Movies: Genre-Bender “The Spy Who Dumped Me” Puts Besties In Extremely High-Octane Action

Kate McKinnon & Mila Kunis in The Spy Who Dumped Me

Two ordinary yet witty and feisty women are in thick of action in “The Spy Who Dumped Me” who embark on an international adventure after one of them had been dumped and discovered that the ex is actually a spy.   Starring an all-star talented cast that includes Mila Kunis, Emmy award winners Kate McKinnon and Gillian Anderson, Justin Theroux, Hasan Minhaj and Sam Heughan, “The Spy Who Dumped Me” features women kicking ass on both sides of the camera as it puts director/writer Susana Fogel at the helm of the film.

“The Spy Who Dumped Me” tells the story of Audrey (Kunis) and Morgan (McKinnon), long-time best friends who race through several European capitals, hunted by a host of top-secret operatives who want to help them or kill them -- or both.   Armed only with their wits, Audrey and Morgan learn to navigate the high-octane world of gun battles, car chases and daring escapes, they unwittingly dodge mishaps along the way that include a taciturn British agent Sebastian Henshaw (Heughan), pretentious jerk Topher Duffer (Minhaj), calculating spy boss Wendy (Anderson), and cold-blooded teenage assassin Nadedja (Sakhno).  Through it all, the two best buds quickly learn that they can trust no one, except each other.

"This is Bridesmaids meets Bond," says co-writer/director Fogel.  Fogel and her friend and fellow comedy writer David Iserson often found themselves sitting at the same café in Los Angeles, working on their own separate projects, occasionally trading ideas. This is how The Spy Who Dumped Me got its start. 

Movies: Mila Kunis & Kate McKinnon Play BFFs In Laugh-Out-Loud Action Adventure In “The Spy Who Dumped Me”

Two thirty-year-old best friends in Los Angeles, Audrey (Mila Kunis) and Morgan (Kate McKinnon) put a new hilarious, fall-of-your-seat twist in the spy movie genre when they are thrust unexpectedly into an international conspiracy when Audrey’s ex-boyfriend shows up at their apartment with a team of deadly assassins on his trail. The duo unwittingly jump into action, on the run throughout Europe from assassins and a suspicious-but-charming British agent on their trail as they hatch a plan to save the world.

Starring with Kunis and McKinnon in “The Spy  Who Dumped Me” are Justin Theroux, Gillian Anderson, Hasan Minhaj, Ivanna Sakhno, and Sam Heughan.

“My character is not an action hero, we’re just average girls trying to do these things. We’re always in these weird circumstances and we’re like ‘Thank God we like each other” and there’s lots of humor, lots of crazy action sequences,” shares Kunis.  “We just had a lot of moments of spontaneous love and friendship,” chimed in McKinnon. 

“Mila and Kate are both incredibly funny,” says producer Brian Grazer.  “But they’re probably the perfect odd couple.”

Director Susana Fogel says there’s a lot to look forward to on the action of “The Spy Who Dumped Me.” “It was really important that it felt legitimate. We were going for stunts that weren’t ironic, for real action-movie action. The stunts in the film were handled by veteran stunt coordinator Gary Powell, who has worked on several James Bond films and also served as Pierce Brosnan’s stunt double.”

From Pioneer Films, “The Spy Who Dumped Me” opens August 1 in cinemas nationwide. Check the film’s trailer here: TRAILER LINK

Movies: Blue Sky’s Latest Delightful Animation “Ferdinand” Opens January 8

In the tradition of beloved animals from children’s classic tales comes a gentle giant with a heart of gold in “Ferdinand” – starring the voice of wrestling superstar John Cena along with Gina Rodriguez, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Cannavale and Anthony Anderson.

Directed by Carlos Saldanha, who also helmed global blockbuster animation films such as “Rio,” “Ice Age” and “Robots”, “Ferdinand” is a Blue Sky Studios feature that tells the unlikely and delightful story of a bull who prefers flowers to fighting.  John Cena stars as the voice of the titular character, a peace-loving animal with no desire to battle matadors, like the rest of the herd, which makes him an outsider.  At the ranch where he’s expected to train for the bullring, he meets Lupe, supposedly a calming goat, but in fact she is brash and feisty. The two become fast friends. Action-packed, funny and heartwarming, the film explores resonant themes of authenticity, courage and what home really means. 

