Blur To Release Two Films With Altitude
British band Blur will release two feature films this year — a documentary and a concert film. Altitude will launch international sales at EFM and release both films in UK and Irish cinemas later this year. The first film is a new feature-length documentary depicting the band’s recent reunion, captured across a year in which they made a surprise return with their first record in 8 years. The second is blur: Live At Wembley Stadium, a two-hour concert film. Both films are directed by Toby L and produced by Josh Connolly, via production house Up The Game, who previously collaborated on Liam Gallagher: Knebworth 22, Olivia Rodrigo: Sour Prom, Foals: Rip Up the Road, Tonight With Arlo Parks, and Bastille – ReOrchestrated.
Embankment Launches Animation ‘Bollywoof’
Embankment has launched global pre-sales on the animated pic Bollywoof, directed by Frederic Du Chau (Racing Stripes), reuniting...
British band Blur will release two feature films this year — a documentary and a concert film. Altitude will launch international sales at EFM and release both films in UK and Irish cinemas later this year. The first film is a new feature-length documentary depicting the band’s recent reunion, captured across a year in which they made a surprise return with their first record in 8 years. The second is blur: Live At Wembley Stadium, a two-hour concert film. Both films are directed by Toby L and produced by Josh Connolly, via production house Up The Game, who previously collaborated on Liam Gallagher: Knebworth 22, Olivia Rodrigo: Sour Prom, Foals: Rip Up the Road, Tonight With Arlo Parks, and Bastille – ReOrchestrated.
Embankment Launches Animation ‘Bollywoof’
Embankment has launched global pre-sales on the animated pic Bollywoof, directed by Frederic Du Chau (Racing Stripes), reuniting...
- 2/9/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK’s Embankment Films is heading into the European Film Market (EFM) with its first animated feature, Bollywoof.
The adventure is directed by Frederik Du Chau, the filmmaker behind 2005 animation Racing Stripes. It reunites The Amazing Maurice UK, Ireland and Canada-based producers Cantilever Media with Sky Cinema, which aims to distribute the feature theatrically in the UK-Ireland in 2026, alongside London-based animation studio Mikros Animation.
Mikros has credits spanning Orion And The Dark, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.
UK’s Newscope Films co-produces alongside...
The adventure is directed by Frederik Du Chau, the filmmaker behind 2005 animation Racing Stripes. It reunites The Amazing Maurice UK, Ireland and Canada-based producers Cantilever Media with Sky Cinema, which aims to distribute the feature theatrically in the UK-Ireland in 2026, alongside London-based animation studio Mikros Animation.
Mikros has credits spanning Orion And The Dark, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.
UK’s Newscope Films co-produces alongside...
- 2/9/2024
- ScreenDaily
Sales
Altitude is launching international sales on two films featuring iconic British band Blur at the Berlin European Film Market. The band, consisting of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bass guitarist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree, was formed in 1988 and tasted considerable success until it went on hiatus in 2015.
The first film is an untitled feature-length documentary depicting the return of Blur, captured across a year in which the band made a surprise return with their first record in eight years, the #1 album “The Ballad of Darren.” It follows the relationship of the bandmates of over three decades as they come together to record 10 new songs ahead of their sold-out shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2023. The second film is “Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium,” a two-hour concert film of the Wembley show.
Both films are directed by Toby L. and produced by Josh Connolly, via production...
Altitude is launching international sales on two films featuring iconic British band Blur at the Berlin European Film Market. The band, consisting of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bass guitarist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree, was formed in 1988 and tasted considerable success until it went on hiatus in 2015.
The first film is an untitled feature-length documentary depicting the return of Blur, captured across a year in which the band made a surprise return with their first record in eight years, the #1 album “The Ballad of Darren.” It follows the relationship of the bandmates of over three decades as they come together to record 10 new songs ahead of their sold-out shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2023. The second film is “Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium,” a two-hour concert film of the Wembley show.
