Author: Francine Brokaw

Plush Mirabel – Product Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The animated film Encanto is taking the world by storm. With its colorful scenery – and casita – as well as the beautiful costumes and endearing story, the movie has become an instant classic for Disney fans. At the heart of the story is Mirabel, a fifteen-year-old girl who is a little different than the rest of her family. They each have special magical powers but Mirabel does not. However even without magic, this little hero manages to save her family and her house.

The new plush doll stands about 18 inches high. Her dress is bright and colorful with beautiful embroidery depicting aspects of the story. Mirabel’s name is embroidered on the waistband and her family name is on her skirt. The background is a rich teal with fuchsia, bright green, orange, yellow, and turquoise embroidery making it exceptionally bright and colorful.

Mirabel’s face has her iconic green glasses embroidered on it and she sports a big, wide smile. Just looking at her it is almost impossible not to smile or feel happy. She is the epitome of happiness.


Her dark hair has some soft ribbon curls framing her face. Her hair is also soft and plush so this doll is appropriate for very young kids. The hair does not need brushing. It can be squished and hugged and not lose its style.

Is she soft and cuddly? Yes to both. And she is larger than many other plush dolls.

The shopDisney website has a singing Mirabel doll as well, and as of this writing the plush is sold out however please check back often to see when it will be back in stock. She is definitely worth waiting for.

This plush Mirabel will brighten up any room, bed, or bookshelf. And young fans of the movie will enjoy sleeping with her as well as taking her in the car on those errands with mom or dad. I can see this happy little doll becoming a child’s best friend. Who can resist the happiness and joy she inspires?

Mirabel is sitting on my desk as I write and whenever I look at her I have to smile. We all need some happiness and joy and Mirabel delivers. And no, Disney is not paying me for this review. I genuinely think this plush is well made, colorful, and inspiring.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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, 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. Follow her on Twitter.

 

 

Nana – The newest Disney Baby with Pouch – product review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

We all love our plush animals. The Disney Babies Plush in Pouch collection is perfect for ages 0+ because there are no eyes or items that can be pulled off. These 10-inch plush characters represent favorite Disney films and are soft and furry and ready to hug or display.

The newest addition to the collection is baby Nana. She’s the doggy nursemaid to the Darling kids: Wendy, Michael, and John. She’s there when Peter Pan comes to take them to Never Land. Baby Nana represents the adult Saint Bernard (some think she is a Newfoundland) with her little white cap and blue strap with a bow. She looks like she is anxiously waiting to grow up so she can take care of the Darling children.

Baby Nana’s pouch is also soft, with a hidden Velcro closure. This velour fabric depicts Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Never Land, and Big Ben in a soft lilac colored background. There is a loop on the pouch to easily hang it from a hook or bedpost. Nana’s eyes are expressive and her entire appearance will make you say “aww.” She’s sweet and definitely loveable. Every thing on Nana is embroidered so little fingers won’t be able to tug and pull off items.

Once unhooked, Nana comes out of her pouch and is ready for hugs and play. She is super soft, and even her embroidery is soft. Whether she is tucked into her pouch or on her own, Baby Nana is a huggable little puppy.

Dog lovers, fans of Peter Pan, Disney Babies in Pouch collectors, and those who simply love huggable plush animals will delight with Baby Nana. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a caring dog as a nursemaid? Peter Pan was released in 1953, with several incarnations and spinoffs. This film caught the imaginations of viewers around the world. Now when your family gathers to view the movie again or for the first time, kids can hug Baby Nana and take her off to bed with them.

There are other characters in the Disney Babies in Pouch collection. Check out your favorite…but don’t forget about Nana!

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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, 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. Follow her on Twitter.

Celebrate your favorite Disney films in a new way – VHS collection product review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Just when you thought there is not new way to highlight your favorite Disney movies, the folks at shopDisney have a surprise. Their VHS line of products reimagines the fun of some classic Disney films that are perfect for decorating any room or simply enjoying the magic of the stories.


 

The films highlighted so far in this collection are Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Toy Story, A Goody Movie, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Monsters, Inc., The Lion King, Dumbo, 101 Dalmatians, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The updated VHS boxes have the original artwork on the covers and the sides have the name of the film, so they fit right in on a bookshelf or in a home entertainment cabinet.

The magnetic case opens to reveal a surprise inside. Tucked into the case is a fun plush character to go along with the film. What a great present for a fan to celebrate their favorite movie. It’s easy to display the carton semi open to reveal the little plush, or simply closed to highlight the artwork from the movie.

The plush are not super plush (they have to be somewhat flat to fit inside the box) but they are adorable and decked out in their finest.