Set in Spain, “Ferdinand” relates the journey of a charming, fun-loving bull. A gentle giant, Ferdinand loves to smell the flowers and play in the fields, but has no interest in fighting. He’s different from his peers and that leads to bullying from the other bulls. When his beloved father leaves the ranch and doesn’t come back, Ferdinand embarks on a journey to find a new home where he will be accepted unconditionally. He finds a beautiful farm in the countryside and is taken in by the kind farmer and his daughter, Nina. Becoming part of a loving family, Ferdinand is free to play in the fields among the flowers.

Movies: Meet “Ferdinand”: The Inspiring Bull That Isn't A Bully

Wrestling superstar John Cena lends voice to the gentlest bull that will soon capture everyone’s hearts on January 8 in “Ferdinand” – a giant bull who prefers flowers to fighting.

Today’s generation can enjoy the delightful CG-animated film based on the 1936 book “The Story of Ferdinand” by author Munro Leaf and illustrator Robert Lawson, a warm and charming take on how appearances can be deceptive (or, why you should never judge a bull by its cover…) the book’s message of love and acceptance has resonated for decades.

Directed by Academy Award nominee Carlos Saldanha, creator and director of the Rio series and director of many of the Ice Age movies, “Ferdinand” centers on the adventures of a peace-loving bull (voiced by John Cena), who is adopted by a loving farmer and daughter. However, his idyllic life changes after he’s mistaken for a vicious beast and is taken away to the last place on earth he wants to be, a bull training camp. But Ferdinand is determined to get back home. Along the way, the kind-hearted bull makes many friends and changes the lives of those he meets. But there still one great obstacle he’ll have to overcome… in the film’s thrilling climactic scene, Ferdinand has to face the matador El Primero in a packed arena, but he valiantly stays true to his peaceful nature, and inspires all those around him.           

Movies: Zoe Kravitz, From “Mad Max: Fury Road” To “Rough Night”

After receiving acclaim for her performance as one of Immortan Joe's wives in Mad Max: Fury Road, Zoe Kravitz (Divergent saga) now stars as the straight-laced friend who may be hiding a dark side, in Columbia Pictures' new adult comedy Rough Night (in Philippine cinemas August 9, 2017).

Starring Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz, Rough Night is about five friends from college who reunite when they rent a beach house in Miami for a wild bachelorette weekend that goes completely off the rails. Just when all hope is lost, they realize there’s more to the story than they could’ve ever imagined.

Kravitz plays Blair, the successful, straight laced, proper and seemingly put-together one of the group. However, outward appearances can be deceptive – there is more turmoil going on in Blair’s life than she would rather admit. “Blair is the conservative one in the group,” says Kravitz. “She’s married. She has a child. She’s a businesswoman. She has chosen a more conventional and materialistic route.”

Movies: The Hangover Will Be The Least Of Their Problems In “Rough Night”

The best nights never go as planned for a group of female friends in Columbia Pictures' new adult comedy Rough Night (in Philippine cinemas August 9, 2017).

Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz, Rough Night is about five friends from college who reunite when they rent a beach house in Miami for a wild bachelorette weekend that goes completely off the rails. Just when all hope is lost, they realize there’s more to the story than they could’ve ever imagined.

The director, co-writer, and a producer of the film, Lucia Aniello, says she was reflecting on how the formative friendships of her life had changed over time, and that inspired the film. “It’s based on so many relationships that I have had, the feelings that I have with certain people from my past,” she explains. “It’s about figuring out how your past fits into your present and your future.”

Movies: “Rough Night” Stars Rock Their Character Posters

Columbia Pictures has launched the character posters for its upcoming adult comedy Rough Night, slated to open in Philippine cinemas August 9, 2017.

Take a look at the individual one-sheets below featuring the principal castmembers Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz.

In Rough Night, five friends from college reunite when they rent a beach house in Miami for a wild bachelorette weekend that goes completely off the rails. Just when all hope is lost, they realize there’s more to the story than they could’ve ever imagined.

Scarlett Johansson plays Jess Thayer, the bride-to-be who has dedicated her life to public service, and has set her sights on becoming a member of the state legislature. “She is definitely a socially conscious person,” explains Johansson. “She’s involved in the community and wants to make a positive difference in people’s lives. That’s why she’s running for state senate.”

Movies: Blue Sky Studio’s “Ferdinand” Second Trailer Reveal

20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studio released the second trailer of the upcoming adventure animation “Ferdinand” about a gentle giant bull voiced by wrestling star John Cena.

“Ferdinand” tells the story of a bull who was mistaken for a dangerous beast and separated from his human best friend.  Unknown to his captors, Ferdinand is the gentlest of all bulls and prefers to smell the flowers instead of fighting matadors.    