Both films are directed by Toby L. and produced by Josh Connolly, via production...
- 2/9/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Further producers include Nikki Parrott and Tom Wood.
Twelve UK producers including Damian Jones, Emily Morgan, Nikki Parrott and Tom Wood are heading to Paris later this month for a series of co-production meetings arranged through a partnership between the British Film Institute (BFI) and France’s national film centre, the Cnc.
The meetings will take place from April 20-21.
Scroll down for the full list of participants
“After a successful trip of French producers to the BFI London Film Festival (Lff) last October organised by the BFI with Institut francais in the UK and Unifrance, the BFI is delighted...
Twelve UK producers including Damian Jones, Emily Morgan, Nikki Parrott and Tom Wood are heading to Paris later this month for a series of co-production meetings arranged through a partnership between the British Film Institute (BFI) and France’s national film centre, the Cnc.
The meetings will take place from April 20-21.
Scroll down for the full list of participants
“After a successful trip of French producers to the BFI London Film Festival (Lff) last October organised by the BFI with Institut francais in the UK and Unifrance, the BFI is delighted...
- 4/5/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Titles include Ben Younger’s Bleed For This and Noah Baumbach’s While We’re Young [pictured].
Icon Film Distribution has acquired several new titles for UK distribution.
They include Ben Younger’s Bleed For This starring Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart in the story of champion boxer Vinny Pazienza as he recovers from a car accident. Younger (Boiler Room) co-wrote with Pippa Bianco. Martin Scorsese executive produces and The Solution sells internationaly. Younger also produces with Bruce Cohen, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Chad Verdi and Noah Kraft.
Icon also bought live action family feature A Bollywoof Tale to be directed by Racing Stripes and Underdog director Frederik Du Chau and starring Kunal Nayyar from the hit Us TV show The Big Bang Theory. The story follows a London spaniel who is set to move with his family to Delhi; but he gets separated during the journey and turns to help from a street dog and a cow. The...
Icon Film Distribution has acquired several new titles for UK distribution.
They include Ben Younger’s Bleed For This starring Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart in the story of champion boxer Vinny Pazienza as he recovers from a car accident. Younger (Boiler Room) co-wrote with Pippa Bianco. Martin Scorsese executive produces and The Solution sells internationaly. Younger also produces with Bruce Cohen, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Chad Verdi and Noah Kraft.
Icon also bought live action family feature A Bollywoof Tale to be directed by Racing Stripes and Underdog director Frederik Du Chau and starring Kunal Nayyar from the hit Us TV show The Big Bang Theory. The story follows a London spaniel who is set to move with his family to Delhi; but he gets separated during the journey and turns to help from a street dog and a cow. The...
- 11/9/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
• Naomi Watts, Elle Fanning, and Susan Sarandon have signed on for Three Generations. Gaby Dellal is directing the indie from a script by Nikole Beckwith. The story follows a New York City teen, Ray (Fanning), who is transitioning from female to male and her mother, Maggie (Watts), who must come to terms with Ray’s transition. Meanwhile, Maggie’s mother, Dolly (Sarandon), a music manager who lives with her lesbian partner, Frances, has trouble understanding Ray’s decision and Maggie’s inability to move out of the house she grew up in. Big Beach co-founders Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub...
- 10/31/2014
- by C. Molly Smith
- EW - Inside Movies
Kunal Nayyar, from hit show Big Bang Theory, is set to voice a street dog called Santoosh in the upcoming live-action family drama A Hollywoof Tale. The film, to be helmed by Racing Stripes and Underdog director Frederik Du Chau, is being produced by Jason Newmark (Triangle, Severance), who developed the project with the British Film Institute. The script has been written by Stephen Leslie, while Nisha Parti (Honour) is also attached to produced. Read more 'Big Bang Theory's' Big Bucks: Why the Cast Will Earn $1 Million Per Episode To be shot in London and India in the
read more...
read more...
- 10/30/2014
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar attached; Icon takes UK rights.
