He is the Loyal Bull Called FERDINAND

 

Jeri Jacquin

On Bluray, DVD and Digital this week from director Carlos Saldanha, Blue Sky and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is a delightful tail of fun and flowers from FERDINAND.

Living with his father and others at the Casa del Toro bull-training camp run by Moreno (Raul Esparza), Ferdinand isn’t the average calf. Watching his father train and be chosen for the bull ring, the young bull is proud and awaits fathers return. He ignores the bullying from the younger calves while he waits. When that doesn’t happen, a hard reality sends the Ferdinand running as far away as he can.

Ferdinand wakes up and finds himself staring into the face of a young girl. Nina (Lily Day) is immediately taken when Ferdinand and shown a beautiful farm life along with her father Juan (Juanes), he grows into a very large bull. Ferdinand (Jon Cena) spends his days with Nina, her father being and dog Paco (Jerrod Carmichael) well loved and loving in return.

When the flower festival comes around, Ferdinand is filled with joy as flower is his favorite thing. He is a little hurt when Juan tells his daughter that he is to big to go to the festival and must stay at the farm. Not willing to take no for an answer, Ferdinand decides that he is capable of being gentle and that the towns people just need to get to know him.

Unfortunately, the term ‘bull in a china shop’ plays out and Ferdinand is taken away from Nina! He is taken to Casa del Toro, Ferdinand sees a familiar faces in a still angry Angus (David Tennant), Guapo (Peyton Manning), Bones (Anthony Edwards), and a new face in goat Lupe (Kate McKinnon).

Also still there Valiente (Bobby Cannavale), he still carries the same anger as when he was young and makes it clear he tends to take Ferdinand down. Arriving to look for the best bull for the best bullfighter is El Primero (Miguel Angel Silvestre). He spends a few days looking over all the bulls and after a scuffle in the ring between he and Valiente – chooses Ferdinand.

Not wanting to fight Ferdinand realizes that the only way he can stop it all is convincing the others that there is an amazing life on the farm waiting for them where they will be loved by one special family!

Cena as the voice of Ferdinand has the right inflection to pull off this loveable character. He is a flower loving bull is quite happy with his farm life and doesn’t understand why people might be afraid of him. That lesson becomes quickly clear and he is right back where he doesn’t want to be! At Casa del Toro he comes face to face with a bull who doesn’t have a reason not to be his friend other than he’s has daddy issues. Ferdinand is as loyal as you would want a friend to be and even more loyal to those who aren’t very friendly. Its a great lesson for kids to learn.

Day as young Nina absolutely adores her very large friend and doesn’t see what those off the farm think they see. She is adorable and is the epitome of an animal lover. Carmichael as Paco pretends not to care but we all can see from the get go that he isn’t very good at it.

Cannavale as Valiente has anger issues that stem from having a father who has anger issues. Trying to keep Ferdinand down from childhood and reuniting as a full grown bull, Cannavale gives his character a rough edge. Tennant as Angus is hilarious plain and simple. Manning and Edwards are just followers who start to realize that it is no way to go through life.

McKinnon as Lupe is such a riot from start to finish! We all have that friend who is just a little nutty in a way that makes them extremely special. I couldn’t keep up with her infectious words of wisdom and her unwavering support of her very large friend.

 

Silvestre as El Primero is full of himself and there comes a moment where he is in the ring with Ferdinand that he must choose between his ego and a bull named Ferdinand.

Other cast include Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Inglesias, Flula Borg, Sally Phillips, Boris Kodjoe, Jack Gore, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Nile Diaz, Colin H. Murphy, Gina Rodriguez and Jeremy Sisto.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

With the overwhelming success of Ice Age, Blue Sky suddenly found itself a frontrunner in what has blossomed into a powerful, billion dollar marketplace.  Together, Fox and Blue Sky Studios have broken records, growing their diversely talented staff and crew, developing their breakthrough renderer CG Studio, and producing hit after hit: Robots (2005), Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! (2008), the wildly successful Ice Age sequels: Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), and the vibrant musical comedy, Rio (2011).

The Bluray and DVD include the Special Features of Ferdinand’s Team Supreme, “Home” Nick Jonas Music Video, Creating a Remarka-Bull Song, Learn to Dance with Ferdinand, Ferdinand’s Do-It-Yourself Flower Garden and so much more. The Digital Movie is also included so the entire family can watch anywhere.

FERDINAND is from the creators of RIO and ICE AGE, both of which are high on my granddaughters watch list – over and over. This animated film is surely a must-have in the family home entertainment library because of its color, vibrancy, story line and cast of characters that will become iconic on their own.

What makes FERDINAND so beautifully done is Ferdinand himself! He sees the joy in the simplest things – such as his beloved flowers, and believes in helping all those that need it. Just as he was helped by a little girl named Nina who saw something beautiful in him, this lovely and large bull pays it forward but does so without a thought toward himself.

FERDINAND was an Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated film and also nominated at the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture and Best Original Song. The film won the HUMANITAS PRIZE in the Feature Film Category for the screenplay by Robert L. Baird.

As this is a week of indoor weather, let FERDINAND bring color and fun to a home movie family night!