The latest trailer brings us to Ferdinand’s journey from quietly living with his family to his captivity and meeting new friends who eventually go with him on an exciting journey going back to his family.

The animated movie is directed by Carlos Saldanha, who also helmed the animated franchise “Ice Age” movies.  The movie also features the voices of Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Iglesias, Bobby Cannavale, David Tennant, Anthony Anderson, Flula Borg, Sally Phillips, Boris Kodjoe, Jerrod Carmichael, Raúl Esparza, Karla Martínez, and Miguel Ángel Silvestre.

“Ferdinand” will open in cinemas (Phils.) on January 8, 2018 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.                

Movies: Girlfriends Have A “Rough Night” In Teaser Poster

“The best nights never go as planned,” or so declares the teaser poster of Columbia Pictures' new comedy Rough Night, starring Scarlett Johansson.

In Rough Night, an edgy R-rated comedy, five best friends from college (played by Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz) reunite 10 years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to figure out what to do,their night takes some hilariously unexpected turns, ultimately bringing them closer together when it matters most.

Directed by Lucia Aniello and written by Aniello & Paul W. Downs.

Opening soon across the Philippines, Rough Night is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Movies: Wrestling Superstar John Cena Is A Friendly Bull In Blue Sky Studios’ “Ferdinand”

WWE superstar John Cena takes on the form of a friendly bull in Blue Sky Studios’ “Ferdinand.”  From blockbuster toonmaker Carlos Saldanha, who also helmed global hits “Ice Age” and “Rio” comes the story of a beast with a big heart in “Ferdinand,” based on the story of a classic children’s book by Munro Leaf illustrated by Robert Lawson.

“Ferdinand” (Cena) tells the inspiring and joyful story of a giant gentle bull forced into the dangerous arena of bullfighting.  After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can’t judge a bull by its cover.

Cena, in recent interviews clearly relates to his character – big but hesitant to fight. “He's a peaceful bull, people think he's a fighter because he's a big bull,” said Cena.

“Ferdinand” voice cast includes (Jane the Virgin’s) Gina Rodriguez as hedgehog Una, Kate McKinnon as goat Lupe,  David Tennant as Angus, Anthony Anderson as Bones, Gabriel Iglesias as Cuatro, Daveed Diggs as Dos, Miguel Ángel Silvestre as El Primero, Sally Phillips as Greta, Flula Borg as Hans, Karla Martinez as Isabella, Boris Kodjoe as Klaus, Raul Esparza as Moreno, Jerrod Carmichael as Paco and Bobby Cannavale as Valiente.

A Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox presentation distributed by Warner Bros. - “Ferdinand” opens in cinemas (Phils.) on January 8, 2018 and will also be available in 3D screens.

MOVIES: BACHELORETTE WEEKEND TURNS DEADLY IN “ROUGH NIGHT” TRAILER

The first trailer from Columbia Pictures' new comedy Rough Night, starring Scarlett Johansson, has arrived online and may be viewed at http://youtu.be/0fShFjRG53Y.

In Rough Night, an edgy R-rated comedy, five best friends from college (played by Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz) reunite 10 years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to figure out what to do,their night takes some hilariously unexpected turns, ultimately bringing them closer together when it matters most.

Directed by Lucia Aniello and written by Aniello & Paul W. Downs.

Opening soon across the Philippines, Rough Night is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Movies: TOP COMEDIANS T.J. MILLER, KATE McKINNON ADD LIFE TO “OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY”

Two of Hollywood's funniest comedians – T.J. Miller (Deadpool, Transformers: Age of Extinction) and Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters) – bring the shenanigans in Paramount Pictures' holiday comedy Office Christmas Party.

In the film, when the CEO Carol Venstone (Jennifer Aniston) tries to close her hard-partying brother’s branch, Clay Venstone (T.J. Miller) and his Chief Technical Officer (Jason Bateman) must rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and close a sale that will save their jobs.

The latest comedy from directors Will Speck & Josh Gordon (Blades of Glory) co-stars Olivia Munn, Jillian Bell, Vanessa Bayer, Courtney B. Vance, Rob Corddry, Sam Richardson, Jamie Chung and Randall Park.

For the character of Clay Vanstone, the directors needed an actor who could bring equal parts mayhem and legitimacy. They found both in stand-up comedian and actor T.J. Miller.

