BALLERINA

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Len Wiseman, Thunder Road and Lionsgate is the story intwined with the John Wick franchise with BALLERINA.

Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) is a young woman who lost her father as a child and was taken in by Winston Scott (Ian McShane), owner of the Continental Hotel. Wanting to keep her safe, he entrusts Eve to the Director (Angelica Houston) who oversees the Ruska Roma and takes care of the ballet school and Nogi (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) who will train her. Finally ready for her first assignment, during a scuffle she notices a mark that reminds her of something she saw as a child.

When the Director refuses to answer her question, Eve turns to Winston and it takes her to Prague and Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus). In a matter of minutes, she realizes that Pine is dealing with a repeat situation when his daughter Ella (Ava McCarthy) is being taken from him. Now the chase is on when Eve learns that the man she seeks is the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). Eve must decide if the answers she seeks is worth breaking all the rules because choices can come with consequences.

De Armas as Eve has the quietness of the franchise and the intensity needed to make this offshoot work – and it does. Taking on a role in this cinematic universe, de Armas has cemented her place in it. As Eve, she is in a solid storyline and shows how it is entwined in the world of assassins and exact rules that, like John Wick, are made to be broken. The tension oozes on the screen and the action is well done by de Armas.

McShane returns as Winston and knows exactly what to do for the young Eve. As the owner of the Continental, it allows him to skirt certain rules and McShane does it with the swagger this character has been known for. Byrne as the Chancellor is a leader and with that comes a control that is part of the problem. It must be said that Byrne has always been able to play a bad guy so damn well. In this film, he is just as much a stickler for the rules when they work to his favor but also seems to control people with ease. Both these actors are fantastic in this film.

Houston as the Director falls into this role again without missing a beat. Training her “ballerinas” comes with a long history and keeping the peace with the Chancellor comes with its own set of choices. Having Houston on the screen in this larger role is a long time in the making now that her role is more powerful than anyone might have realizes. Watching her bob and weave through the film is so cool. Duncan-Brewster as Nogi knows Eve from the beginning and is part of her training. The role is a smaller one but still is impactful on Eve.

Reedus as Pine is holding up in a hotel room but that isn’t going to stop Eve. I was absolutely thrilled to see Reedus on the screen again and taking on what he calls “a bottle of Advil all day long type of job”. He gets the chance to put his hands on fight scenes that are intense which is probably an awesome change from zombies. McCarthy as Ella is a charming little girl who is in the middle of a battle not of her own making.

The audience gave heartfelt love to Lance Reddick as Charon, memorable concierge at the Continental Hotel. There was verbal cheering for him and I was all for it.

Other cast include Choi Soo-young, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Jung Doo-hong, David Castaneda, Robert Maaser, Marc Cram and Victoria Comte as child Eve.  

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000-motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

BALLERINA is a two hour and five-minute ass whuppin’ from start to finish. There isn’t a moment where the audience will be able to sit back and take a breath. The story comes in line taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum so everyone understands the time line. The film offers twists, turns (not just the body either), a deeper look into of the story that falls in line with the John Wick narrative.

Of course, I am being vague about the details as I wouldn’t even, for a minute, want to spoil it for anyone. Just know that the action is absolutely amazing and the reaction of the audience never stopped for a moment. There were cheers, a few omg’s, creation to the fight scenes so the entire film is a shared experience and that’s what makes it so much fun. Following the JOHN WICK formula, BALLERINA doesn’t miss a beat and is a fantastic time of a two-hour ride.

Each character feels seamless as they enter into the story and I just loved how it was done and to see faces that are part of the franchise return to tell more of their story. Director Wiseman had a vision and put it on film giving the audiences exactly what they expect from this franchise. The ending is left just as open as John Wick’s story which means if de Armas can handle more of the same (which is absolutely a lot!), a BALLERINA 2 will be well received. The creation of another assassin that sees the rules slightly different than those who control the frightening underworld is done so well and it fits the timeline    

In the end – the past can be a trigger!

