THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from directors Chris Renaud, Jonathan del Val and Universal Pictures is the continuing saga of what our pets do when we aren’t at home with THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2.

Max (Patton Oswalt) and Duke (Eric Stonestreet) are discovering the changes that life has in store for them. Mom Katie (Ellie Kemper) has fallen in love, married and brought little Liam into their lives. Happier than he has ever been, Max also suffers from being over protective of Liam!

Learning they are going on a road trip, Max and Duke end up on a family farm. Before going, Max asks Gidget (Jenny Slate) to watch his Busy Bee toy and protect it. Duke goes insane with excitement but Max is not as thrilled, especially after meeting the farms work dog Rooster (Harrison Ford). Rough and rugged, Rooster lets Max know that he needs to take his fears by the paws and give them a shake.

Snowball (Kevin Hart) has a visit from a puppy named Daisy (Tiffany Haddish) who tells him the story of a tiger being badly treated by a circus owner. She wants the superhero bunny to help free the big kitty. After a simple slip of the ball, Gidget is now on a mission to find Busy Bee and gets lessons in being a cat from the most unlikely place.

It is mischief, it is mayhem and they are our pets!

Oswalt voicing the pup Max is a perfect choice as he has the uncanny ability to bring an animated dog to life. Of course I will always love him as Remy but I have room enough in my heart for a little ball of charming insecurities named Max. Stonestreet as Duke is just as big as he wants to be with the heart of a puppy. He loves being with Max and loves his family. He has such a way with the world and just gives it his innocence touch.

Slate as Gidget is just flustery and dreamy with a brain that goes a million miles a minute. She is still keen on Max with hopes for a future and willing to start with Busy Bee. Haddish as Daisy does what she has always done, giving her character attitude.

Hart as Snowball has become a little more full of himself if that’s possible and once he puts on his mask – its all done folks. As things get more complicated, it’s a good thing he has Daisy to take up the furry slack.

Harrison Ford takes a shot at animation by playing Rooster, a working dog on a farm who knows a thing or two about how to handle himself. He is a little harsh on Max but its all with a goal in mind.

Other cast include Lake Bell as Chloe, Bobby Moynihan as Mel, Hannibal Buress as Buddy, Chris Renaud as Norman, Peter Holm as Chuck and Nick Kroll as Sergei, Dana Carvey as Pops.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 is a continuation of characters that have brought joy to both kids and adults. From the beginning, these characters led by Max have given us all something to think about when we aren’t at home!

Even though there are several stories going on at once and there doesn’t seem to be a connection, it gets away with it by being cute. In a theatre full of kids, all they know is that it’s funny, colorful, full of adventure, cute animals and a very cute little boy and that’s all that matters.

All of those things are very true so even though this adult might say blah-blah-blah, my granddaughter had her bag of popcorn, a juice box and wide eyes and that was all I needed to see it through her eyes. The parents were enjoying the chuckles as well as a few adult jokes slipped through.

So, as the school year ends and the kids have time on their hands, make it a fun and laugh filled weekend with THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2.

In the end – you gotta love ‘em!

MY LITTLE PONY Friendship is Magic: Fluttershy Floats onto DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from SHOUT! Kids Factor and Hasbro Studios is the iconic and loveable MY LITTLE PONY Friendship is Magic: Fluttershy.

The gang is excited when they learn that the famous photographer Photo Finish has seen Rarity’s fashion work! Setting up a fashion photo shoot, Rarity asks Fluttershy to be her model. Not sure that it’s what she wants to do, Fluttershy agrees because her friend has asked. Immediately Photo Finish makes it clear that she isn’t interested in Rarity’s fashions but Fluttershy as a model. It makes Rarity sad when Fluttershy becomes instantly famous and doesn’t know her friend is sad too. The girls work together to be truthful with one another and put a stop to the madness that is straining their friendship.

Fluttershy visits her parent’s home and learns her little brother Zephyr is returning to live. Immediately he treats his parents badly and Fluttershy gets grumpy about the way he is acting. She tries to convince her parents to speak up and make Zephyr responsible for his own actions. They agree and when he leaves Fluttershy is shocked to go home and find her brother already moved in. Doing her best to show him what it takes to be a responsible pony; Zephyr does his best to mess things up. Fluttershy tries one last time to help her brother fight his fear and succeed.

A game of Buckball excited Rainbow Dash and joining a team sounds like fun to the other ponies. Going up against the Appaloosa team, Apple Jack trains them to put together a good team. Surprised at what a natural Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are at the game, Apple Jack needs more players exactly like them. Snails turns out to be an awesome surprise! The team learns more about each other and what it means to be a team and have good sportsmanship.

Apple Jack and Fluttershy are asked by Rainbow Dash to go to Las Pegasus. Twilight tells them they need to help the Princess of Friendship. They are met by Mr. Gladmane and shown around his impress place of business. Fluttershy finds Flim and Flam and immediately sees their friendship problem. Apple Jack refuses to help the two and seeks out others who may need help. When they learn Mr. Gladmane is up to no good, Fluttershy and Apple Jack team up with Flim and Flam to bring out the truth in Las Pegasus.

Finally, Fluttershy has to take bunny Angel to Dr. Fauna when he has a little accident. The doctor’s office is bursting at the seams with animals that need tending. No one seems to know where they are all coming from and they won’t leave once they’ve been treated. It doesn’t take long before Fluttershy realizes she might have given Dr. Fauna so much praise and spread the word. The animals came and are feeling safe in her care. Fluttershy realizes that her dream is to open an animal sanctuary. All the ponies know someone who can help that dream come true.

Hasbro Studios is an iconic brand with some of the best in animation and family programming with MY LITTLE PONY, and LITTLEST PET SHOP. Since its formation in 2009, Hasbro Studios has received seven Daytime Emmy’s!

SHOUT! Factory brings the best to fans offering up feature films, classic television series, animation and specials. For more of what they have to offer go to www.shoutfactory.com. 

The DVD includes the episodes Green Isn’t Your Color, Flutter Brutter, Buckball Season, Viva Las Pegasus and Fluttershy Leans In. Also included is the Bonus Feature of a Sing-Along and trust me it is catchy and fun!

What else can possibly be said about these iconic ponies that hasn’t been said before? My family has been watching MY LITTLE PONY since my own girls were children (now are grown adults). The best part is watching my daughter’s daughter watch MY LITTLE PONY and play with the iconic toys. That is how amazing this show is and continues to be.

With ever changing story lines, the MY LITTLE PONY universe grows, expands and we continue to embrace them. That is an accomplishment beyond any stretch of the imagination. To bring beloved characters further and further into our homes with love, family, color, light, and lessons – that is what quality family programming should be.

Get ready to go on Fluttershy’s adventure with MY LITTLE PONY Friendship is Magic: Fluttershy on DVD.

In the end – in the words of Fluttershy ‘sometimes you have to do things even though you might fail’!

Win a copy of MY LITTLE PONY Shutterfly for your own home entertainment library by visiting http://moviemaven.homestead.com to find out how!

KUU KUU HARAJUKU: Super Kawaii Brings Adventure!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from SHOUT! Kids Factory and the mind of Gwen Stefani is the hit series KUU KUU HARAJUKU: Super Kawaii.

The girls; G, Love, Angel, Music and Baby along with manager Rudy, are thrilled to be working in the garden growing vegetables but Luv can’t wait to show them the Kawaii Fire machine. Made to amplify Kawaii-ness the other girls are a little nervous about her latest invention. When a festival is a chance for the girls to perform in the battle of the bands, they are not happy with their bland costumes. Remembering the Kawaii Fire machine, they create awesome costumes and work together to put on a great show.

Getting ready for Super Kawaii Sunday, the girls are thrilled that a famous photographer is coming to town to find fresh faces. Hitting the shops the girls want to look their best and be fashion fantastic. When they show up at the mall they are a little dishearten and think they don’t really have a chance. When photographer Egal begins to take their picture while they are being themselves, a new Kawaii level is reached. Now, the camera Egal used has turned into a Kawaii monster and tries to steal people’s Kawaii! Don’t worry; the girls know just what to do.

Rudy brings HJ5 doughnuts and the girls notice a rainbow bubble. Ms. Shout wants the girls to participate in a Bubbleland competition that could lead to a recording contract. Once at Bubbleland, the girls are shown to their own bubbles before the competition. Quickly the girls learn Mrs. Shout actually wants quit and has captured HJ5, the Tanaka Boys and others to make that happen. The girls have to be clever if they are going to get themselves and everyone else out of the bubble!

The HJ5 girls are trapped in a rocket that has launched to destroy an asteroid. The problem is the rocket has explosives and once in outer space the girls only have twenty minutes to make something happen. Discovering that the asteroid is named Sparkle Star, she just needs help to get back on her space course. The girls figure that the explosive can help Sparkle Star regain her fire.

Rod the Robot is the girl’s new driver taking them to their next gig. The girls are getting ready for a performance when the underwater dome they are in springs a leak. Trying everything from Kawaii bandages and bubble gum, nothing seems to stop the inevitable. Once out of the dome, the little Octocorns see HJ5 as their friends and when they run out of gas in their vehicle, they make sure the girls – and Rudy – get to the surface.

The girls get a gig at the zoo along with a free pass to visit the animals. All is going well until Mr. Smyth, the head zoo keeper, cancels the concert because Music has been banned from the zoo. Her list of rule breaking is put out for the other girls to see. Luv manages to get her on probation so they can play the concert but Music thinks she might need special help to stay out of trouble.

Monotone Records wants to sign the girls to a record contract. The girls aren’t sure they are a good fit for the label. Immediately the executives want to change everything about HJ5 and the girls aren’t having it. They also learn that an evil super computer is controlling musicians to become monotone. They want to rob them of their individuality and while the girls continue to refuse to change, they are also planning their escape.

HJ5 performs at a beach party but critic Heddy Harumph wonders if the group is washed up. Now G is suffering from stage fright because of what Harumph said. The girls want to use dream therapy to fix G’s problem before the concert that is only hours away.

G is also in a creative rut and with a show coming the girls think it’s a chance for her to get new ideas else where. Creator Pigment is an artistic genius but doesn’t really help G with her slump. When a butterfly painting comes to life, it begins an art attack on Kawaii. Realizing its something Rudy did, they have to literally formulate an antidote before they all turn to art.

Luv shows the girls all her latest inventions. Rudy sets up a chance for the girls to perform on Twisty Tea’s next video. They have to house sit to get the gig but the girls are all in. That’s when Rudy tells the truth that the girls were supposed to be watering the plants for over a month. When they see the shriveled up plants, the girls use on of Luv’s inventions but Rudy once again causes the girls to stop chaos before Twisty Tea gets home.

Luv creates the Oops machine that can fix things that have gone wrong. Waking up the next day, there are five HJ5 gold records on the wall and it’s easy to see Luv is in an alternate universe. Now highly successful, this other dimension is twisted and people have no choice in their decisions. HJ5 have become the bad guys and the kitten-bots want to capture Luv. This isn’t the HJ5 universe Luv wants to be a part of.

Finally, Rudy takes the girls to his Aunts beauty salon. Trixie Latrell is the make-over maven who believes she can give the girls a fantastic new hair look. Angel is thrilled to be getting a make over for the Honey festival. When it doesn’t go well, the girls know they need to help Trixie come into the modern age. Using the internet and social media, HJ5 has a concert and brings the Baubles magazine editor in to see what’s new and exciting. When hair gets out of control, HJ5 comes to the rescue!

SHOUT! Factory 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 Factor has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

The DVD includes the Bonus Feature of Meet the Voice Cast! as well as all twelve episodes: The Kawaiifier, Super Kawaii Sunday, Delectabubbles, Kablooey Chewie, Water Baby, Music Zoo, The Dotted Line, Life is but a Dream, Oh G, Green House, Control+Alt+Dimension and Angel Hair.

Also, check out the “kawaii” soundtrack to the much-loved TV series, available for download now on itunes.com and Amazon.com or stream it on Apple Music and Spotify. HJ5: KUU KUU HARAJUKU features the show theme and five new songs from the hit children’s television series including, Dancing in the Sunlight, Change It Up and All For One.

