We all grew up with McDonald’s. But we don’t know the story of this worldwide empire. The Founder is the story of the McDonald brothers and Ray Kroc, the people who gave us fast food hamburgers and delicious French fries.

Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) was a traveling salesman. At the time he met the McDonald brothers, he was peddling a milkshake maker. He heard about their McDonald’s restaurant in San Bernardino, California and had to see it for himself. What he saw took his breath away. It was an ingenious fast food take out eatery created by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald (Nick Offerman and John Carrol Lynch). They had perfected a way of making and delivering fresh hamburgers, French fries, and drinks the way Henry Ford created the automobile assembly line.

Deep in his heart he wanted to be part of this business. He saw an amazing future for McDonald’s. So he went into franchising the restaurants with the brothers. They were hesitant because they wanted to keep quality control at its peak and didn’t know how they could do that with several locations. But Kroc insured them he would handle everything.

What he eventually handled was the tremendous expansion of McDonald’s while at the same time leaving the brothers who started it all, not to mention his wife (Laura Dern), out in the cold.

The bonus features on the Blu-ray combo pack take viewers behind the scenes of the film. With a time-lapse video, they see the actual McDonalds that was used in the movie being built. They also learn more about the production and the cast, as well as the people on which the characters were based.

For decades the McDonald family was waiting for someone to tell the story correctly. This is their story just as much as it is the story of Ray Kroc.

Was Ray Kroc a hero or a villain? He kept the golden arches imagined by the brothers and their family-friendly atmosphere. But he also insinuated himself into the empire so much so that the brothers were swept under the rug. He built the empire on the ideas and hard work of the McDonald brothers. His vision was far greater than theirs, however they deserve just as much praise. They invented the McDonalds restaurants but Kroc brought it to the masses.

Keaton received an Academy Award for his intense performance of the man we all associate with the golden arches.

The Founder is rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Picking up where the movie left off, Tangled Before Ever After joins Rapunzel, Eugene, Pascal, Maximus, the king and queen, and the young princess’ new friend Cassandra as she tries to manage life in the castle. After all, she had been living in a tower for 18 years and has no idea how to live life as a princess.

This movie was made for the Disney Channel to reintroduce the characters to viewers before the new animated TV series began. The series is now up and running and enjoyed by viewers of all ages.

But the thing that, if you haven’t see this film, might confuse you is how Rapunzel’s long and magical hair regrew. If you remember, at the end of the feature film her blonde locks were cut off and she was left with short, brown hair. (She and Eugene even made a cameo in Frozen with her short hair.)

The story of how her hair became magical in the first place and how she regained it all come out in this movie. A single drop of sun is a powerful thing.

As she prepares for her coronation, things get a little rambunctious and, well, you’ll just have to watch the movie to learn how her hair came back and how it is filled with magic.

Rapunzel joins Sofia and Elena as the Disney princesses who have their own TV shows. And, these three also have magic in common.

Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi return to voice the young couple. As Rapunzel and Eugene prepare for their wedding, it is Rapunzel who decides she must first get more princess experience under her belt so the wedding is postponed and Eugene takes a position in the castle. The series will follow them and their adventures.

Included in this DVD are four shorts: “Checkmate” (a cute short in which spunky little Pascal tried to lure Maximus into a chess game), “Prison Bake” (baking by the Pub Thug mime), “Make me Smile” (a short in which Rapunzel tries everything to make a cranky woman happy), and “Hare Peace” (in which Rapunzel and Pascal baby sit – or bunny sit an adorable little rabbit).

Tangled Before Ever After is a fun way to start the new TV series and reprises that special spunk Rapunzel has and the awkward love of life that is Eugene’s signature. Plus, don’t forget the adorable and spirited Pascal.

The DVD includes a little journal for kids to keep their special thoughts or drawings.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Bailee Madison not only stars in the movie A Cowgirl’s Story, she is also a producer. This young actress has been nominated for several awards in her 17 years. She has starred in several TV movies and in many series. Lately, she can be seen as Grace in the Hallmark Channel’s Good Witch.