In the end – you will bullieve!

PRIDE, PREJUDICE and ZOMBIES Warriors on into Theatres!

 

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres this Friday from writer-director Burr Steers, Screen Gems and Lionsgate comes the tale that brings us back to 19th century England to face PRIDE, PREJUDICE and ZOMBIES.

The Bennet family is living during an unusual time as zombies have become a way of life in England. Each of the Bennet daughters, Elizabeth (Lily James), Jane (Bella Heathcote), Lydia (Ellie Bamber), Mary (Millie Brady) and Kitty (Suki Waterhouse) have been trained in the Chinese art of war. Guided by their father Mr. Bennet (Charles Dance), the women are lovely, refined and lethal!

But there mother Mrs. Bennet (Sally Phillips) is more than determined that it is time to find husbands for all of their daughters. At a social gathering, Jane is smitten with Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth), a handsome young man who comes from a family of means. Elizabeth takes notice of Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) and he of her but there is an obvious discomfort by them both.

Jane and Mr. Bingley make it a point to see one another again and during a walk Elizabeth meets George Wickham (Jack Huston). Mr. Darcy sees the two together and is not happy in the slightest which delights Elizabeth. When Mr. Bingley decides to throw a big ball, the entire Bennet family is thrilled and it’s dress up time. The thing is, when these girls dress up – it includes weaponry!

After a few twirls on the dance floor, Elizabeth finds herself outside and within minutes a zombie stands in front of her which made not seem odd considering the times, except this one spoke!

But no time for that as Parson Collins (Matt Smith) has come calling looking to ask for Jane’s hand. When told the news that she is unavailable, Collins turns towards Elizabeth. When that doesn’t work he turns towards Mary and with that Collins insists they go and meet with Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Lena Headey). Lady Catherine has made a name for herself in her own fighting skills and is intrigued by Elizabeth.

Well, the zombies are still coming, Elizabeth detests Mr. Darcy, Collins wants a wife, Jane’s heart is broken and did I mention zombies are coming?

It’s all in the life of 19th century England!

James as Elizabeth doesn’t waste any time letting the viewer know who she is and what she’s about. Keeping her manners, James has a unique way of delivering a line that is dripping with sweetness with mixed with a little shot of heat as well.

Riley as Mr. Darcy is dark and scary from moment one. Of course his heart is a little confused because anything nice that would escape his lips comes out completely wrong. He doesn’t say what he means and when he does speak Elizabeth jumps on it so quick he’s taken back. That is exactly what I would expect of anyone who plays Mr. Darcy but Riley gives it even more since he has to fight the zombie herd of London!

Heathcote as Jane is sweet and fully ready to become a wife, especially the wife of Bingley. It’s when things don’t go as planned that Jane’s heart is broken. Booth as Bingley is the source of that broken heart but let’s be honest, it looks like his heart is pretty broke up as well. So who is responsible? One guess.

Huston as Wickham is a soldier who has a plan for the zombie over run. He has taken an interest in Elizabeth and she thinks he’s alright as well. We all know she’s only trying to make Mr. Darcy jealous but is there more to these two men than meets the eye?   Headey as Lady Catherine is cool, calm, collected and even a tad bit funny. It’s not hard to believe that she could pull this off considering in the last season of GAMES OF THRONES she walked naked while having vegetables thrown at her. I’m sure she had some anger issues to work out and the added toughness of the eye-patch is pretty cool.

Smith as Parson Collins is so hysterical I can’t stand it. Every time he was on the screen everyone was in stitches. He definitely is the odd man out yet every sentence he speaks just made my jaw drop – followed by serious laughing. Yes, Smith sort of stole the show.

Bamber, Brady, and Waterhouse are sister’s I’m sure I’d like to have around if zombies were every five feet. They are sweet at the same time which makes me want to root for them to find love. Dance as Mr. Bennet is so supportive of Elizabeth’s determination to find love on her terms, besides, Dance can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned. Phillips as Mrs. Bennet is just a riot plain and simple and if you don’t adore Phillips we just can’t be friends.

Other cast include: Emma Greenwell as Caroline Bingley, Eva Bell as Louisa, Aisling Loftus as Charlotte, Charlie Anson as Mr. Hurst, Tom Lorcan as Lt. Denny, Nicholas Murchie as Franklin, Morfydd Clark as Georgiana, Dolly Wells as Mrs. Featherstone, Hermoine Corfield as Cassandra and Pooky Quesnel as Mrs. Phillips.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give PRIDE, PREJUDICE and ZOMBIES four tubs of popcorn out of five. I swear I just had a blast with this film. Of course the Jane Austen story is there and I appreciated every moment of it. That being said with the addition of the zombie tension the story become more fun and entertaining. This film isn’t a total zombie take over but instead has them as another character in the film.

The cinematography is pretty awesome and I have to say that they went above and beyond with costuming. The dresses are spectacularly beautiful and the sets are extraordinary. There is such beauty in the lavish time of the 19th century up against the humble living of the Bennet family. I enjoyed the tale of love mixed with zombies without the little flesh eaters taking over entirely. It’s just an enjoyable film that I really do want to see again!

In the end – for love and for family everyone must fight!