 

 

 

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Jeff Fowler and Paramount Pictures is the next adventure for the team with SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3.

Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba) are spending a little quality time with Doughnut Lord Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter). That is one of the gangs’ favorite things to do and they are soaking it up until a helicopter from G.U.N. shows up and Director Rockwell (Krysten Ritter) tells the three that they need help. With what?

Well, there is a new hedgehog on the loose named Shadow (Keanu Reeves) and he is angry and destructive. Sonic quickly realizes that his hostility is going to be difficult for Tails and Knuckles so it is decided they are going to call on the one person who might be able to help – Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub) brings the group before a dilapidated Eggman but once he discovers what is happening to some of his hardware, he doctors up and agrees to help.

That is until he discovers who is responsible for Shadow plus the chaos and its none other than – well, I’ll let you find out for yourself. Robotnik is thriller at the chance to once again be a part of the master plan that calls for putting the hedgehogs in danger. With a new sense of purpose and a new, very tight outfit, Robotnik and his new friends are taking aim at G.U.N.

Now Sonic, Tails and Knuckles must do what they do best, find clever ways to outsmart Shadow and Robotnik before they carry out their twisted plan for revenge, each for their own reasons!

Schwartz voicing Sonic gets to, once again, come up with fast talk, fast one-liners and going fast on his feet. This character is so very funny and if you don’t think so then you might want to ask Santa for a new funny bone. O’Shaughnessey voicing Tails is the smart hedgehog who understands how to create and work technology – and, to quote Agent Stone, Tails is “adorable”. Elba voicing Knuckles is the muscle of the bunch who finds no problem in fighting and has no problem offering up his services.

Marsden as Doughnut Lord Tom is so supportive of the hedgehog gang. He treats them as family and offers up fatherly advice when needed. He also finds himself in the middle of the action whether he wants to or not but its not always a bad thing. Sumpter as Maddie supports the hedgehogs just as much as her husband Tom does. When the couple gets an opportunity to spend time alone together, it doesn’t take long before Maddie is happy to join the gang on an adventure.

Carrey as Dr. Robotnik is absolutely stellar, hilarious and falls back into this role with ease. He is a total crack-up with his one-liners and even a few references that you have to be quick to catch. I’m so happy to see Carrey again in any capacity but, to be honest, my family truly adores him as Dr. Robotnik. So having Dr. Robotnik during Grinch season is everything we could have asked for from Santa.

Reeves as the newest hedgehog Shadow gets to be the dark presence of power. He has a bone to pick with anyone that has been a part of his 50-year captivity and has no problem showing what he can do. Reeves voice goes deep and lets us know from the beginning that he is a force on a mission. Majdoub as Agent Stone is still loyal to Dr. Robotnik, even when he feels like something is coming between them. Majdoub gives his role the middle-man appearance because he cares about his boss but also is curious about the hedgehogs!

Shout out to Ritter as Director Rockwell. Her character doesn’t trust anyone and both sides keep her on her toes!

Other cast include Jorma Taccone as Kyle, Sofia Pernas as Gabriella, Cristo Fernandez as Pablo, Natasha Rothwell as Rachel, Shemar Moore as Randall, Tom Butler as Commander Walters, Adam Pally as Wade Whipple, and Alyla Browne as Maria.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 has so much going for it. First of all, the special effects are so much fun and amazingly done. Then we have the story of three hedgehogs that are part of Tom and Maddie’s family to the point that they can not imagine their lives without them. There is also the story of a friendship and teamwork that Sonic, Tails and Knuckles hold dear and is put to the test. Dr. Robotnik returns with a bit of a story all his own as well and the addition of another hedgehog in Shadow who also has a story to tell.

Normally, that would be a lot of stories to tell but here it works! There isn’t a moment to take a breath because everything plays out in a fast (what did you expect, its Sonic!) paced adventure scene after scene. I love the wit behind the one-liners and, if you are as quick as they are, you’ll catch things that will have you saying, “whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?” and then laughing hard. There is humor for the kids and for the adults and sometimes they meet in the middle. The applause during the movie was a fun surprise. It reminded us all the reasons why Sonic became so popular in the first place and yes, I still have my original Sega and we will be playing the game later tonight.

