Kristen Bell

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 ‘Astro Boy’ Passes With Nicolas Cage, Charlize Theron

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:04:22 -0600

CHICAGO – In our latest animated edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the new film “Astro Boy”!

“Astro Boy” features the voices of Kristen Bell, Nicolas Cage, Charlize Theron, Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Nighy, Freddie Highmore, Donald Sutherland, Eugene Levy, Nathan Lane, Moises Arias, Matt Lucas, Madeline Carroll, Sterling Beaumon, Victor Bonavida and Tony Matthews from director David Bowers. The film is distributed by Summit Entertainment, which is the same production company involved with “Twilight,” “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” in 2009 and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” in 2010.

To win your free pass to the advance screening of “Astro Boy” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! This screening will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 at 10 a.m. in Schaumburg, Ill., which is a suburb of Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

“Astro Boy” features the voices of Kristen Bell, Nicolas Cage, Charlize Theron and Samuel L. Jackson.
Image credit: Summit Entertainment

Here is the “Astro Boy” plot description:

In the futuristic world of Metro City, which is a gleaming metropolis in the sky, the brilliant scientist Dr. Tenma creates Astro Boy to replace the son he has lost. He programmed his creation with the best of human characteristics and values and has endowed him with extraordinary super powers.

Cast out when he can’t meet the grieving father’s expectations, Astro Boy is dealt a cruel double blow: he’s also crushed to learn he is a robot and not even a human being. Astro Boy, who carries within himself the Blue Core (a power source made of positive “blue” energy), is sought out by the troops of the militaristic President Stone.

They are obsessed with obtaining the Core for the “Peacekeeper” robot, which has been invented to be used as a weapon to dominate Earth. Fleeing from the military, Astro Boy crashes to the surface of the Earth. Lost and unsure of his identity, Astro Boy simply seeks to fit in.

Denying his true nature, he tries to pass himself off as a human being with a gang of child vagabonds. He falls naively under the sway of their leader Hamegg in whom he sees a father figure. To Astro Boy’s horror, Hamegg exposes him as a robot and tries to turn him into a robot gladiator.

In “Hamegg’s Robot Games,” Astro Boy is forced to face wave upon wave of robots. Refusing to fight but only disabling his opponent when the safety of spectators is threatened, Astro Boy’s nobility wins the crowd over.

Alerted by the Core’s power surge, the military swoops down and captures Astro Boy as he resigns himself to his fate. As Dr. Tenma removes his energy source, Astro Boy forgives him for what he’s doing. This display of innate goodness finally opens Dr. Tenma’s eyes to the terrible mistake he has made.

Reconciled to the son he had wrongly rejected, he allows Astro Boy to escape. The destructive Peacekeeper, which has been given the incredibly dangerous negative Red Core energy by presidential order, is out of control and causing havoc in Metro City. Astro Boy returns to help the citizens, fight the Peacekeeper and save Metro City from crashing to Earth.

In the climactic battle, the strands of the story come together as Astro Boy accepts his mixed human-robot nature and finds his destiny as mankind’s savior.

The “Astro Boy” trailer can be watched now below.

To secure your free tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required. Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this question:

Who is your favorite superhero? Why?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 40 people randomly via e-mail for our “Astro Boy” Hookup. Winners needs to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

DVD Review: ‘Fanboys’ For Hardcore ‘Star Wars’ Junkies Only

BrianTT — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:17:11 -0600

CHICAGO – I really want to recommend “Fanboys”. The story behind the film is a David-and-Goliath tale of a young filmmaker bringing his comedic vision to life against all odds and the film is finally being released on DVD after years of delays. Sadly, the drama behind-the-scenes doesn’t change the mediocre quality of the final product.

DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0

Just because the producers behind Kyle Newman’s “Fanboys” meddled with the film and arguably wanted to make it significantly worse, doesn’t mean that what has been released is a good movie to begin with. Everyone involved with “Fanboys” appears to have their hearts in the right place and the film has moments and performances that nearly redeem it, but it ultimately doesn’t click as either a laugh-out-loud comedy or an ode to the Lucas universe. Only hardcore “Star Wars” junkies need rent or buy.

Fanboys was released on DVD on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

The set-up for “Fanboys” threw me off before I could even get into the rhythm of the piece. The first act is all cliched arguments about “Star Wars” vs. “Star Trek” and generic jokes about the quarter-life crisis. The film starts in 1998 with the two “straight men,” the Han and Luke of the piece, Eric (Sam Huntington) and Linus (Chris Marquette).

