Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Jurassic World Dominion’ is now available to bring home

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The final film (as of now – who knows if they will change their minds in the future?) in the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World Dominion, is now available on Blu-ray, 4K, DVD and digital. The Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, as well as digital, have several bonus features.

Viewers get the choice to view the theatrical version of the movie or an extended version. The extended version includes about 10 minutes of additional scenes.

Bringing together the actors from the original Jurassic Park (1993) – Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and BD Wong, and reuniting Bryce Dallas Howard with Chris Pratt from the past film, the story is a bit whacky (as they all are) however the visual effects are amazing. With six films in the franchise, it seems audiences are getting tired of these stories as the reviews from critics and audiences are not as favorable as they were for the earlier films.

With Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) living with Owen (Pratt) and Claire (Howard), her very existence is in jeopardy, as is Blue’s baby dinosaur Beta. In this new world the dinosaurs are everywhere trying to live alongside humans and other animals on earth. But things are not going great. And with more scientists trying to generate medicinal and other things from the dinosaurs, hunting, poaching, and danger is abundant. Now genetically engineered locusts are destroying farmland. It looks ominous for the humans.

The best thing about the Blu-ray is not the movie but the additional features. Viewers see just how far technology has come since the original film. Visual effects are amazing and learning how the filmmakers designed the dinosaurs from the inside out is remarkable. With feathers, muscles, and skin textures, these dinosaurs are as realistic as the real ones – most likely.

A fun bonus looks at the little Beta dinosaur. The filmmakers created puppets as well as animatronic versions of the little girl to help with the scenes. It is easier to act and react to an animatronic dinosaur than a cardboard one. Plus, Pratt needed a puppet to carry to make it realistic.

There are many more bonus features looking at the creation of the film with the filmmakers and actors. These bonus features are noteworthy, especially for those who are interested in looking at the making of the film and the way the dinosaurs were created.

Jurassic World Domination wraps up the franchise (hopefully) with an ending that will satisfy fans. It is rated PF-13 for intense sequences of action, some violence, and language.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

A look at season 3 of ‘The Mighty Ones’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

After being stuck inside a snake, the Mighty Ones escape to find the yard that was their home has changed forever. A trendy new couple has moved into the house and transformed the backyard into a hipster paradise. As these four best friends try to navigate this strange new land, they find themselves up against suburbia’s biggest threats; lawn mowers, garden gnomes, leaf blowers and worst of all…a baby!

In every backyard a secret world exists filled with tiny creatures. The Mighty Ones follows the hilarious adventures of the smallest of them: a twig, a pebble, a leaf and a strawberry who call themselves “the Mighty Ones.” These best friends live in an unkempt backyard belonging to a trio of equally unkempt humans who they mistake for gods. Despite their diminutive stature, the Mighty Ones are determined to live large and have fun in their wild world.
10 New Episodes Premiere on Peacock and Hulu September 1, 2022.

A look back at ‘Charles & Diana: Wedding of the Century’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

This new documentary on True Royalty TV takes a look behind the scenes of the wedding of Charles and Diana. With comments from bridesmaids, photographers, a nanny, dressmakers, police, and bystanders, the film is a well-rounded look at the excitement, joy, expectations, and sheer size of the event, which was viewed by 750 million people in 74 countries.

India Hicks who was thirteen at the time, was one of the bridesmaids. She describes her flouncy dress (for a tomboy this was a daunting piece of attire), the jitters that came with her responsibilities of being a bridesmaid, and all the fun of the day. David Emanuel, who helped design the now-iconic wedding dress, talks about the process of creating this famous dress, how they were astounded at how crumpled it became in the carriage ride to St. Paul’s Cathedral, and viewing the dress again after all these years. He also talks about how charming Diana was and how, at the end of the day, she even phoned him to thank him again for making her beautiful dress.

Security was a big consideration for the day. After all, there were plenty of terrorists who would have loved to disrupt the event. A policeman who was on the scene all day talks about how they kept their eyes trained on the crowds for any disruptions. And, by the time everything was over, how they were too tired to move, having stood there for hours upon hours.

Others discuss their feelings on the day and recall where they were, what they were seeing and thinking, and how they view it after all these years. 1981 was a while ago, but that day is permanently etched in the minds of those who were there and the millions around the world who got up to watch the ceremony and feel the love and excitement, and in a sense, to bond with the people of the U.K.

Charles & Diana: Wedding of the Century does not show much of the actual event. It is more of a behind-the-scenes look back at that eventful day. And given what has transpired since, it is a piece of history that makes us all wonder “what could have been.” On that day it looked like a fairytale, but they always end, “and they lived happily ever after.” Oh well. At least the wedding was amazing.

Charles & Diana: Wedding of the Century is now available on True Royalty TV.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Spin Me Round’ – movie review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

As the saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”  That is what Amber (Alison Brie) discovered when she was awarded an all-expense paid trip to Italy for her service as the manager of an Italian chain restaurant. Spin Me Round explores the dark side of wealth and fame.