Icon Film Distribution has taken UK rights to director Frederik Du Chau’s live action family film A Bollywoof Tale from Independent.
The film tells the story of Basil, a much-loved pet Spaniel, with a comfortable family life in London, who is set to move with his human family to Delhi. However when his crate is misplaced at Heathrow, Basil arrives alone on the other side of India in Kolkata.
With the help of a cunning street dog, Santoosh, and a Holy cow, Uma, Basil sets off on a whirlwind adventure across India in the hope of re-uniting with his family.
Kunal Nayyar from hit TV series Big Bang Theory is newly attached to play the part of Santoosh.
The UK deal was negotiated by Abigail Walsh for Independent and Ben Friedman for Icon Film Distribution.
Producer Jason Newmark (Triangle) developed Stephen Leslie’s script with the...
Icon Film Distribution has taken UK rights to director Frederik Du Chau’s live action family film A Bollywoof Tale from Independent.
The film tells the story of Basil, a much-loved pet Spaniel, with a comfortable family life in London, who is set to move with his human family to Delhi. However when his crate is misplaced at Heathrow, Basil arrives alone on the other side of India in Kolkata.
With the help of a cunning street dog, Santoosh, and a Holy cow, Uma, Basil sets off on a whirlwind adventure across India in the hope of re-uniting with his family.
Kunal Nayyar from hit TV series Big Bang Theory is newly attached to play the part of Santoosh.
The UK deal was negotiated by Abigail Walsh for Independent and Ben Friedman for Icon Film Distribution.
Producer Jason Newmark (Triangle) developed Stephen Leslie’s script with the...
- 10/29/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Racing Stripes dirctor Frederik Du Chau and Triangle producer Jason Newmark behind family feature about a dog who moves from London to India.
UK sales outfit Independent will introduce buyers to family feature A Bollywoof Tale at the Cannes marche.
Racing Stripes and Underdog director Frederik Du Chau will direct Stephen Leslie’s script, with Triangle and Severance producer Jason Newmark on board to produce alongside Nisha Parti.
A Bollywoof Tale tells the story of pet Spaniel Basil, whose comfortable family life in London is disrupted by a family move to Delhi. After his crate is misplaced at Heathrow, Basil arrives on the other side of India in Kolkata.
With the help of a cunning street dog and a Holy cow, Basil sets off on a whirlwind adventure across India in the hope of reuniting with his family.
The film is due to be shot as live action in London and India in early 2015. Cast has yet...
UK sales outfit Independent will introduce buyers to family feature A Bollywoof Tale at the Cannes marche.
Racing Stripes and Underdog director Frederik Du Chau will direct Stephen Leslie’s script, with Triangle and Severance producer Jason Newmark on board to produce alongside Nisha Parti.
A Bollywoof Tale tells the story of pet Spaniel Basil, whose comfortable family life in London is disrupted by a family move to Delhi. After his crate is misplaced at Heathrow, Basil arrives on the other side of India in Kolkata.
With the help of a cunning street dog and a Holy cow, Basil sets off on a whirlwind adventure across India in the hope of reuniting with his family.
The film is due to be shot as live action in London and India in early 2015. Cast has yet...
- 5/1/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Racing Stripes dirctor Frederik Du Chau and Triangle producer Jason Newmark behind family feature about a dog who moves from London to India.
UK sales outfit Independent will introduce buyers to family feature A Bollywoof Tale at the Cannes marche.
Racing Stripes and Underdog director Frederik Du Chau will direct Stephen Leslie’s script, with Triangle and Severance producer Jason Newmark on board to produce alongside Nisha Parti.
A Bollywoof Tale tells the story of pet Spaniel Basil, whose comfortable family life in London is disrupted by a family move to Delhi. After his crate is misplaced at Heathrow, Basil arrives on the other side of India in Kolkata.
With the help of a cunning street dog and a Holy cow, Basil sets off on a whirlwind adventure across India in the hope of reuniting with his family.