Just in time for the holidays, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 means a fantastically fun time at the theatre for those of us who remember Sonic’s start, to families that have been following his rise over these many years and those who have caught on to the fun in recent years. Basically, it means a good time will be had by all!

In the end – new adventure and new rival!

Surf’s Up with the Return of POINT BREAK

 

Jeri Jacquin

Returning on 4K Ultra HD and Bluray in a Collector’s Edition from Oscar winning director Kathryn Bigelow and Shout! Studios is the return to the waves with POINT BREAK.

Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) is an FBI Agent who is sent by Agent Angelo Pappas (Gary Busey) to discover who is responsible for bank robbers. Known as the Ex-Presidents, the robbers disguise themselves as Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon and Lyndon B. Johnson. Pappas has his own theory that they are surfers who use the money to follow the waves.

Going undercover, Utah meets Tyler (Lori Petty) who saves him from drowning as he tries to learn to surf on his own. Sharing his cover story, she introduces him to Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) and his group Roach (James LeGros), Grommet (Bojesse Christopher) and Nathaniel (John Philbin). Bodhi wouldn’t have accepted him so quickly if not for recognizing Utah as a former football player. Utah begins to experience their adrenaline filled life at the same time working on the case.

When a robbery goes wrong, and the DEA operation is blown, Utah believes he knows who the Ex-Presidents are. Staking out a potential bank, the Ex-Presidents strike and Utah runs after one of the robbers injuring himself. Tyler discovers something upsetting and Bodhi decides it is time to bring Utah in on the gang. The scheme goes wrong it will take some time before Utah finds his one chance to bring it all to an end.

Reeves as Utah is working his way through the FBI and Pappas knows he is the perfect agent to handle the case. The young Reeves takes to the waves and to the company of Swayze to offer up a budding good guy-bad guy set up and it is so well done. Swayze as Bodhi shines and opposite Reeves makes it all look fluid, natural and it is perfection between these two actors.

Petty as Tyler is a wild child of the waves and takes to Utah fairly quickly. Their relationship becomes more serious which is what makes it difficult for her to understand what she feels is a betrayal. Petty is young and thrilling to watch as she fits into the boy’s club. Busey as Pappas gets a chance to not only be a little wild but also push the boundaries as he is determined to find the criminals. Busey is always charismatic, a bit funny and a presence that can never be missed on screen.

Other cast include John C. McGinley as FBI Director Ben Harp, Lee Tergesen as Rosie, Vincent Kyln as Warchild, Mike Genovese as FBI Corey, Chris Pedersen as Bunker, Sydney Walsh as Miss Deer, Dave Olson as Archbold, Anthony Kiedis as Tone, Jack Kehler as FBI Halsey, Galyn Gorg as Margarita, and Tom Sizemore as DEA Deets.

SHOUT! Studios has grown into a tremendous multi-platform media company. Releasing new animated features such as the exquisite Long Way North, and the epic fantasy Beauty and The Beast. Also, their own original horror film, Fender Bender gives fans a good scare. For more of what SHOUT has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

Special Features in the 2-Disc set include New Master and Restoration from a 2023 4K Scan of the Interpositive Dolby Vision, Additional Scenes, 4 Featurettes and Theatrical Trailer.

Reeves and Swayze are everything in this film. Good vs. bad or is it bad vs. good – its hard to say because these characters are truly complex. Knowing the rights and wrongs of the world, each chooses to test the limits and cross onto each other’s playing field so to speak. These two actors bring their roles in strong and that is what has made this film memorable and iconic.

POINT BREAK is that film that when it comes across our screens, we have to stop and watch it. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen the film; I still enjoy it immensely. Partly to enjoy Reeves and Swayze on screen together, partly because I am a beach/surf admirer and all together because it is a wonderful time filled with suspense and action.