Fanboys was released on DVD on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

Eric and Linus have grown distant as the former has given up on his comic dreams to work at his father’s car dealership. Linus clings to his youth by spending time with Windows (Jay Baruchel), Hutch (Dan Fogler), and Zoe (Kristen Bell). When Eric learns that Linus is dying of cancer and may not make it to see the premiere of “Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace,” the gang head to Skywalker Ranch to break in and see an early cut of the film.

The gang takes off and what ensues is a string of episodic encounters with cameos from a diverse array of people including Seth Rogen, Jaime King, Ethan Suplee, Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Kevin Smith, and William Shatner. With the all-for-one fun spirit of the piece, it nearly comes together. There’s enough genuine intention on the part of the filmmaker/cast and some strong comic timing from the great Baruchel and gorgeous Bell that “Fanboys” will work as a rental for some people.

For the rest of you, the sad news is that “Fanboys” just isn’t that funny. There are maybe three real laughs. What’s so ironic about the Weinstein Company’s notorious attempt to remove the cancer plotline from the film is that it works better than the humor. The comic timing just isn’t right.

The one thing I took away from “Fanboys” more than anything else is that what Kevin Smith does is not as easy as it looks. Remember the conversation about Death Star construction in “Clerks”? That exchange is more like the ones that “Star Wars” junkies have on a daily basis than anything in “Fanboys” but it’s clearly the kind of dialogue that Newman was going for in his comedy. What sinks “Fanboys” is that none of it - the emotion, the quarter-life crisis, the sci-fi references - feels genuine. It’s forced comedy.

Fanboys was released on DVD on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

It’s ironic that years of expectation left many fans disappointed by the “Star Wars” prequels and the same thing is likely to happen to the long-delayed “Fanboys”.

The film may only be slightly disappointing, but the DVD is borderline offensive. Given the long history of “Fanboys,” one would expect a stellar home treatment. Blu-Ray, tons of deleted scenes, featurettes about the troubled road the film took to the big screen, and the story of the fan movement that brought the movie back from development hell, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong.

Is The Weinstein Company waiting for a special edition Blu-Ray? Doubt it. This is probably the final word on “Fanboys” and even though I clearly don’t love the film, the people who fought for it deserved better.

First, the actual transfer and presentation of the film is downright awful. The widescreen video is murky and the English Dolby 5.1 track is lackluster.

Even more annoying, especially given the film’s well-known post-production drama, are the depressingly light special features. The deleted scenes and featurettes all run under ten minutes. “The Truth About Fanboys,” “The Star Wars Parallel,” “4 Fanboys & 1 Fangirl,” and “The Choreography” are nothing more than on-the-set, talking-head pieces. The film and fans deserved more.

The best special feature, by far, is the commentary with cast & crew. If some more of the breezy, enjoyable cameraderie on display in that track had made it into the film, perhaps The Weinstein Company would have treated it better in its theatrical and home release.

‘Fanboys’ was released by The Weinstein Company and stars Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, Christopher Marquette, and Kristen Bell. It was written by Ernest Cline and Adam F. Goldberg and directed by Kyle Newman. The film was released on May 19th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 Autographed ‘Fanboys’ Posters From Dan Fogler

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:14:56 -0700

CHICAGO – In our latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have a special giveaway with 10 autographed “Fanboys” posters from actors Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington and Chris Marquette. “Fanboys” also stars Seth Rogen, Kristen Bell and Jay Baruchel from director Kyle Newman. The film opens in limited U.S. theaters on Feb. 6, 2009.

To win your autographed “Fanboys” poster courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is be one of the first 10 people to submit your geek story in our confidential, Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The poster for “Fanboys”.
Image credit: The Weinstein Company

Here is the synopsis for “Fanboys”:

It’s the Halloween party they’ve all been waiting for: to have fun with friends and hang out with fellow “Star Wars” fans and partners in crime. However, events take a turn when one of their bunch who long ago outgrew his old gang and took on adult responsibilities is suddenly in their midst again.

Reconnecting is not easy, but soon Eric, Windows, Hutch and Zoe realize that Linus will not live long enough to experience what has been on their minds for ages: the long-awaited theatrical release of “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” which is still several months away.

To secure your free poster, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Next, simply submit your geek story. You must submit your geek story using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Please do not comment in this Hookup. Your entry will be invalid if you do so. Please only submit your geek story using this submission form.

You must include your e-mail address, name and physical mailing address in your submission. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential and is only for us to mail winning posters. Your personal information will not be sold or shared elsewhere.

Submit your geek story now!