The film is due to be shot as live action in London and India in early 2015. Cast has yet...
UK sales outfit Independent will introduce buyers to family feature A Bollywoof Tale at the Cannes marche.
Racing Stripes and Underdog director Frederik Du Chau will direct Stephen Leslie’s script, with Triangle and Severance producer Jason Newmark on board to produce alongside Nisha Parti.
A Bollywoof Tale tells the story of pet Spaniel Basil, whose comfortable family life in London is disrupted by a family move to Delhi. After his crate is misplaced at Heathrow, Basil arrives on the other side of India in Kolkata.
With the help of a cunning street dog and a Holy cow, Basil sets off on a whirlwind adventure across India in the hope of reuniting with his family.
The film is due to be shot as live action in London and India in early 2015. Cast has yet...
- 5/1/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Underdog, the live-action Disney film based on the Saturday morning cartoon series that ran from 1964-73, has a tail-wagging sense of wit and fun but gets undone by an increasingly lame story and physical gags in the latter phases of the movie. Still, the movie isn't nearly as bad as you would expect when the studio holds its only press screening the night before a national opening. The film kids superhero movies even as it opens the way for clever canine jokes that do make the movie something of an underdog.
The movie's hero is a lovable Beagle nicknamed Shoeshine that cop-turned-security guard Dan (a subdued and genuinely likable Jim Belushi) finds on a street one fateful night in Capitol City. He and his son Jack Alex Neuberger) are involved in a real-life challenge of coping with the death of the wife and mother, which gives this cartoonish comedy emotional heft.
Unbeknownst to either male, Shoeshine has been accidentally transformed into a canine crime-fighter in the lab of one Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage in a peerless bit of comic clowning), a mad scientist who, as he says, prefers the term "visionary." The dog can blast through walls, lift impossibly heavy objects, think faster than a human and, yes, he can talk. (Voice supplied with a down-home sensibility by Jason Lee.)
It takes a while for Shoeshine and Jack to get comfortable with these brilliant pet tricks, which makes for much of the fun in the early going. So while Shoeshine and Jack get their superhero act going -- which includes pinpointing the right costume after several false starts -- Dr. Simon, his face hideously rearranged by an industrial accident to look truly diabolical, and his wonderfully dense yet resourceful henchman Cal (a narcissistic Patrick Warburton) find new ways to do evil badly.
So the movie, under the direction of Frederik Du Chau (who directed that other critter comedy Racing Stripes), seems to have many things going for it as a family comedy. Alas, it fritters this all away with a Batman-style plot to destroy Capitol City by Dr. Simon and a gang of bad dogs led by a tough called Riff Raff ("Everybody Loves Raymond's" Brad Garrett).
The script by Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella & Craig A. Williams doesn't so much go to the dogs as rely too heavily on dogs doing things cute or amazing to take audience minds off a stalled story.
The pet tricks are quite good, and the animation of the animal mouths and the actors' voices synch well. This includes Amy Adams as Shoeshine's love interest, a saucy Spaniel named Polly. Other effects are just so-so, and the production design reflects the film's divided sensibility: Some sets and locations have true grit while others feel like backlot fakery.
UNDERDOG
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents in association with Spyglass Entertainment a Barber-Birnbaum/Jay Polstein production in association with Classic Media
Credits:
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Screenwriters: Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella, Craig A. Williams
Story by: Joe Piscatella, Craig A. Williams, Adam Rifkin
Producers: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jay Polstein
Executive producers: Eric Ellenbogen, Bob Higgins, Todd Arnow
Director of photography: David Eggby
Production designer: Garreth Stover
Music: Randy Edelman
Co-producers: Erin Stam, Rebekah Rudd
Costume designer: Gary Jones; Editor: Tom Finan
Cast:
Voice of Underdog: Jason Lee
Dr. Simon Barsinister: Peter Dinklage
Dan Unger: Jim Belushi
Cad: Patrick Warburton
Jack: Alex Neuberger
Molly: Taylor Momsen
Mayor: John Slattery;
Voice of Polly: Amy Adams
Voice of Riff Raff: Brad Garrett
Running time -- 84 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
The movie's hero is a lovable Beagle nicknamed Shoeshine that cop-turned-security guard Dan (a subdued and genuinely likable Jim Belushi) finds on a street one fateful night in Capitol City. He and his son Jack Alex Neuberger) are involved in a real-life challenge of coping with the death of the wife and mother, which gives this cartoonish comedy emotional heft.