“T.J. is the kind of guy you walk into a bar with and 10 minutes later he’s the center of a hundred people,” says Gordon. “He’s as charismatic as the characters he plays.” “T.J. delivers an incredible amount of heart and humanity that we never envisioned,” says Speck.

“I subconsciously based my character on an actual boss I had once who believed you could have a great time and still get your work done,” Miller recalls. “She never saw having fun as an obstacle to productivity, and that’s a philosophy I’ve used to inform Clay’s management strategy.”

Once Clay hatches the plan for the Christmas party, he immediately encounters opposition from Mary (Kate McKinnon), their rules-obsessed Head of Human Resources.

“Mary takes her job very seriously, and wants everyone to be safe and comfortable,” says McKinnon. “The irony is a lot of her rules make people uncomfortable.”

“When we first meet Mary, she’s pretty buttoned up,” McKinnon explains. “As the night rolls on, she gets some encouragement from her co-workers and goes to some interesting places.”

Speck and Gordon were fans of McKinnon’s work on Saturday Night Live long before she was cast in the film. “In her sketches on SNL, Kate makes each of her characters so idiosyncratic. They’re all so layered and hilarious, we knew we could just let her run with an idea and she’d make it sing,” says Gordon.

“The first time we see Mary, she’s wearing a non-denominational holiday sweater,” says Speck. “Since it doesn’t exist in the real world, it took months to design and days to knit by hand, but it tells you about all you need to know about Mary as a character.”

“We discussed Mary’s backstory and came to the conclusion that she was probably German, given her love of rules,” Speck recalls. “We found this German folk song for her to sing, and without really translating it, she just decided it was about little ducklings. She embraced it.”

“Kate came up with the idea that Mary has parrots, and keeping those birds alive is what’s motivating her professionally,” Gordon concludes.

Opening across the Philippines on December 07, Office Christmas Party is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Movies: HOLIDAY CHAOS IN “OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY” TEASER TRAILER

Paramount Pictures has just released the teaser trailer of its upcoming holiday comedy “Office Christmas Party,” in Philippine cinemas December 7^th.

Watch the trailer here at http://youtu.be/9W3AhSFKFKk.

In “Office Christmas Party,” when the CEO (Jennifer Aniston) tries to close her hard-partying brother’s branch, he (T.J. Miller) and his Chief Technical Officer (Jason Bateman) must rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and close a sale that will save their jobs.

Directed by Josh Gordon & Will Speck, the comedy stars Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, T.J. Miller, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Courtney B. Vance, Vanessa Bayer and Jamie Chung.

“Office Christmas Party” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Movie Review: Ghostbusters (2016)

I have to admit that when news first spread of an all female "Ghostbusters" reboot, I wasn't too excited, which is strange considering I practically grew up to the original movies. Perhaps I was caught up with the initial backlash that the film received. 

Then I thought- "Why all the hate?" -and I decided to give it a chance and I'm glad I did. 

A reboot of a well loved franchise is always a tricky one, the film will either be criticized for not being an original or having their own identity if they stick to the formula of the original and/or they will be called out for veering too far from canon. It really is a tricky situation where anything that you do will upset someone. 

2016 Ghostbusters was a special case though, since the announcement of an all female reboot the project has been met with misogynists crying foul at the thought of girls carrying proton packs and catching ghosts would ruin their childhood. 

The first trailers did not impress and even garnered the title of most disliked movie trailer in YouTube history. 

So-how do you go about reviewing a film that has been mired with controversy from the beginning? 

You either go in the movie house wanting to love the movie, just to prove the naysayers wrong or you join the bandwagon and be cruel in your review, just to be a "cool critic". 

Well, sorry to disappoint but I decided to give the film a chance and enjoy it for what it was-a worthy reboot that brought new flavor to the franchise, the story had a good pace and was easy to grasp throughout. Director Paul Feig who amid, abusive tweets from so called 'ghost bros' still did a good job on the film. 

The actors brought their own quirk and brand of comedy to their characters. Special mention to Kate McKinnon's Jillian Holtzman who absolutely stole the show with her natural eccentricity, playing a tech-whiz and nuts and bolts genius,  making her an instant favorite among fans. 

Kristen Wiig is Erin Gilbert a professor in Columbia, up for tenure when ghosts from her past start haunting her, that ghost is in the form of a book that she wrote with her childhood friend Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) the title of the book "Ghosts From Our Past" and Erin wants nothing to do with it. Things don't go according to Erin's short term plans when ghosts start causing disturbing hauntings around New York and Erin joins up with Abby and the eccentric Jillian to initially just capture a ghost to prove their naysayers that ghosts do exist. What happens next is that the girls stumble in forming the team, getting their logo idea and name indirectly from outside forces, which results in some laughs and chuckles. 