Madison plays Dusty Rhodes (as she says her parents had an interesting sense of humor), whose mother is a helicopter pilot serving in Afghanistan and whose father is an Army Ranger. They move in with her grandfather (Pat Boone), a military chaplain. Yes, this is a story definitely slanted to Christianity. It is a story of hope, family, and friendship.

Dusty stands out in her new high school. She is a cowgirl in the middle of a suburban culture. But she won’t conform. She is happy with the young woman she is and although in the beginning gets ridiculed for her appearance, she stands her ground.

She convinces her new classmates to form an equestrian drill team, which at first they do reluctantly. But in time even the snobbiest girls come to love riding horses and performing in rodeos.

Dusty’s best friend is Savannah (Chloe Lukasiak), a young girl with plenty of personal problems. Her father was killed in Afghanistan and her mother is broke and basically worthless when it comes to taking care of the house and her daughter. Savannah confides a family secret to Dusty and together they work to solve the problem that has been a thorn in the side of Savannah and her mother ever since her father was killed in action.

In the meantime, Dusty’s mother’s helicopter is shot down and her whereabouts is unknown. The town comes together to support her in this time of turbulence, especially when her father is shipped overseas as well.

As always, Madison turns in a pleasant performance and is enjoyable to watch. Her fans will definitely love to see her in this role. And take it from me – someone who has met and talked with the actress on several occasions – she is just as adorable and sweet in person as she is on screen.

While this story has a religious subtext, it is also a story of confidence and resilience. Older viewers might think it is a little saccharine-infused, however under the surface it is a touching story of faith, family, and friendship. It is also a reminder that there is a war going on and Americans are fighting and dying for freedom and their country.

A Cowgirl’s Story is rated PG for thematic elements.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

In the 1950’s the novel “Peyton Place” penned by Grace Metalious shocked readers with its scandalous story of secrets in a small New England town. This book was so popular yet readers hid their enjoyment of the stories of the people of the fictitious town. In 1957 the book was made into a hit feature film, albeit with some changes for the movie audiences. Then in 1964-1969 the TV series captured the attention of viewers and introduced Ryan O’Neal and Mia Farrow to the world. See how it all began in the new Blu-ray release of Peyton Place which includes some fascinating backstories about the story, the film, and how it pushed the boundaries of the industry at the time.

Lana Turner stars as Constance MacKenzie, a single mother with a repressed view of sex. Her daughter Allison (Diane Varsi) is an aspiring writer. Allison’s friend Betty Anderson (Terry Moore) is the town tramp, although she really isn’t a tramp. She is just more outgoing than the rest of the town’s teens. Selena Cross (Hope Lange) is an abused young woman whose stepfather (Arthur Kennedy) is always drunk and mistreats his family, especially Selena. Russ Tamblyn is Norman Page, a young man whose mother has never cut the apron strings. Lee Phillips is Michael Rossi, the new principal of the high school who wants to expand the minds of the students and introduce a sex education class, to the shock of many of the townsfolk. Lloyd Nelson is the town doctor, David Nelson is Selena’s boyfriend, and Barry Coe is Rodney Harrington, the heir to the town’s biggest employer.

Sex, suicide, incest, murder, and a lot more make up the little secrets in this town. Then when December 7, 1941 changes the world, the young men scatter to Europe and the Pacific to fight for their country.

While the younger generation of Peyton Place expands their morals and sees the world in a broader sense, their parents are still stuck in their stodgy views and have no desire to alter anything. Then when someone is murdered and one of their own is on trial, all the secrets come pouring and everyone’s eyes are opened to the narrow minded views have made the people who they are.

This is a film that, although dated, has stood the test of time. And the music is definitely memorable. It explores morals and mores, interpersonal relationships, and the changing world. Interestingly, it was nominated for 9 Academy Awards yet didn’t win a single one. However, the story captured the hearts and minds of audiences and resulted in the hit TV series.

Some of the characters and events had to be modified for the standards and practices of the time, yet the film did stretch the boundaries of what had been the norm of the 1950s.