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: The first 10 people to submit a geek story win! The 10 autographed posters will be mailed to the winners at our expense.

11:35 a.m. update on Feb. 3, 2009: We were initially informed by the studio that these “Fanboys” posters were signed by director Kyle Newman. Due to his Chicago flight cancellation, they will now by signed by actors Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington and Chris Marquette.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Set Photo: ‘Couples Retreat’ Star Vince Vaughn at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:46:41 -0700

CHICAGO – After being tipped off on Jan. 28, 2009 from a reliable HollywoodChicago.com source that “Couples Retreat” with Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis and Jon Favreau (who also wrote the film, directed “Iron Man” and will direct “Iron Man 2” in 2010) would be filming in Chicago, we have now confirmed this information and have a Vince Vaughn set photo so you can visualize the scene.

“Couples Retreat” stars Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman, Tasha Smith, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love and Kristin Davis. Our Vince Vaughn set photo while filming “Couples Retreat” at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport can be found below.

HollywoodChicago.com reader “Kevin” captures Vince Vaughn filming “Couples Retreat” on Jan. 31, 2009
at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
Photo credit: Reader “Kevin” for HollywoodChicago.com

Here’s the plot summary for the 2009 film “Couples Retreat”:

“Couples Retreat” is a comedy centered around four couples who settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation.

While one of the couples is there to work on the marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort’s therapy sessions is not optional.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

2009 Walt Disney Pictures Preview: ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic,’ ‘Up,’ ‘The Proposal,’ ‘Surrogates,’ ‘Old Dogs,’ More

BrianTT — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:31:17 -0700

CHICAGO – This 11-image slideshow contains official press images and schedule information for the recently announced slate of films to be released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2009 including new films starring Isla Fisher, Bruce Willis, Robin Williams, John Travolta, Ryan Reynolds, Josh Duhamel, and the newest Pixar film.

These 2009 Walt Disney Pictures include “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,” “Race to Witch Mountain,” “Hannah Montana The Movie,” “earth,” “Up,” “The Proposal,” “G-Force,” “When in Rome,” “Surrogates,” “Toy Story in Disney Digital 3-D,” “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” “Old Dogs,” and “The Princess and the Frog”. Not all films have images released, but release details and dates were announced for the entire 2009 slate.

The release dates, cast lists, and filmmaker information for these Walt Disney Pictures films can be found below in chronological order, followed by a slideshow of available images.

“Confessions of a Shopaholic”
Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Bibb, Fred Armisen, Julie Hagerty, Krysten Ritter, Robert Stanton, Christine Ebersole, Clea Lewis, Wendie Malick, Stephanie March
Director: P.J. Hogan
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Executive Producers: Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Ronald Bozman
Screenplay By: Tracey Jackson And Tim Firth And Kayla Alpert, Based On The Books “Confessions Of A Shopaholic” And “Shopaholic Takes Manhattan” By Sophie Kinsella
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: February 13, 2009

“Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift
Director: Bruce Hendricks
Producers: Art Repola, Johnny Wright, Philip Mcintyre, Kevin Jonas Sr., Alan Sacks
Genre: Rockumentary
Rating: G
Release Date: February 27, 2009

“Race to Witch Mountain”
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Annasophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Alexander Ludwig, Tom Everett Scott, Christopher Marquette, Cheech Marin and Garry Marshall
Director: Andy Fickman
Executive Producers: Mario Iscovich, Ann Marie Sanderlin
Producer: Andrew Gunn
Written By: Matt Lopez And Mark Bomback And Andy Fickman
Based On Characters Created By: Alexander Key
Genre: Action, Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: March 13, 2009

“Hannah Montana The Movie”
Cast: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Margo Martindale, Jason Earles, Peter Gunn, Melora Hardin, Mitchel Musso, Lucas Till, Barry Bostwick, Moises Arias, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, With Vanessa Williams and Billy Ray Cyrus
Director: Peter Chelsom
Executive Producers: Michael Poryes And Steve Peterman, David Blocker
Producers: Alfred Gough And Miles Millar
Written By: Dan Berendsen
Based On Characters Created By: Michael Poryes And Rich Correll & Barry O’brien
Genre: Family/Comedy
Rating: G
Release Date: April 10, 2009

“earth”
Narrator: James Earl Jones
Directors: Alastair Fothergill And Mark Linfield
Produced By: BBC Worldwide, Greenlight Media
Genre: True Life Adventure
Rating: G
Release Date: April 22, 2009