The plush assortment includes the Beast (adorable with a little bird perched on his head), a three-eyed Alien, Pumba (with Timon perched on his head), Dumbo (holding a feather with his trunk), Sully, Goofy, the Genie, Pooh (with his honey pot), Patch, and Quasimodo. They are each adorable so deciding which one to get will be difficult. They are stuffed with soft stuffing and are suitable for even babies as there is nothing that will easily come off of the plush characters.

Pin collectors can get the VHS replica box with two pins inside instead of the plush. ($29.99) But let’s face it, those plush are lovable.

Parents can put additional items in the boxes too. Perhaps your child just lost a tooth. Maybe add a little something from the Tooth Fairy inside the box as a special surprise. Or you might want to put tickets to a concert or something else imaginative that will add some additional excitement and fun to giving a present. Even if you don’t add anything, the little plush will be adored by everyone. And this display box will never go out of style. It is the best way to bring some Disney magic to your home.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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, 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. Follow her on Twitter.

The trams are returning to Disneyland

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Finally, after almost 2 years, the transportation trams are returning to the Disneyland Resort. Guests will be able to give their feet a rest to and from the parks while riding on the transportation trams. Yay.

Just in time for the Food and Wine Festival, the trams return and everyone is excited. Let’s face it. Walking around the parks is exercise enough. And then add the walk to and from the parking lots, and well, guests have been able to up their steps lately. But rest assured (and I do mean “rest”) after a long and fun day in the parks you will now be able to take a load off your feet while heading back to your car.

So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets and reservations soon. It’s going to be a great spring at the Disneyland Resort.

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.

‘Trying’ on Apple TV+ is endearing

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The dramedy Trying is a fun mix of human emotions and situations that touch the hearts of viewers with uniqueness and in appealing ways.

Jason and Nikki (Rafe Spall and Esther Smith) have been trying to have a baby. They desperately want a family but are not able to. After trying IVF, they finally agree to adopt a child. When they learn they would not get a baby but an older child, they decide that is fine. They simply want a family to love and enjoy. But the adoption process is fraught with ups and downs.

Their social worker Penny (Imelda Staunton) is on their side. She goes above and beyond to help them with the adoption board and knows they will make wonderful parents. Penny is encouraging and when things fall apart, as they often do, she is there to lift their spirits and help them make it to the next step in the process.

In the meantime Nikki’s sister Karen (Sian Brooke) is plodding along with her lover on the road to matrimony, their friends are experiencing situations in their own lives, and their parents weigh in on the adoption situation, adding more stress to Nikki and Jason’s lives. But everyone means well and what they do and say, they do and say out of love.

As the two seasons progress, everyone is on their road to happiness, except Nikki and Jason who keep getting let down by the system. But take heart. Things are about to change for them. Perseverance is key. Even when their friends are set to adopt the same child, they never let that interfere with their feelings about them. After all, they just want the best for the children who need good homes and families. But deep down they know they will be great parents and provide a child with a good foundation and a lot of love. To see the lengths these two go to is endearing.

Currently there are two seasons available on Apple TV+ and a third season has been green lit for the continuation of their stories. The humor in the show is touching. It lessens the stress of their situations and viewers are treated to some fun along the way.

Join Nikki, Jason, and their friends and families as they embark on this journey of relationships, life’s ups and downs, and most importantly, love.

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.

 

‘Lightyear’ is coming! Check out the new trailer

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

He’s coming back. Buzzzzzzz

Releasing June 17, 2022, the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure. “Buzz’s world was always something I was excited about,” said director Angus MacLane. “In Toy Story, there seemed to be this incredible backstory to him being a Space Ranger that’s only touched upon, and I always wanted to explore that world further. So my Lighytear pitch was, ‘What was the movie that Andy saw that made him want a Buzz Lightyear toy?’ I wanted to see that movie. And now I’m lucky enough to get to make it.”

‘Inventing Anna’ depicts a Millennial scammer enraged at being born unlucky

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Inspired by the New York Magazine article “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” by Jessica Pressler, the Netflix limited series Inventing Anna portrays the rise and fall of Anna Sorokin, aka Anna Delvey (Julia Garner), through the lens of a disgraced journalist Vivian Kent (Anna Chlumsky), a stand-in for Pressler.

Desperate for her big break, the expecting Manhattan magazine reporter investigates the whys and hows behind the infamous Soho grifter and her glitzy crime saga. Anna maintains she did not do anything wrong and insists that this is how the society punishes women for aggressively going after fame and fortune. She sabotages Vivian’s attempt to connect the dots by pulling off the Hannibal Lecter move – manipulation with false information, deceit, character assassination, and then some.