Unbeknownst to either male, Shoeshine has been accidentally transformed into a canine crime-fighter in the lab of one Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage in a peerless bit of comic clowning), a mad scientist who, as he says, prefers the term "visionary." The dog can blast through walls, lift impossibly heavy objects, think faster than a human and, yes, he can talk. (Voice supplied with a down-home sensibility by Jason Lee.)
It takes a while for Shoeshine and Jack to get comfortable with these brilliant pet tricks, which makes for much of the fun in the early going. So while Shoeshine and Jack get their superhero act going -- which includes pinpointing the right costume after several false starts -- Dr. Simon, his face hideously rearranged by an industrial accident to look truly diabolical, and his wonderfully dense yet resourceful henchman Cal (a narcissistic Patrick Warburton) find new ways to do evil badly.
So the movie, under the direction of Frederik Du Chau (who directed that other critter comedy Racing Stripes), seems to have many things going for it as a family comedy. Alas, it fritters this all away with a Batman-style plot to destroy Capitol City by Dr. Simon and a gang of bad dogs led by a tough called Riff Raff ("Everybody Loves Raymond's" Brad Garrett).
The script by Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella & Craig A. Williams doesn't so much go to the dogs as rely too heavily on dogs doing things cute or amazing to take audience minds off a stalled story.
The pet tricks are quite good, and the animation of the animal mouths and the actors' voices synch well. This includes Amy Adams as Shoeshine's love interest, a saucy Spaniel named Polly. Other effects are just so-so, and the production design reflects the film's divided sensibility: Some sets and locations have true grit while others feel like backlot fakery.
UNDERDOG
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents in association with Spyglass Entertainment a Barber-Birnbaum/Jay Polstein production in association with Classic Media
Credits:
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Screenwriters: Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella, Craig A. Williams
Story by: Joe Piscatella, Craig A. Williams, Adam Rifkin
Producers: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jay Polstein
Executive producers: Eric Ellenbogen, Bob Higgins, Todd Arnow
Director of photography: David Eggby
Production designer: Garreth Stover
Music: Randy Edelman
Co-producers: Erin Stam, Rebekah Rudd
Costume designer: Gary Jones; Editor: Tom Finan
Cast:
Voice of Underdog: Jason Lee
Dr. Simon Barsinister: Peter Dinklage
Dan Unger: Jim Belushi
Cad: Patrick Warburton
Jack: Alex Neuberger
Molly: Taylor Momsen
Mayor: John Slattery;
Voice of Polly: Amy Adams
Voice of Riff Raff: Brad Garrett
Running time -- 84 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
This review was written for the theatrical release of "Underdog"."Underdog", the live-action Disney film based on the Saturday morning cartoon series that ran from 1964-73, has a tail-wagging sense of wit and fun but gets undone by an increasingly lame story and physical gags in the latter phases of the movie. Still, the movie isn't nearly as bad as you would expect when the studio holds its only press screening the night before a national opening. The film kids superhero movies even as it opens the way for clever canine jokes that do make the movie something of an underdog.
The movie's hero is a lovable Beagle nicknamed Shoeshine that cop-turned-security guard Dan (a subdued and genuinely likable Jim Belushi) finds on a street one fateful night in Capitol City. He and his son Jack Alex Neuberger) are involved in a real-life challenge of coping with the death of the wife and mother, which gives this cartoonish comedy emotional heft.
Unbeknownst to either male, Shoeshine has been accidentally transformed into a canine crime-fighter in the lab of one Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage in a peerless bit of comic clowning), a mad scientist who, as he says, prefers the term "visionary." The dog can blast through walls, lift impossibly heavy objects, think faster than a human and, yes, he can talk. (Voice supplied with a down-home sensibility by Jason Lee.)
It takes a while for Shoeshine and Jack to get comfortable with these brilliant pet tricks, which makes for much of the fun in the early going. So while Shoeshine and Jack get their superhero act going -- which includes pinpointing the right costume after several false starts -- Dr. Simon, his face hideously rearranged by an industrial accident to look truly diabolical, and his wonderfully dense yet resourceful henchman Cal (a narcissistic Patrick Warburton) find new ways to do evil badly.
So the movie, under the direction of Frederik Du Chau (who directed that other critter comedy "Racing Stripes"), seems to have many things going for it as a family comedy. Alas, it fritters this all away with a "Batman"-style plot to destroy Capitol City by Dr. Simon and a gang of bad dogs led by a tough called Riff Raff ("Everybody Loves Raymond's" Brad Garrett).
The script by Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella & Craig A. Williams doesn't so much go to the dogs as rely too heavily on dogs doing things cute or amazing to take audience minds off a stalled story.
The pet tricks are quite good, and the animation of the animal mouths and the actors' voices synch well. This includes Amy Adams as Shoeshine's love interest, a saucy Spaniel named Polly. Other effects are just so-so, and the production design reflects the film's divided sensibility: Some sets and locations have true grit while others feel like backlot fakery.
UNDERDOG
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents in association with Spyglass Entertainment a Barber-Birnbaum/Jay Polstein production in association with Classic Media
Credits:
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Screenwriters: Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella, Craig A. Williams
Story by: Joe Piscatella, Craig A. Williams, Adam Rifkin
Producers: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jay Polstein
Executive producers: Eric Ellenbogen, Bob Higgins, Todd Arnow
Director of photography: David Eggby
Production designer: Garreth Stover
Music: Randy Edelman
Co-producers: Erin Stam, Rebekah Rudd
Costume designer: Gary Jones
Editor: Tom Finan
Cast:
Voice of Underdog: Jason Lee
Dr. Simon Barsinister: Peter Dinklage
Dan Unger: Jim Belushi
Cad: Patrick Warburton
Jack: Alex Neuberger
Molly: Taylor Momsen
Mayor: John Slattery
Voice of Polly: Amy Adams
Voice of Riff Raff: Brad Garrett
Running time -- 84 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
The movie's hero is a lovable Beagle nicknamed Shoeshine that cop-turned-security guard Dan (a subdued and genuinely likable Jim Belushi) finds on a street one fateful night in Capitol City. He and his son Jack Alex Neuberger) are involved in a real-life challenge of coping with the death of the wife and mother, which gives this cartoonish comedy emotional heft.
Unbeknownst to either male, Shoeshine has been accidentally transformed into a canine crime-fighter in the lab of one Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage in a peerless bit of comic clowning), a mad scientist who, as he says, prefers the term "visionary." The dog can blast through walls, lift impossibly heavy objects, think faster than a human and, yes, he can talk. (Voice supplied with a down-home sensibility by Jason Lee.)
It takes a while for Shoeshine and Jack to get comfortable with these brilliant pet tricks, which makes for much of the fun in the early going. So while Shoeshine and Jack get their superhero act going -- which includes pinpointing the right costume after several false starts -- Dr. Simon, his face hideously rearranged by an industrial accident to look truly diabolical, and his wonderfully dense yet resourceful henchman Cal (a narcissistic Patrick Warburton) find new ways to do evil badly.
So the movie, under the direction of Frederik Du Chau (who directed that other critter comedy "Racing Stripes"), seems to have many things going for it as a family comedy. Alas, it fritters this all away with a "Batman"-style plot to destroy Capitol City by Dr. Simon and a gang of bad dogs led by a tough called Riff Raff ("Everybody Loves Raymond's" Brad Garrett).
The script by Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella & Craig A. Williams doesn't so much go to the dogs as rely too heavily on dogs doing things cute or amazing to take audience minds off a stalled story.
The pet tricks are quite good, and the animation of the animal mouths and the actors' voices synch well. This includes Amy Adams as Shoeshine's love interest, a saucy Spaniel named Polly. Other effects are just so-so, and the production design reflects the film's divided sensibility: Some sets and locations have true grit while others feel like backlot fakery.
UNDERDOG
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents in association with Spyglass Entertainment a Barber-Birnbaum/Jay Polstein production in association with Classic Media
Credits:
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Screenwriters: Adam Rifkin, Joe Piscatella, Craig A. Williams
Story by: Joe Piscatella, Craig A. Williams, Adam Rifkin
Producers: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jay Polstein
Executive producers: Eric Ellenbogen, Bob Higgins, Todd Arnow
Director of photography: David Eggby
Production designer: Garreth Stover
Music: Randy Edelman
Co-producers: Erin Stam, Rebekah Rudd
Costume designer: Gary Jones
Editor: Tom Finan
Cast:
Voice of Underdog: Jason Lee
Dr. Simon Barsinister: Peter Dinklage
Dan Unger: Jim Belushi
Cad: Patrick Warburton
Jack: Alex Neuberger
Molly: Taylor Momsen
Mayor: John Slattery
Voice of Polly: Amy Adams
Voice of Riff Raff: Brad Garrett
Running time -- 84 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
The amazing and hilarious achievement of director Chris Noonan and his team of animal trainers and CGI whizzes in the 1995 hit film Babe becomes more apparent every time someone else attempts a sequel or knockoff. Racing Stripes, directed by Frederik Du Chau, copies the formula of a farm animal unaware of its own identity. But the results don't come close to duplicating Noonan's charming and gentle barnyard fable. At best, Racing Stripes should play nicely to youngsters with the cutoff for enjoyment extending no further than midteens.
Instead of a pig who believes he is a sheepdog, Racing Stripes concerns a zebra who thinks he is a race horse. Like Babe, the zebra named Stripes converses with other animals on the family's Kentucky farm. This is achieved again with a mix of real animals, computer technology and animatronic doubles.
Stripes is named by the young daughter (Hayden Panettiere) of a former horse trainer (Bruce Greenwood) who rescues the lost foal. Once the humans retire from the barn, all the animals begin to chatter up a storm. Three years later, the daughter gets the idea she would like to ride the zebra, every bit as much as Stripes would like to be ridden because he thinks he can run in races against horses. But, in a bit of unconvincing melodrama, Dad won't allow this because his late wife lost her life after being thrown from a horse.
David Schmidt's screenplay switches back and forth between the two story lines of the animal kingdom and the horse race movie, but the narratives never really merge as the story lines never play off each other. Famous voice actors do inject a bit of whimsy into the barnyard banter, especially Dustin Hoffman as a cantankerous Shetland pony, Whoopi Goldberg as a sagacious goat and Joe Pantoliano as a Mafioso pelican on the lam from the big city. Meanwhile, Frankie Muniz and Mandy Moore give Stripes and his filly girlfriend, Sandy, a coltish innocence.
The human actors including M. Emmet Walsh as a racetrack junkie do respectable work with the stock characters in the National Velvet story line, though Wendie Malick is over the top as the coldblooded doyenne of the Kentucky racing circuit. Two well-animated horseflies with a penchant for breaking into song and dance, played with unapologetic zeal by Steve Harvey and David Spade, take the film south into poo humor so beloved by youngsters. They are not, however, the only offenders.
Du Chau is better at integrating the racing footage -- which must have been tricky given that zebras really aren't racers -- with the animation and animatronics. The CG work allowing the animals to mouth dialogue blends well into the live action. David Eggby's cinematography and Wolf Kroeger's sets make the South African locations look convincingly American.
RACING STRIPES
Warner Bros.
Alcon Entertainment
Credits:
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Screenwriter: David Schmidt
Story by: David Schmidt, Steven P. Wegner, Kirk DeMicco, Frederik Du Chau
Producers: Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Ed McDonnell, Lloyd Phillips
Executive producer: Steven P. Wegner
Director of photography: David Eggby
Production designer: Wolf Kroeger
Music: Mark Isham
Costumes: Jo Katsaras
Editor: Tom Finan
Cast:
Nolan Walsh: Bruce Greenwood
Channing Walsh: Hayden Panettiere
Woodzie: M. Emmet Walsh
Clara: Wendie Malick
Stripes: Frankie Muniz
Sandy: Mandy Moore
Tucker: Dustin Hoffman
Franny: Whoopi Goldberg
Goose: Joe Pantoliano
Buzz: Steve Harven
Scuzz: David Spade
Reggie: Jeff Foxworthy...
Instead of a pig who believes he is a sheepdog, Racing Stripes concerns a zebra who thinks he is a race horse. Like Babe, the zebra named Stripes converses with other animals on the family's Kentucky farm. This is achieved again with a mix of real animals, computer technology and animatronic doubles.
Stripes is named by the young daughter (Hayden Panettiere) of a former horse trainer (Bruce Greenwood) who rescues the lost foal. Once the humans retire from the barn, all the animals begin to chatter up a storm. Three years later, the daughter gets the idea she would like to ride the zebra, every bit as much as Stripes would like to be ridden because he thinks he can run in races against horses. But, in a bit of unconvincing melodrama, Dad won't allow this because his late wife lost her life after being thrown from a horse.
David Schmidt's screenplay switches back and forth between the two story lines of the animal kingdom and the horse race movie, but the narratives never really merge as the story lines never play off each other. Famous voice actors do inject a bit of whimsy into the barnyard banter, especially Dustin Hoffman as a cantankerous Shetland pony, Whoopi Goldberg as a sagacious goat and Joe Pantoliano as a Mafioso pelican on the lam from the big city. Meanwhile, Frankie Muniz and Mandy Moore give Stripes and his filly girlfriend, Sandy, a coltish innocence.
The human actors including M. Emmet Walsh as a racetrack junkie do respectable work with the stock characters in the National Velvet story line, though Wendie Malick is over the top as the coldblooded doyenne of the Kentucky racing circuit. Two well-animated horseflies with a penchant for breaking into song and dance, played with unapologetic zeal by Steve Harvey and David Spade, take the film south into poo humor so beloved by youngsters. They are not, however, the only offenders.
Du Chau is better at integrating the racing footage -- which must have been tricky given that zebras really aren't racers -- with the animation and animatronics. The CG work allowing the animals to mouth dialogue blends well into the live action. David Eggby's cinematography and Wolf Kroeger's sets make the South African locations look convincingly American.
RACING STRIPES
Warner Bros.
Alcon Entertainment
Credits:
Director: Frederik Du Chau
Screenwriter: David Schmidt
Story by: David Schmidt, Steven P. Wegner, Kirk DeMicco, Frederik Du Chau
Producers: Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Ed McDonnell, Lloyd Phillips
Executive producer: Steven P. Wegner
Director of photography: David Eggby
Production designer: Wolf Kroeger
Music: Mark Isham
Costumes: Jo Katsaras
Editor: Tom Finan
Cast:
Nolan Walsh: Bruce Greenwood
Channing Walsh: Hayden Panettiere
Woodzie: M. Emmet Walsh
Clara: Wendie Malick
Stripes: Frankie Muniz
Sandy: Mandy Moore
Tucker: Dustin Hoffman
Franny: Whoopi Goldberg
Goose: Joe Pantoliano
Buzz: Steve Harven
Scuzz: David Spade
Reggie: Jeff Foxworthy...
- 2/10/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.