Breakout Star: Kate McKinnon's Jillian Holtzman. 

They are joined by Leslie Jones' Patty, who works in the New York Subway, a self proclaimed New York history expert, Patty can give the 411 on any building, historical information usually includes grim killings in the past. 

The team is made complete with Chris Hemsworth's Kevin, a take on the dumb blonde character which has long been in movies and TV shows, such as Amanda Seyfried's character in "Mean Girls" and even Katy Perry's Honey on "How I Met Your Mother" but this time, it's a dumb beefcake! 

I must admit that while Hemsworth was hilarious and should consider doing more comedy, the "Kevin" jokes got really old, really fast. That would have been the 'ehhhh' part of the film for me. 

The unusually frequent ghost sightings make "Ghostbusting" a day job for the girls. What they don't know yet is that a villain who is very much alive is pulling strings and unsettling the un-dead for an even bigger sinister plot. 

Fans of the 1984 movie will have a great time with the cameos from the original cast, as well as lines and Easter eggs! One cameo I wasn't so happy about was Slimer's 2016 look. The updated CGI just made him look too scary, I always thought he was cute when I was a kid. I was also not too fond of his new lady friend. 

2016 technology gave new depth and color to the graphics, making Ghostbusting oh so much cool! 

Stay after the movie! There are tons of post-credits fun! 

2016 Ghostbusters is a fun movie, that stands out on it's own, not behind the shadow of it's predecessor but rather alongside it. 8 out of 10.  

“Ghostbusters is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Movie News: “SNL” STAR KATE McKINNON INVENTS GADGETS THAT CAPTURE SPIRITS IN “GHOSTBUSTERS”

“Saturday Night Live” standout Kate McKinnon stars as Jillian Holtzmann, a nuclear engineer, munitions expert, and proton wrangler, in Columbia Pictures' new action-adventure “Ghostbusters” (in Philippine cinemas Friday, July 15).

(Watch the featurette “Meet Your Ghostbuster: Holtzmann!” at http://youtu.be/W3fqt2jIhUU.)

“Ghostbusters” makes its long-awaited return, rebooted with a cast of hilarious new characters. Thirty years after the beloved original franchise took the world by storm, director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today – Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth.

Holtzmann has always been an oddball. She thinks outside the box, doesn’t follow social norms, and she likes putting things together, inventing things. She doesn’t judge others but she gets a thrill out of pushing the buttons of uptight people, especially Erin (Kristen Wiig).

“I loved the idea of playing a scientist,” McKinnon says. “I like playing a woman character that doesn’t revolve around a romance, which is rare in a movie. I’m so glad to have been given that opportunity.”

Producer Ivan Reitman states, “I saw the extraordinary sketches in which Kate McKinnon plays Justin Bieber, and captures his essence in a totally original hilarious way. For `Ghostbusters,’ she brings a unique, quirky, comedic energy to her role that is perfect! Kate is a comedic force to be reckoned with.”

“Holtzmann is a genius,” McKinnon describes. “Holtzmann is the tech geek in all of this, which is usually the geekiest geek. She is in charge of perfecting the machinery that allows them to accomplish this mission. She is an essential creature. She’s bizarre. She is freakish. She’s full of joy. She is me. Yes, this is the closest character to my actual self that I’ve ever played, if that tells you anything. “

“Kate was actually the first person I cast in my head,” says Feig. “We had this part of Holtzmann – a really nutty, weirdo part, and if you know Kate, she’s lovely but she’s a nutty weirdo in the most wonderful way. We start casting by asking, ‘Who could shine in this role?’ Kate’s been shining on ‘SNL’ but not in a film yet. There’s something about her that’s so charismatic – she’s a movie star. It seemed like the part could be a great showcase for her, so it was a really easy decision.”

“Holtzmann is the hard scientist, she’s the nuts and bolts person,” Feig explains. “I don’t even know if Holtzmann has a passion for ghosts, but she has a passion for figuring out how to scientifically interact with ghosts, how to capture them, and how to use her skill to interact with them. She’s the hardware nut, and once she starts perfecting her hardware – her proton packs and her synchrotrons and all that – she really starts to go crazy. I’m a big hardware geek, so it was really fun to invent so much cool new weaponry and to have Kate’s character do it.”

“Ghostbusters is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.