Having it arrive again on 4K Ultra HD with so many special features, it puts a shine on the iconic part of the film. Wax your board and prepare for another turn in the waves!

In the end – they run on pure adrenaline!

 

 

THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on HBO Max and in theatres from director Lana Wachowski and Warner Bros. Pictures is the revival and reveals with THE MATRIX RESSURECTIONS.

Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is living in San Francisco working on making video games with partner Smith (Jonathan Groff). Feeling like there is something out of sync with him, Anderson sees an Analyst (Neil Patrick Harris) to keep things on an even keel while taking medication.

What he does not know is that Bugs (Jessica Henwick) is the captain of the Mnemosyne and feels it is on her to find The One – find Neo. Unexpectedly, she finds a changed Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen) and is surprised to learn what he has been doing. Along with her crew Shepherd (Max Riemelt), Berg (Brian J. Smith), Lexy (Erendira Ibarra), and Freya (Telma Hopkins), the find Neo.

Anderson has a difficult time accepting everything, especially when Bugs and Morpheus show up with a red pill and blue pill. Anderson remembers Neo but especially remembers his love Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). Seeing her in a coffee shop, he is upset to learn that the woman’s name is Tiffany, and she is married with children.

Neo decides it is time to follow what has been plaguing him and discovers the deception that has been happening in his life for over sixty years. Seeing Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith), it all begins to come together as it is time to discover the changes in the Matrix. A woman named Sati (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) has a plan and what it means for Neo, Trinity and all those living in reality.

Reeves as Anderson/Neo is just so damn cool its ridiculous. Returning to his life as Thomas Anderson, he becomes wealthy by creating a video game based on the Matrix. People eat it up but now, Warner Bros. wants more! Not sure he wants to have anything to do with more, Anderson becomes unsure of what is happening to him. Reeves gives us that uncertainty and feeling that there is something else out there. He is and will also be associated with Neo and I am pretty darn okay with that.

Moss as Tiffany/Trinity has the same itch that Anderson/Neo does about something just not being right with their world. The conversation between the two in the coffee shop is just so amazing as it feels like no time has passed between these two characters and their acting to one another. Trinity was already a bad-ass, but now she gets to step up her game.

Henwick as Bugs starts looking for Neo even though she has no permission to do so. Of course, Neo is a legend but that is not why she is trying to find him. Something is wrong and she wants to make sure they find him before he becomes just a memory. Henwick gives her character a strength and tenacity to bring Neo back to ‘us’.

Abdul-Mateen as Morpheus has some of the original Fishburne characteristics but as a changed and younger version, he handles this role with care. It has to be difficult to follow in someone elses’ role but Abdul-Matten slides right in and still gives us Morpheus but with an upgrade as it were. Jonas as Sati gives us another look down matrix-memory lane and has a reason for wanting to help Neo find answers and well as Trinity. She handles this role with grace.

Smith as Niobe brought her game and I still do not like this character and for all the same reasons. That’s not a bad that, it just shows that Smith could slide back into a role and not skip a beat. Older and still a non-believer, everyone just goes around her orders to do what needs doing until she realizes it better to go along to get along. Groff as Smith is a happy ex-agent who is living in the matrix and enjoying getting to do whatever he wants for who ever he wants. I sort of enjoy that!

Harris as The Analyst wants Anderson to focus on trying to forget about the memories he has and what brought him to therapy in the first place. The problem is that the medications are not working and there is a reason for that. You have to discover that for yourself. I truly enjoyed Harris’ performance and he made it look like so much fun.

Other cast include Christina Ricci as Gwyn de Vere, Toby Onwumere as Sequoia, Michael X. Sommers as Skroce, L. Trey Wilson as Hanno, Chad Stahelski as Chad and Lambert Wilson as The Merovingian and appearances by Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, Hugo Weaving as Smith, and Tanveer K. Atwal as Sati.

Warner Brothers is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainments with worldwide distribution to DVD and Bluray, animation, comic books, videogames and broadcasting. For more please visit www.warnerbros.com.

THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS gives us a bit of the past with Neo and the present with a possibility of the future of franchise. Just seeing the journey Anderson must go through to believe he is Neo (not so much The One as just Neo) is also a chance for Reeves to expand on his character. When we are introduced to his character in 1999 but it slams into the Matrix pretty quick without us knowing a lot about Thomas Anderson. It is interesting to see him in the un-real world.

It is also cool that they chose to expand Trinity’s storyline as it becomes a huge reason for Anderson to reconnect with Neo. The always were better together than they were apart, so it makes sense. That being said, the twists and turns and unexpected character returns had me pointing and kind of smiling because getting rid of everyone would have really irked me.

In the end – it has been another life beyond The One!

BILL & TED Face the Music

Moderator Kevin Smith

Keanu Reeves

Alex Winter

Samara Weaving

Brigette Lundy-Paine

William Sadler

Director Dean Parisot

Writers Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson

The boys are back, Bill and Ted!

Kevin: This movie is adorable, it makes people feel adored, hopeful and a time machine journey, references to old friends, it was a perfect movie experience. Stay through the credits. How did this begin?

Chris: It stated in 1983 and an improve group with some friends to play with the characters. The suggestion was two teenage boys studying history that don't know anything about history. They struck us as funny instantly and we started playing with them.

Kevin: Before Keanu and Alex played Bill and Ted, you played Bill and Ted?

Ed: We took questions as Bill and Ted and everything was either 'excellent' or 'bogus'.

Chris: We wrote letters and Bill and Ted and spoke like Bill and Ted. Long before we started to put them into a movie or anything like that, we just enjoyed them.

Ed: There is a story we told before which is that it was hard for us to imagine who would take the characters over and we were not involved in the casting project or anything. We were in Arizona where the movie was about ready to shoot and we were in a line at a McDonalds and we were complaining to each other like 'gawd, I bet whoever they cast won't be able to do it the way we hoped' and all that. There were two guys in line in front of us at McDonalds goofing off and talking to each other and Chris and I were like 'now THOSE should be the people that play Bill and Ted' and we were on the set of the first rehearsal and it was Bill and Keanu. Unbelievable (to which Keanu gives the thumbs up!)

Kevin: It is a small world. Whose idea was it to turn the characters into a screenplay?

Chris: We were going to write a skit movie with a bunch of different skits because we just had a bunch of silly ideas and Bill & Ted were going to be one of the pieces in a 10-minute piece. It was my Dad, Richard Matheson who wrote I AM LEGEND, and I ran it by him, and he said you could make a whole movie about that'. We started looking at it that way.

Kevin: Richard Matheson is in the DNA of Bill & Ted.

Chris: In that respect yes.

Kevin: Bill & Ted became part of the pop culture and how quickly was a sequel which was called Bill & Ted Go to Hell, but you had to change that right?

Ed: Yea, the script was that they go back and have to take another test, an English test and Chris and I didn't want to rehash that but we had this other idea, which was what if we kill them and just send them to hell and call it Bill & Ted Go to Hell and they were just not into it surprisingly. Until we flew to Massachusetts I think and Keanu was doing a play there, Shakespeare right?

Keanu: yes.

Ed: We flew there and told them we have two ideas, the one they want us to do and this other one and if we didn't have the backing of Alex and Keanu there was basically no way we were going to do the second one. We got to do the weirder version which I'm so grateful for.

Kevin: When did they say it had to be Bogus Journey and not Go to Hell?

Chris: I think that was the shooting title when we were in production, I think that's what it was called. When it came time to release it they were not going to release it.

Kevin: When does FACE THE MUSIC come into your lives?

Alex: There wasn't really a version years ago. We all went on our merry way and stayed good friends. It was some years ago now, some ten years ago that Chris, Ed, myself and Keanu were having dinner and they said they had another idea for a Bill & Ted and laid out this very summary version of a piss take of Dickens going back into your life finding out each reiteration of your life was worse than the previous. Pretty damn funny. None of us had thought of embarking on a third. Even that night I think we all kind of looked at dinner as 'this isn't really worth doing and no one really needs this unless its really great' and we can magically hold on to the creative well enough that it maintained its integrity of that initial idea. Thus began a very long road to get us to sitting in front of you on our laptops.

Kevin: Let me take it to the boys. Did you have to audition for Bill & Ted?

Keanu: We went through a very vigorous audition process. The first audition I recall in the end there were ten artists and we would revolve doors playing either Bill or Ted and interacting with each other. There was a lunch and went to the end of the day.

Alex: It was a triathlon more than an acting audition. It was a grueling and somewhat unnecessarily prolonged experience. In retrospect, everyone who made the movie was super young. It was a nice way to say no one knew what they were doing. Keanu and I became friends through that process. Eventually we got to know each other a bit and very relived when we finally got it.

Kevin: When did you know that Bill & Ted were a pop culture phenomenon?

Keanu: I think as soon as people started yelling in the streets. I know when I was on the street people would yell, "be excellent!" and "party on!" so I was like, alright, cool.

Alex: I remember going to Paris on vacation right after the first one came out and being seeing a couple of skate-punk kids that were like 10, 11, 12 years old and they were talking like Bill & Ted and it hit me at that point that it had sort of seeped into the culture on some level.

Kevin: The extension of that story line, of course, into BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC includes a new generation. Sam and Brigette, what is the process by which someone ascends to the position of B&T in the movie?

Brigette: We had to audition, it wasn't as rigorous by any means that, we didn't have a lunch. It was like a fifteen minute in and out. It was good, for myself personally I had never seen the film so and I didn't want to see it before I went in because I wanted to go in blind. I watched it a two second clip of what their voices sounded like and I went in and was just as goofy as possible and the second time I got to read with Sam.

Ed: Wait, you did a whole two seconds of prep?

Sam: Yep, that's how I got to where I am. I did my two second research.

Kevin: Everyone in the audience listening, that should be an inspiring story because everything your teachers told you about being prepared doesn't matter.

Brigette: Trust me, that's what I learned in high school, cram in the bathroom before and you're good.

Sam: Just cram! I hadn't seen the films either.

Kevin: Seriously? Neither one of you saw the movie.

Sam: No, I was born in '92. I think it was quite, I could be wrong, I mean I know a few Ozzie's that have seen it but I think it’s an American cultural phenomenon. I could be ignorant about that. I remember getting an email with the audition and what is Bill & Ted and my partner leapt off the couch and started doing this surfer voice I'd never heard before and started talking in a voice and that's when I realized that this film had an impact on the culture of America. Jimmy was like 'dude, you know, you have to do the audition bro!' and I was like who are you and who did you just become.  (Keanu is laughing) He immediately said, 'you have to get this job and watch both movies back to back right now'. We had so much fun and I hadn't seen films like that before, it was so innocent and so naïve and delightfully funny. Next, I'm in Santa Monica reading opposite Brigette and gave it my best shot. It was really daunting trying to fill Bill & Ted's shoes but still trying to make the character different from doing an impression of them. That was the tricky part.

Kevin: In that respect did you study Alex and Brigette did you study Keanu?

Sam: I won't speak for Brigette but for me I watched Alex's performance and tried to study his physical way that held himself as Bill and try to bring that more into a feminine but different from Bill. To make it different but the apple not falling far from the tree.

Brigette: Totally like watching the movie but also like the experience of meeting you guys and becoming friends with you guys but secretly watching you all the time to see how you move your arms. The crazy part of being an actor. Billie and Thea are geniuses in the way that Bill & Ted and goofy and naïve looking for the answer, so I feel that's where we found a way into those differences.

Alex: The first time we performed with you guys, I remember one scene where I was facing off with you guys, it was a really wonderful moment. It’s not saying we were worried about who was going to play these characters, but it was really important that they didn't feel like knock-off's of Bill & Ted and that they were their own people. We both sort of sighed at the same time at the performance because it smacked of family really more than imitating us. They are completely their own characters.

Kevin: The first thing that I was struck by was Bill & Ted was a PG venture. As I'm watching, they chose a PG 13 hand. When you get the script was there any trepidation Dean?

Dean: Yes, its daunting because they are iconic and it’s hard to come back after 30 years. All of that was part of the puzzle to put it together. To contemporize it and bring the characters back at middle age and with their daughters. At the casting there was no question. The weird thing was that it was obviously them and then we put up photographs of Bill & Ted against Sam & Brigette it looked like their daughters. It’s to their credit because they became their daughters and nothing else mattered.

Sam: I will say as young women with makeup it is easy to be too glam so they did a perfect job of making us still different but making us their daughters.

Dean: We looked at them as young musical savants. Everyone you just talked about got together to create those characters that weren't glam at all but artistic.

Kevin: Movies are made up of moments, give me your favorite moment?

William: The very first shot of the take of the very first scene that I did I was supposed to be hopscotch and cheating at it and I tripped. I caught myself and sprained my wrist and I thought 'this is a disaster, I'm off to such a great start'.

Dean: He did the rest of those scenes with a swollen wrist.

William: The really fun moment was when Alex and Keanu, we finally are reunited on screen. It was just gang busters from there. It was like we never left off.

Kevin: That will bring inflammation down.

Sam: I think watching those three have that very special moment, that was really touching and incredible and I felt incredibly lucky to be there to watch that. A close second was the first scene of the film where Brigette and I are watching our fathers perform. I never laughed so hard seeing Keanu Reeves go from John Wick to Ted dancing around and I was crying with laughter.

Brigette: Everyone who we find throughout history who is a musician is a brilliant musician. Watching them play, Patty Ann Miller is the most phenomenal drummer watching her use bones on a turtle shell.

Ed: The reason I was hesitant at first is that my two moments weren't on set. One was a night where some of the actors who played some of the musicians played with us one night. It was a community. I think my favorite moment was on a day when we were shut down because of weather we were stuck in a town called Covington, Keanu hosted the cast and crew and it was a 1:00 performance of John Wick. Alex hosted a lunch after and we just hung out and none of us could work and I thought, this is amazing.

Alex: There are a couple but the first week, the movie was hard physically but we are older, and the script was more physical. It was super physical, and I remember half way through week on and we were shooting a scene and the whole family is there and people I've known most of my life. Keanu and I got into character and we just went off and I remember coming off set and thinking "Bill and Ted are back!".  It's like you don't know, not that we did a great job but internally they are really fun to play and you sort of have to let them go and do their own thing. There is a real ensemble thing, when that groove is happening and working, especially because the tone is so specific, that was it for me, the moment I felt that emotionally. Meeting with Billie and the girls at Death's house, riffing with Sadler again, having him in my face and the baggage from our past and the kids there.

William: My favorite moment too!

Keanu: Sorry not sorry. There is nothing like, I can't feel or laugh or do anything like the way working on this film does and working with Alex. That doesn't exist anywhere else in the world for me. To partner up and work on the craft side of it and get to play these characters Chris and Ed have created and be their children. There is no other place where I can laugh like this. To the craft and play these characters, there are a few scenes stand out but every day as Al gives a wonderful performance. Playing older versions of Bill and Ted and getting to play off Alex and the situation and the words doesn't exist anywhere else with the laughter and connection.

Kevin: How nice you don't get to shoot people in a movie.

Keanu: What are you talking about, that's fun to do that, what do you mean.

Kevin: You let Bill & Ted grow up in the movie.

TOY STORY 4 Reunited Our Favorite Friends

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Josh Cooley, Pixar Animated Studios and Walt Disney Pictures brings back our friends for TOY STORY 4.

Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the gang are still living with Bonnie. As time has gone on, Woody has found himself spending more time in the closet and less time with Bonnie. Yet Buzz, Jessie (Joan Cusack), Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), Trixie (Kristen Schaal), Rex, (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Slinky Dog (Blake Clark), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Mrs. Potato Head (Estelle Harris) and the gang are still supportive of Woody.

But he has other things to worry about when Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw) is upset about going off to kindergarten. Taking the initiative, Woody decides to make sure she has a good day! When things don’t seem to be going in that direction, he helps Bonnie create a new friend, Forky (Tony Hale) and she is delighted.

Before the real school year starts, Mom and Dad decide it’s time to go on a little road trip. The toy-gang is thrilled as well and wait to be packed into the RV for a little adventure. When Forky escapes the RV, Woody tells he gang he will meet them at the RV park in the next town while he goes off to settle their new toy friend down a bit.

It gives time for Woody and Forky to bond as the sheriff gets time to explain the situation to him. Getting close to the RV park, Woody sees something in an antique store window. A lamp that his friend Bo Peep (Annie Potts) once called her home with the three sheep Billy, Goat and Gruff. Taking a small detour to find out if she is in the shop, he and Forky meet Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) who only wants one thing from Woody!

When she doesn’t get it, Gabby Gabby takes Forky as hostage at the same time Woody finds Bo Peep. Now she needs to bring her friends to help including Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) because Bonnie and her parents are about to leave the RV park and not everyone is aboard. Buzz jumps into action to help as the gang in the RV make a little plan of their own.

It’s pretty much help your friends, help your new friends and make a decision that will change the lives of everybody all while getting back to Bonnie.

Because that’s what friends do for one another!

Hanks as Woody will now and forever be considered a beloved icon in both movies and animation. He has brought all of us so much love and teachable lessons in the character of Sheriff Woody. From the very first TOY STORY in 1995, I knew this was going to be a ride from adults to children, little did I know now that it would include grandchildren. Woody can be found in kids rooms still because he is the friend we all wish we could have for a lifetime.

Allen as Buzz is once again the lighthearted friend who tries to keep Woody’s spirits up and when it comes time to bring him home, it is Buzz who go to find him. They are an unbeatable pair and even if he is still a little confused sometimes, he doesn’t let that stop him from hearing his own ‘inner voice’.

Potts as Bo Peep is sweet, strong and has a little fight in her swagger. She has a story to tell and it is about where she has been and how she now sees the world. McGraw as Bonnie is such a young girl learning to be outside of her bedroom and toy world into something much bigger – but she still needs her toy friends.

Cusack, Hunt, Schaal, Shawn, Ratzenberger, Benson, Clark, Rickles, Harris return as their respective and beloved characters and, of course, we wouldn’t have it any other way. As much as there wouldn’t be a TOY STORY without Woody and Buzz, there equally wouldn’t be a Woody and Buzz without Jessie, Dolly, Rex, Hamm, Barbie and the Potato Heads.

Hendricks as Gabby Gabby can be a little bit off putting and a tad-bit like Lotso from TOY STORY 3 in that she wants to be large and in charge. It is clear that there are deeper issues and Woody needs to get to the bottom of it.

Reeves as Duke Caboom may have only been in the film briefly but man did he make me laugh! This was a fantastic chance for Reeves to show his comedic side in a way that most would see as unexpected and awesome at the same time.

Other cast include Bill Hader as Axel the Carnie, Ally Maki as Giggle McDimples, Jay Hernandez as Bonnie’s Dad, Lori Alan as Bonnie’s Mom, Emily Davis as Billy/Goat/Gruff, Carl Weathers as Combat Carls, Jeff Garlin as Buttercup, Jordan Peele as Bunny Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pricklepants, Jodie Benson as Barbie, Jeff Pidgeon as Aliens, and especially Mel Brooks as Melephant Brooks, Carol Burnett as Chairol Burnett, Betty White as Bitey White and Carl Reiner as Carl. Reineroceros.

TOY STORY 4 is a chance for the toys themselves to actually have an adventure that is about – well – them! Of course there is the continuing story of Bonnie but it is also about how these toys are still caring of one another.

They have their own attachments and feelings about the years they have spent together and TOY STORY 4 has a chance to tell that side of it all and do so in a way that brings closure we didn’t even know we needed.

In the end – on the road of life there are old friends, new friends and stories that will change you forever!