A vacation filled with Italian charm and excitement. That is what Amber expected when she left Bakersfield, California and arrived in Italy, along with several other managers from various locations. The popular chain restaurant runs these getaways for deserving managers and this time it’s Amber’s turn. Maybe she’ll experience a little romance while in Italy. Or maybe she’ll experience something altogether different.

The trip was supposed to offer the attendees a crash course in Italian culture and the culinary arts. Attendees expected they would stay in a gorgeous villa, but unfortunately that was not to be. Well, at least she was in Italy.

Things go from bad to great to really bad.  Through this entire ordeal Amber experiences a variety of emotions and a lot of occurrences as she exposes what is at the root of the little getaway. This is definitely not a show for kids.

Director/Co-Writer Jeff Baena explains, “I came across this article that was describing an actual program that took place in Italy, with a franchise Italian restaurant that I can’t name. The person who wrote the article was a manager, and there was this program where you go to Italy and learn about the culture. It was a total sh** show, and they didn’t really have any plans. The only thing they had planned out was that the head chef, the person who curates their global menu, made a bolognese for them. After that, there was no structure or organization. For the participants, it felt like they were trapped by this program. I thought that was a really funny setup, and so I ran with it to a darker place.”

Alison Brie not only stars in the film, she co-wrote it with Baena. Also in the film are Alessandro Nivola, Aubrey Plaza, Molly Shannon, Zach Woods, Ayden Mayeri, Ben Sinclair, Tim Heidecker, Debby Ryan, and Fred Armisen.

The movie could have been great fun had they not taken it to the dark depths they did. It had the potential of being cute, funny, and interesting. There are some cute scenes, however.

Spin Me Round will be released in theaters, on demand, and on AMC+ on August 19, 2022. It was filmed entirely in Tuscany. It is not rated, however it is not for kids.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home ‘Vivo’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 


The animated musical Vivo is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital. It’s filled with emotions, love, and a lot of music.

Lin-Manuel Miranda voices Vivo, a little kinkajou who is the devoted companion of Andres. Every day they entertain people in the plaza in Havana. Their music is a treat for everyone. Then Andres is invited to Miami to sing with his former musical partner Marta Sandoval, the woman he loved but never admitted his feelings to her. Having written a love song specifically for her, he planned on singing it to her in Miami. But when tragedy strikes, Vivo decides to take the song to Miami on his behalf. It would be the final thing he can do for his beloved owner.

During the memorial service ten-year-old Gabi and her mom meet Vivo. They have traveled to Havana from Key West to pay their respects to her uncle. Gabi is a young girl who has her own ideas about life. She moves to the beat of her own drum and definitely is not conventional. That’s putting it mildly.

Vivo sneaks into Gabi’s suitcase and soon he is in Florida to deliver the song to Marta (voiced by Gloria Estefan). But how is this little fellow going to get from Key West to Miami, and in time for Marta’s final concert? That’s where little Gabi comes in. She adores Vivo and upon discovering the reason he came to Florida, she vows to help him deliver the music.

Their exploits begins and they are off on an adventure that will have them maneuvering through the everglades, confronting dangerous animals, and making new friends.

The story is definitely emotional. Little Vivo misses his beloved Andres. And Gabi is an unusual little girl who is a character that unleashes a lot of whimsy as she travels to her own music and defies convention. She is brave, loving, and adorable, even with her purple hair.

The film is filled with music. Every few minutes a new song is unleashed, adding to the enjoyment of this delightful story. The moral of the story – “Love lives forever in your heart” – is touching.

So, you might be wondering what exactly is a kinkajou. Well, although it looks like a little monkey, it is actually a mammal from the rainforest closely related to raccoons. And yes, there are plush versions of little Vivo, complete his little hat and there are also plush Gabi dolls as well.

Vivo is rated PG for some thematic elements and mild action.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Lost Ollie’ comes to Netflix

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Lost Ollie is an epic adventure about a lost toy who braves the many dangers of childhood as he searches the countryside to reunite with the boy who lost him; and the story of the boy who lost more than a best friend. It’s a heartwarming tale for the child in us all, remembering those special souls that we’ve lost but who forever changed our lives. The four-part limited series was inspired by the book Ollie’s Odyssey by renowned author and illustrator William Joyce.

Lost Ollie comes to Netflix August 24, 2022.

 

http://www.netflix.com/LostOllie

‘The Croods: Family Tree’ returns

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Catch seven new episodes full of hilarious misadventures in DreamWorks The Croods: Family Tree, arriving on Hulu and Peacock August 31, 2022.

Excluded from the adults-only cave, the kids create a much cooler kid-cave tempting the adults to switch. A freak lightning storm turns Thunk into a genius while Ugga arranges a “Punch Summit” for peaceful co-existence with the punch monkeys. When a meteor is found to be hurtling towards the farm, The Bettermans and Croods decide how to spend what could possibly be their last day on earth. With endless fun and heartwarming moments, prehistory’s favorite families return with all new episodes on Hulu and Peacock August 31.

‘Mack & Rita’ movie review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



What does Mack & Rita have that 13 Going on 30 and Big don’t? The answer is Diane Keaton. While the premises are all the same – a young person gets instantly transformed into the body of an older person – Mack & Rita starts off a little differently than the other two films. In the first place, Mack Martin (Elizabeth Lail) is 30 years old and in the second place she transforms into a 70-year-old woman. But with the spunk of Keaton, this senior citizen, whom she calls Aunt Rita, is a joyous, fun-loving, and really enjoyable woman, unlike the rather dull 30-year old Mack.

When Mack joins her best friends in Palm Springs for a bachelorette trip this woman, who is pretty much a loner and goes along with everything and everyone, decides to go to a psychic/mystic who unwittingly transforms her into a 70-year-old. Now it is up to Rita to figure out how to live her life as a senior while at the same time look into finding where this so-called mystic is going to be to have him transform her back into her 30-year-old body.

While muddling through, Rita is free from all the restraints and constraints which had been self-inflicted by Mack. She strikes up a relationship with Mack’s dog-sitter Jack (Dustin Milligan) and there could be a romance in their future. But Rita knows this cannot be, even though Mack has wanted it for a long time.

Well, it turns out that Rita is more fun and adventurous than Mack ever was. She is the talk of the town and adored by everyone.  What she needs to do is to learn how to let this fun-loving spirit come out if and when she returns to her original body. That is the crux.

It’s a story that has been told many times before and every time it makes viewers think about how they would live if they suddenly skipped a few decades and landed in an older body, but in the same time period.

Diane Keaton is the salvation of this particular version of age traveling. She is always adorable and easy to watch. She adds dimension to this character and fans of the Oscar-winner will undoubtedly enjoy seeing her in this incarnation, so to speak.

Mack & Rita is rated PG-13. It opens August 12, 2022.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association, was a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Great Wolf Entertainment, the emerging entertainment umbrella established by Great Wolf Resorts, Inc., released the first trailer for its debut animated film, The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure. The film tells an enchanting story of five unlikely woodland friends who form an unbreakable Pack while venturing out on adventures to help others in need.  The animated film is the first project developed by Great Wolf Entertainment, and is part of a robust content strategy designed to expand storytelling opportunities for the Great Wolf characters and other owned intellectual properties.  Additional content in the works includes more animated content, books and immersive entertainment offerings at the company’s indoor water park resorts.

The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure will be available for a limited time on Great Wolf Entertainment’s newly created YouTube page beginning September 5, 2022.

All 19 Great Wolf Lodge resort locations across North America will host lavish premiere events over Labor Day weekend, as the film officially makes its in-resort debut on Saturday, September 3, 2022.  Afterward, screenings of the film will be featured as part of the daily line-up of entertainment offerings at the resort and be available for Great Wolf Lodge guests to view in-room.

“Our characters have delighted families at our indoor water park resorts for decades, and we’re very excited to bring these beloved characters to life in a new, bold and contemporary way with our first-ever animated feature,” shared Brooke Patterson, Chief Marketing Officer for Great Wolf Resorts.  “With the launch of our animated film and the character-driven content we’re developing for our YouTube channel, we’ve created another vehicle where families can join together and be entertained by Great Wolf.”

 

‘The Tracker’s Diary: Bears of Katmai’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Curiosity Stream’s new 5-part series The Tracker’s Diary: Bears of Katmai is a wonderful look at the lives of Alaskan bears in their natural habitat. Nature is fascinating and it is even more interesting to see these magnificent animals interact without human interference.

Filmmaker Casey Anderson has produced many nature films showing viewers the wonders of the world. This particular series is not only educating but also very beautiful. For those who have never been to Alaska, this is an eye-opening look at the magnificent 49th state. It is a wonder in itself. With amazing scenery and animals it is a place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of life. It is nature at its best.

Anderson embeds himself and his crew with the Kodiak bears in the backcountry to get an up close and personal view of their interactions. It is just before winter so the bears are focusing on filling their stomachs with as much salmon as they can catch. Catching salmon is a feat in itself. And mother bears with their cubs are even more intent on getting their fill for the long winter.

It is amazing to see how the bears often simply disregard the humans. After all, they are not there to steal their food. But other bears are, so there are some squabbles between them from time to time.

Watching these magnificent animals is mesmerizing. This look at their real habitat is worth watching for the entire family. Most of us will not get the chance to see them in person like this. But thanks to Anderson, we now get a personal look into the lives of the Kodiak bears as they interact, care for each other, and often squabble.

This is a series for the whole family to enjoy together.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.