“Up” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Delroy Lindo, Jordan Nagai
Director: Pete Docter
Co-Director: Bob Peterson
Producer: Jonas Rivera
Composer: Michael Giacchino
Genre: Animation/Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: May 29, 2009

“The Proposal”
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O’Hare and Betty White
Director: Anne Fletcher
Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman
Executive Producers: Alex Kurtzman And Roberto Orci, Mary Mclaglen, Sandra Bullock
Written By: Peter Chiarelli
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TBD
Release Date: June 12, 2009

“G-Force” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, With The Voices Of Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan
Director: Hoyt Yeatman
Screenplay By: The Wibberleys And Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio And Tim Firth, Based On A Story By Hoyt Yeatman (Credits Not Final)
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Genre: Comedy-Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: July 24, 2009

“When in Rome”
Cast: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Will Arnett, Alexis Dziena, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, Kate Micucci, Bobby Moynihan, with Danny Devito and Anjelica Huston
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Executive Producers: Mindy Farrell And Steven Roffer, Ezra Swerdlow
Producers: Gary Foster, Mark Steven Johnson, Andrew Panay
Co-Producer: Rikki Lea Bestall
Written By: David Diamond & David Weissman
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TBD
Release Date: Summer 2009

“Surrogates”
Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, James Francis Ginty, Boris Kodjoe and Ving Rhames
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Max Handelman
Executive Producers: Elizabeth Banks, David Nicksay
Screenplay By: Michael Ferris & John Brancato
Based On The Graphic Novel By: Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Rating: TBD
Release Date: September 25, 2009

“Toy Story” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik Von Detten, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey
Director: John Lasseter
Producers: Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
Executive Producers: Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs
Original Story By: John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton And Joe Ranft
Screenplay By: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen And Alan Sokolow
Genre: Animation-Comedy/Adventure
Rating: G
Release Date: October 2, 2009

“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (in Disney Digital 3-D)
Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes, Fionnula Flanagan
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producers: Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke
Screenplay By: Robert Zemeckis
Based On The Classic Novella By: Charles Dickens
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Rating: TBD
Release Date: November 6, 2009

“Old Dogs”
Cast: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin and Matt Dillon
Director: Walt Becker
Producers: Andrew Panay, Robert Levy & Peter Abrams
Executive Producer: Garrett Grant
Written By: David Diamond & David Weissman
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: November 25, 2009

“The Princess and the Frog”
Voice Cast: Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Keith David, Jim Cummings, Jenifer Lewis
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
Produced By: Peter Del Vecho
Genre: Animated Comedy Adventure/Musical
Rating: TBD
Release Date: Christmas 2009

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to ©Disney Enterprises, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Specific photographer credits where noted.

Confessions: Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic. Photo Credit: Robert Zuckerman
Confessions2: Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic. Photo Credit: Robert Zuckerman
OldDogs: John Travolta, Robin Williams. Photo Credit: Ron Phillips
PrincessandtheFrog: Princess Tiana
Surrogates: Bruce Willis. Photo Credit: Stephen Vaughan
TheProposal: Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock. Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes
Up: Teaser One-Sheet.
WheninRome1: Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell. Photo Credit: Myles Aronowitz
WheninRome2: Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell. Photo Credit: Philippe Antonello

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Judd Apatow Again Fashions Gimmick Into Gold in Uproarious ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:00:19 -0600

CHICAGO – After being blitzed by an onslaught of attention-demanding advertising that begged the question “who is Sarah Marshall?” even before you realized it’s a film, anticipation was ravenous.

It became nothing short of voracious upon learning it’s backed by producer Judd Apatow of “Superbad,” “Knocked Up,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” fame (also with high hopes for his “Pineapple Express,” which opens on Aug. 8, 2008).

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in our reviews section.

View our huge “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” image gallery.

Through his Apatow Productions company, Apatow has made beaucoup bucks and a mountainous name by banding together the same stooges time and time again. In “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” we’re treated to the return of Bill Hader and Jonah Hill (both in Apatow’s “Superbad” and “Knocked Up” together).

While it’s still early in the year and few films have stood out to date, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” indeed delivers on its hype as the funniest comedy so far in 2008.

Apatow has once again fashioned what could have been cheesy gimmick into delicious gold. In a telltale sign of its riotous good time, Chicago critics have even been promising to return on opening weekend for a second paid viewing with friends.

While first-time filmmaking talent is often a precarious, hit-or-miss gamble, it pays off in spades here.

Kristen Bell as Sarah Marshall in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Jason Segel (left) and Kristen Bell in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Read Adam Fendelman’s full “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” review…