) has taken over the fairytale kingdom and ruining the lives of the creatures who live there. Shrek (voiced by Mike Meyers) is an ogre who loves his muddy swamp and needs nothing more except being left alone. Well, that starts to change when the displaced creatures start placing themselves in his home.

Done with the madness and irritated with a particular Donkey (Eddie Murphy) who has attached himself to Shrek, he decides to visit this Lord. Interrupting the games, Farquaad makes a deal with Shrek – bring him the lovely Princess Fiona who is trapped in a castle and Shrek can have his swamp back creature free.

Shrek agrees and Donkey goes along for the adventure. They finally come to a castle that is being guarded by a dragon! Shrek goes in and finds the lovely Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) but she is not happy with how the rescue goes. Starting out these two are not exactly seeing eye to eye and Donkey thinks there is something more between them.

On the road back, Shrek and Fiona actually start talking to one another, but the Princess has a secret that she is trying to keep from everyone! Can she make it to the wedding day without being, well, herself?

Meyers as Shrek has made a place for himself in the ogre, swamp, jokes, loveable world of animation. DreamWorks found themselves a total winner in 2001 and that can be attributed to how Meyers made his Ogre amazing and hilarious. Using his ability to create voices, Shrek’s voice is unique and memorable even twenty years later.

Murphy as Donkey is totally in his element. There is not much that gets to Donkey as he seems to always fly by the seat of his furry animal rear end, and it works for him. Murphy gives Donkey everything and more to include being loveable, understanding, sweet and takes a hit and keeps on going. I can not imagine any other voice coming out of a donkey’s mouth than Murphy’s.

Diaz as Princess Fiona is probably our first glimpse at a Princess being a total bad ass. From the moment Shrek ‘rescues’ her, she makes it plain that she is not one to be trifled with. She has skills of her own and Shrek is about to discover them. Diaz also gives her princess a soft side filled with everything a young girl goes through with insecurities, uncertainties and unaccepting of her circumstances yet, does not know how to change it – until she meets Shrek.

Lithgow as Lord Farquaad is HILARIOUS, his statue does not match his ego that is for sure. He is full of himself and has managed to make everyone else forget he is as big as a keg of ale. Farquaad has more insecurities than anyone else running around in the fairytale world. Thinking he is going to get everything in the world is his first mistake.

Other wonderful characters include Vincent Cassel as Monsieur Hood, Chris Miller as Gepetto, Cody Cameron as Pinocchio, Michael Galasso as Peter Pan and Christopher Knight and Simon Smith as the Blind Mice. I have to give a shout out to Conrad Vernon as the Gingerbread Man! 

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. 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.

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.

The 4K Ultra HD and Bluray Bonus Features include The Animators Corner, Shrek’s Interactive Journey, Spotlight on Donkey, Secrets of SHREK, Deleted Scenes, Music Videos and Filmmakers’ Commentary. Plus, Bluray Bonus Disc with over 4 hours of fun Shrek In The Swam Karoke Party, Far Far Away Idol, Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos, The Ghost of Lord Farquaad, Scared Shrekless, Thriller Night, The Pig Who Cried Wolf, Shrek the Halls, Donkey’s Caroling Christmas-Tacular, Shrek’s Yule Log, and 5 Episodes from THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS TV Series.

SHREK is a staple in our home video library because it is not just for kids but also for kids at heart who want to have fun. It is a mixture of fairy tales but with a kick as each of the characters begin to find their voice in a world that has kept them boxed up for so long.

Shrek, Fiona and Donkey are the three most impressive and silly characters we have ever seen but in that is also the flaws we all seem to have. Not just in personal appearance but in the way we see one another. SHREK has always pushed us past those differences and did so in a way that makes us smile as well as think more about the world we live in.

In the end – it’s the greatest fairytale never told!

COMING 2 AMERICAN Hits Prime Streaming

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently streaming on Amazon’s service Prime from director Craig Brewer is the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 COMING TO AMERICA film with COMING 2 AMERICA.

Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is about to become King of Zamunda all while celebrating his 30^th anniversary to Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley). Visiting his father King Jafee Joffer (James Earl Jones) he learns that he has a son when he visited America to find his bride.

Semmi (Arsenio Hall) recalls to Akeem what happened the night they went clubbing together. This news has a double-edged sword as Akeem is thrilled to have a son because in Zamunda, only a male heir sits on the throne and on the other edge is telling wife Lisa and daughter Meeka (Kiki Layne) who wants to sit on the throne.

Running to American once again, Akeem and Semmi find Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler) and his mother Mary (Leslie Jones) along with Uncle Reem (Tracy Morgan). Explaining the situation, Lavelle and Mary return to Zamunda and are blown away by what they see.

Someone who is not happy about it all is General Izzi (Wesley Snipes) who decides the only way to get his foot in the palace door is by offering his daughter Bopoto (Teyana Taylor) to the new Prince Lavelle. That is when Lavelle finds out that he must past a few tests before given the title and as much as Meeka is upset, she helps her new-found brother.

Lavelle finds a special friendship in Mirembe (Nomzamo Mbatha) and when he over hears Akeem and Izzi making plans, he grabs his friend, mother and uncle and heads home to America. The new king follows only to discover that plans for his son are about to change and comes to realize that the world has changed and perhaps its time for a King to change as well.

Murphy as Akeem seems to have lost a little but of his 1988 innocent swagger but definetly still love his wife and three daughters. When the time comes for him to be King, he seems to have forgotten his youthful beliefs and instead seems to be embracing tradition. Murphy has his amusing moments that will win fans over having not seen Murphy in a few years.

Fowler as Lavelle comes to Zamunda to see a life he could never have imagined for himself. Trying to bring a little “America” to the palace, he seems to annoy people more than endear them. One such person annoyed is Layne as Meeka who believes she should sit on the throne after her father and not a ‘brother’ who does not know one thing about the country or how to be a king.

Hall as Semmi is still up to his old tricks but now he has a little bit of competition when Uncle Reem shows up to put him in his royal place. Hall also has his moments of humor and still a bit of a hound. Morgan as Uncle Reem gets a chance to stand up for his nephew and take on a royal family as only he can. I think the scenes between Morgan and Hall are the best of these two in the film.

Snipes as Izzi gets a chance to flex his comedic muscles and even show his dance moves as the General who wants to be part of the royals by marriage either his son to the royal daughter or his daughter to a royal and future king. Jones as Mary is a Mom who is happy to embrace the life in Zamunda in her own unique way and seems to get on the nerves of Lisa (Shari Headley). Both women end up bringing some of the most hilarious scenes when they get past the realizations of Lavelle.

Mbatha as Nomzamo is charming, sweet, endearing and probably the only sane person in the film. She has no motive or desires to be part of royalty but instead, just wants to have a business of her own.

Shout out to James Earl Jones as King Jafee Joffer because I could not imagine anyone else wearing the crown of Zamunda and still be able to chew Akeem out. Well done sir, well done!

Other cast include John Amos as Cleo McDowell, Vanessa Calloway as Imani Izzi, Paul Bates as Oha, Bella Murphy as Omma, Akiley Love as Tinashe, Louie Anderson as Maurice, Trevor Noah as Totasi Bibinyana, Luenell as Livia and Morgan Freeman as Morgan Freeman.  

Amazon Prime offers television shows and original content included in its Amazon Prime subscription. Original programs such as CARNIVAL ROW, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL are hit shows. Coming soon is the next series with GOLIATH starring Billy Bob Thornton and it promises to another successful and intense series.

COMING 2 AMERICA has taken its time to come to the screen (even if it is smaller than we would have liked) and it is filled with flashbacks, familiar faces and stretched out comedy. I have to say that I do not think a real king would take someone’s word about the parentage of a child but then again it is Murphy’s way of storytelling I suppose.  

Happy to see the film take place in the backwards Zamunda, I mean seriously? No woman on the throne and no women owned businesses? What happened to you Akeem? You used to be so cool but I guess since you got Lisa that’s as far as your aspirations of royal went. Thank goodness for Meeka to be a constant reminder that a strong young woman can hold her ground.

Other than those few opinionated points, COMING 2 AMERICA did the smart thing by being released on Prime. It made it possible for a wider audience to see the film because we still live in a world where taking the whole family to the theatre is still kind of costly, streaming means the WHOLE family can enjoy in the comfort of home.

So, gather up your own royal family and take a trip to Zamunda without ever leaving the couch and prepare to giggle because we all need that!

In the end – a sequel is in the heir!

THE TONIGHT SHOW: Johnny and Friends Opens the Curtain on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Now available on DVD from Time Life is another amazing three-disc collection from a television late-night icon with THE TONIGHT SHOW: Johnny and Friends.

There is something amazing about remembering the phrase, ‘heeeeeere’s Johnny’ every evening coming from America’s television sets. Settling down for the night Johnny Carson became a staple of entertainment that made us all laugh before falling asleep.

That’s just a fraction of what most people know about this late night star. For instance, Carson was a Nebraskan boy who loved magic tricks and created The Great Carson quickly earning a few dollars for it. He also was a military man joining the US Navy and serving as a communications officer.

After his service, Carson returned to Nebraska going off to college receiving his BA in Radio and Speech and, here is a surprise, minored in physics! He began his broadcasting career in 1950 and continued to move up with television spots on To Tell the Truth, Who Do You Trust? and met Ed McMahon.

By 1962 after Jack Paar’s departure, NBC finally signed Carson and once the show took off, McMahon joined his partner in crime. From then on characters and sketches included Art Fern, Carnac the Magnificent, Floyd R. Turbo, Aunt Blabby, El Mouldo and The Maharishi just to name a few.

Both New York and Hollywood sent Carson as many stars as there were in the sky to the show. From Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Richard Pryor, Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Burt Reynolds, Don Rickles, Charlton Heston, Jerry Lewis, Sean Connery and so many, many more filled each evening’s time slot. With this collection you can add Steve Marin, Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy. The comedy was never ending!

Carson spent thirty years hosting The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and received Emmy Awards and in 1987 was inducted to the Television Academy Hall of Fame. In 1992 Carson would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom only to be followed up by the Kennedy Center Honor.

Time Life has brought this never before released anywhere classic collection of the series to fans. For more of what Time Life has to offer fans of classic television visit www.timelife.com.

This 3-disc set of Johnny Carson and friends Steve Martin, Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy celebrates amazing comedy with side splitting laughs for three of my own personal favorite funny men.

On Disc 1 is one “wild and crazy guy” with Steve Martin who, as a young comic, almost didn’t get another chance at The Tonight Show. Once he polished his act, Martin came back several times to bring audiences serious laughter that continued on to his film career.

Disc 2 brings one of the most beloved comics who made his mark in comedy, television and film. Robin Williams was unpredictable and off-the-cuff fun brought fans quickly to see what he would do next. Sitting across from Carson was always an experience to witness with results that had me laughing to tears.

Finally, Disc 3 brings Eddie Murphy to the forefront on Carson’s couch and to our late night. His break out in Saturday Night Live meant that being on the show gave us all the opportunity to hear what laughs were to come and what project he was working on next.

These are three stellar comics sitting on the sofa of an icon and now, with the wonderful help of Time Life, we get the chance to revisit their early years and remember how they made us laugh. Sharing each disc with family and friends is a great way to step into a time machine while still introducing the younger generation to some of the most side-splitting comics ever.

In this 499 minute 3-disc set from time life is nine full shows that include the commercials of the time. Seriously, the commercials added to the laughs but at the same time aged me a bit. All in great fun!

In the end – prepare for greatness!