The author of the novel was so disliked in her town for shining a spotlight on the narrow-mindedness of a small New England town, they refused to let the movie be filmed in her own town. Even after her death, they were still offended with her and her shocking story.

Peyton Place is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. Before Dallas and Melrose Place, and even Big Little Lies, there was Peyton Place.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

The delightful children’s story is brought to the screen in a beautifully filmed version of the little orphan girl and her beloved grandfather. Johanna Spyril penned the novel in the 1880’s and in 1937 it became a movie starring young Shirley Temple. If that is the only way you know the story, this new version of Heidi will be a real treat. Personally, I like this adaptation better than the Temple film.

When she is dropped off at her grandfather’s mountain cabin, Heidi manages to warm his cold heart. Soon the two are best friends. Heidi and Peter, the local goat herder, become good buddies and Heidi is happy living in the Alps. But she is soon taken by her aunt who moves her to an upscale home in Frankfurt to be the companion of Klara, a young girl confined to a wheelchair. Heidi’s effervescence rubs off on the girl and together they turn the household upside down. But there is something lurking in the back of Heidi’s consciousness. She desperately misses her grandfather and her life in the Alps.

Luckily, Heidi is allowed to return to her grandfather. There she is happy again, although she does miss Klara. But it is here where she belongs and it’s here she will stay.

But that’s not the end of the story. Klara comes to visit, with some interesting results. First, Peter is threatened by Heidi’s friendship with Klara, but soon there is more for them all to experience.

The movie was filmed in Germany and Switzerland. It has been dubbed into English for this DVD. Although the words don’t quite match the mouth movements, that is incidental. The story is definitely a great recommendation for a family movie night.

Heidi won the “Best Children’s Film” at the German Film Awards. The story is a beloved one in Switzerland, where there is actually a “Heidiland” which has become a popular tourist area to soak up the Swiss atmosphere. While it doesn’t have much to do with the story, it does envelope visitors in Heidi’s Alps. Her ever-pleasant attitude and perseverance, combined with her undeterred spirit makes Heidi a character that has been beloved for generations.

Anuk Steffen is delightful to watch as the young girl who keeps a pleasant outlook on life and endears herself to everyone around her.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Lucas Till stars in Monster Trucks, a fun ride with plenty of gusto. Rob Lowe is the villain in this story. He plays Reece Tenneson, the owner of an oil company drilling deep in North Dakota. When his geologist Dowd (Thomas Lennon) discovers what could be a new ecosystem very deep in the earth, everything explodes – literally. And out come three new creatures. Two are captured and the third escapes.

Tripp (Till) is a handy high school student who works in the town’s junkyard while at the same time trying to fix up a truck of his own. He discovers a creature in the garage and after a rocky start they form a bond. Tripp names him “Creech” and with some ingenuity discovers the monster makes a great engine for his truck. So, with some alterations, the truck now becomes a monster truck, definitely literally.

In the meantime, Meredith (Jane Levy), one of Tripp’s classmates, wangles her way into his secret and soon the two of them are off and running in the new super-powered truck. But what about Creech? They know Tenneson and his henchmen are looking for him, and they will kill him and the two others to keep their oil-drilling site on track. If the word got out that they were destroying a new ecosystem, they would be stopped and there is no way Tenneson is going to let that happen. All that matters to him is getting his oil out of the ground.

If you thought you had seen everything when it comes to car – or truck – chases, think again. When Jane and Tripp finally manage to free the two captured creatures they are able to “MacGyver” two additional trucks with the monsters as their engines. Their intent is to get the three creatures back up to the drilling site so they can return to their homes.

And speaking of MacGyver, Till plays that character in the new TV series.

With these three souped-up trucks, or I should say monstered-up trucks, it’s a wild ride to their destination.

Bonus features on the Blu-ray include looks at the characters with the actors, creating the creatures and the trucks, and a gag reel. Also included in the box are Monster Truck wall decals.

Monster Trucks is a fun family film. It’s rated PG for action, peril, brief scary images, and some rude humor. While the trucks are characters in their own right, kids will adore the creatures too.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter