3.5 stars
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Madalen Mills, Ricky Martin, Anika Noni Rose, Phylicia Rashad, Hugh Bonneville, Justin Cornwell and Lisa Davina Phillip
Rating: PG, for no particular reason
Opulent musical fantasy is laden with seasonal charm
By Derrick Bang
This is an impressive slice of holiday razzle-dazzle.
The tag line for writer/director David E. Talbert’s opulent fantasy promises that viewers will “discover a world of wishes and wonder,” and that’s an understatement. This often breathtaking blend of “Alice in Wonderland,” “Babes in Toyland” and “Hugo” also seems to be gunning for the seasonal crown long worn by “The Wizard of Oz.”
Love in the Nick of Tyme) turned filmmaker (
First Sunday), lets his musicality fly and creates a viable family Christmas movie that’s as strong as any Disney film.
Inspired by musicals like
Dr. Dolittle and
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and motivated by his son’s desire to see enchanting movies with people who looked like him, Talbert created this vibrant fantasy/family/musical. Originally targeted to be a theater piece, it has finally evolved into a live-action, CGI and animated feature film
All is good in the fictional village of Cobbleton, where the very bright inventor Jeronicus (Justin Cornwell, TV’s
Santa-approved films to chase away the 2020 blues
By Dana Barbuto
We could all use some holiday cheer in 2020, and luckily, you can find some in front of a screen. Pour the eggnog, spike it if you choose, and get all nestled and snug on your couch to watch one these new Santa-approved Christmas-themed movies: Godmothered
Eleanor (Jillian Bell), an aspiring fairy godmother, is on a mission to give a happiness makeover to a reluctant Mackenzie (Isla Fisher), a 40-year-old single mom and widow who lives in Boston in this fantasy comedy. The movie was filmed across the city in January through March. From Charlestown to Copley Square, director Sharon Maguire (“Bridget Jones’s Diary”) bathes the city in a cheerful holiday glow with twinkling lights and rows and rows of festive garland. Other scenes were shot at City Hall, Boston Common and the North End. A deconsecrated church in Lowell was used for the interiors of The Motherland, the make-believe world where fairy go
Pure Preciousness: Monica & Her Mini-Me Sing Christmas Carols For Netflix's 'Jangles & Things' Virtual Experience wynn1063.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wynn1063.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Paley Front Row Presented by Citi series:
Making Holiday Magic!
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.
This behind-the-scenes look at Netflix’s latest holiday hit will premiere on the Paley Center’s dedicated channel on Verizon Media’s Yahoo Entertainment on Monday, December 14, at 8:00 pm EST/5:00 pm PST.
“We are delighted to present this heartwarming and entertaining conversation with the creative team behind this critically acclaimed holiday special that conveys a message of love, family, and community that is synonymous with the season,” said Maureen J. Reidy, the Paley Center’s President & CEO. “
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey epitomizes why Netflix has become one of the top destinations for holiday entertainment.”