Just how many doors can you open in the New York City socialite circles without a real fortune of your own? Quite a few, according to the financial, social, and emotional casualties left in her wake. Anna acted like an obnoxiously spoiled and entitled trust fund brat dressed to the nines like old money and browbeat her way into the old ‘catch-22’ situation — I can only get in if I am already in. The illusion of wealth, shameless name-dropping, self-aggrandizement, and arrogance go a long way towards obtaining the keys to the Kingdom. And once you’re in, you can totally cash in your credibility even if it’s merely by association; ‘She has to be good for the money.’ New York’s wealthy elites and big players vouched for Anna, the fake heiress who wanted to establish a lavish art club à la Soho House on Park Avenue South with their money.

Is it wishful thinking or willful blindness? In the face of all evidence to the contrary, Vivian still believes in redemption. Oh, come on, Vivian! Wake up and smell the coffee. Anna casts people in roles that increase her power and sense of importance as if she were the producer, director, writer, and only actor of her own show.

A liar is a liar, and a leopard cannot change its spots. In this current ‘fake-it-till-you-make-it’ culture, however even this textbook case of a narcissistic sociopath could be eventually rewarded just because she is a brand investors might throw money at. I just hope and pray Anna Sorokin is deported ASAP and that’s the end of the story, but I have a sneaking suspicion that we haven’t heard the last of this Instagram-legendary con artist. There is no shortage of shows about the millennial scammers these days, but very few pay attention to the victims of their criminal behavior. As a victim of crime and power abuse, I have a tremendous amount of empathy for those powerless supporting actors who are gaslighted, bullied, harassed, abused, and eventually discarded like trash. Trust me. I feel your pain.

The nine-episode limited series Inventing Anna premieres February 11, 2022 on Netflix.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.

COURTESY PHOTO

‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ returns to Netflix

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Something special is in the air at Gabby’s Dollhouse as Gabby, Pandy Paws and all the Gabby Cats celebrate the happiest cat day of the year, Purrsday! Complete with Box Cat Family crafts, dress-up with Mercat, a steller safari adventure, and a performance from feline pop star sensation Fluffy Flufferton, there are so many things to celebrate! A special visit from a tin full of Cakey Cat’s cousins is the icing on the kitty-cupcake. Get tiny with Gabby for hug attacks, cat-tastic adventures, and some whoopsies along the way!

‘TrollsTopia’ arrives on Hulu and Peacock

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Inspired by the beloved DreamWorks Animation films, TrollsTopia is the next chapter in the hair-raising adventures of the trolls. Now that Poppy knows there are other musical trolls scattered throughout the forest, she bottles up her endless positivity and invites delegates from every troll tribe in the forest to live together in harmony in a grand experiment she calls TrollsTopia!

TrollsTopia begins its 6 episodes on February 17, 2022. The show is available on Hulu and Peacock.

‘And Just Like That…’ wraps up season 1

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Last December the Sex and the City gang reunited for the next chapter in their lives. And Just Like That… shows the characters as they are now in their 50s. Kim Cattrall does not appear as Samantha Jones in this series, however Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Evan Handler, Mario Cantone, and others revive their roles and this series brings in many new characters.

What is bothersome about the show is the stress on the “woke” culture. This has upset many fans of the original series. Some people have voiced their dissatisfaction at seeing the characters they have loved and enjoyed for decades as senior citizens, or at least middle aged. For me, that was not the aspect that was distressing. What I found off-putting about the show is the “woke” preachiness that is pervasive in each episode. Fans of the characters do not want to see them in this light. It takes away from the fun of the characters and their stories.

The initial episode started out with a sad note. By now we all know that Big dies in the episode. So the rest of the series has Carrie picking up the pieces of her life and trying to go on without the love of her life. She does have all her friends by her side and that helps.

Unfortunately Willie Garson who played Stanford Blatch passed away in real life so his character had to be written out of the series.

Many viewers have also voiced their displeasure that the fashions and jewelry, which were prevalent in the original series, was missing to some degree in this 10-episode series. Take heart. The final episode of this series is basically a redemption of that. The fashions are in full swing in this episode. Carrie manages to wear some of the best outfits of the season in this one episode. Whew. Maybe if they return there will be more of these great dresses.

Episode 10 finalizes the year since Big’s death. All of the characters are taking the next steps in their lives. At the time of this writing, it looks like a second season is on the horizon. If so, I know many of the die-hard fans of SATC would prefer the writers to step back from the “woke” speak and get back to the original fun of the characters. There is enough preaching on TV. SATC was a fun respite and great escape into the world of the four women who managed to get through their lives with amazing wardrobes and jewelry that we envied.

If executive producer Michael Patrick King and the writers are reading this, please take note. Dump the high-profile “woke” aspect and return to the recipe that made SATC a fan favorite. Please.

And Just Like That… streams on HBO Max.

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. 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.

 

Courtesy photo HBO Max