This animated series brings music, fashion, color, friendship, loyalty and silliness together with so much fun. The show brings out such an amazing group of characters that all are unique in their own way yet work together to get themselves out of a lot of predicaments (to be honest most of them are because of Rudy!).

So enjoy a little fun and adventure from a group that always wants to do the right thing and take care of one another – we can all learn from that.

In the end – you can save the world and still look fabulous doing it!

ICE AGE: The Great Egg-Scapade Arrives for Spring on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

On DVD and Digital HD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in time for spring is the next colorful adventure from the crazy gang from ICE AGE: The Great Egg-Scapade.

Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary), Sid (John Leguizamo), Ellie (Queen Latifah) and the rest of the gang are back! Spring is coming and it's time to celebrate. Of course Manny and Diego think that means sitting in front of the cave TV. window watching their favorite games instead of helping Ellie gather eggs to dye. 

Meanwhile Sid has another Sid-idea and tells Manny and Diego he is opening up an egg sitting service. Being a sloth just lying around is something Sid can relate to and thinks his idea will be a big hit. Reaching out to the other creatures he actually manages to get a few Moms that need an egg-sitting break. 

While 'sitting' the eggs disappear and the parents are beside themselves. Manny, Diego and Ellie swing into action and discover a map with a ransom note demanding a boat in exchange for the eggs. Thinking they can outsmart the dastardly ex-pirate bunny Squint (Seth Green), they find an ally in bunny Clint (Blake Anderson) who wants to make things right. 

This is the world's first egg hunt!

Of course there is absolutely nothing downer to say about the gang. Romano comes in with everything that is Manny. Still the grumpy protective mammoth of this ice age motley crew, he always does what's right. He loves his family and friends so don't let the 

complaining fool you. Leary as Diego has always been the character I have loved watch coming around. He is a saber with a heart of gold and don't let the long-tooth sway you otherwise. 

Leguizamo as Sid is...well Sid. He clearly loves his herd and only wants to fit in the best way possible. Of course that usually leads to chaos in some form but it doesn't mean he won't have back up from Manny and Diego. It's good to know who your true friends are.

Latifah as Ellie is the motherly matriarch of the herd and is making sure that holiday celebrations are big, colorful and include everyone. When the eggs go missing, Ellie gets a mindset that is purely parental and I relate to her and all the hilarity that follows.

Green as Squint gets a chance to be the bad-bunny of the story. Still upset about what happened to Captain Gutt and the boat, he wants a new boat and his old life back. Anderson as Clint knows his hare-brained brother and the idea to steal the eggs isn't cool. Not about to let things get out of hand, he helps the group but not before trouble slows everything down.

Other cast include Keke Palmer as Peaches, Seann W. Scott as Crash, Josh Peck as Eddie, Lili Estefan as Gladys Glypto, Wendy Williams as Condor Mom, Gabriel Iglesias as Cholly Bear, Taraji P. Henson as Ethel and Chris Wedge as Scrat.

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.

ICE AGE: The Great Egg-Scapade is absolutely fun, hilarious, colorful and needs to be sitting along every ICE AGE film in the home library collection. There is everything to love with the celebration of spring, Easter and the traditions of egg coloring and the 

fun filled hunt. ICE AGE has always brought the storylines that include family and that means no matter what species you are.

The acceptance of each other has been a constant mainstay of the ICE AGE series and it continues. There are so many life lessons that include diversity of these creatures, acceptance of their differences and a tolerance - of course I'm speaking of Sid here! The folks at Blue Sky Studios give families everything we love about the ICE AGE gang and then top it off with a great ensemble cast that have returned and humor that keeps both kids and kids at heart laughing.

The DV includes the Special Features of Ice Age: Collision Course Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe, Ice Age - The Story So Far, Six Scrat Shorts, and Lost Footage. The Digital HD means you can watch ICE AGE: The Great Egg-Scapade on the family television, computer, tablet or Smartphone.

                                                                                

In the end - the gang is here to help celebrate Easter!