Displaying items by tag: Zachary Levi

HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON

US, 2024, 90 minutes, Colour.

Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Zooey Deschanel, Benjamin Bottani, Tanya Reynolds, Jemaine Clement, Alfred Molina.

Directed by Carlos  Saldanha.

Eagerness to see Harold and the Purple Crayon will depend on whether audiences grew up with Crockett Johnson’s classic story and illustrations (and his nine other books in the series as well as the television episodes). Those who do not know Johnson’s books, Harold began life in 1955 as a four-year-old, inhabiting a fantasy world where, if he needed or wanted something, he simply drew it, and there it was. However, in later books, he was an adult.

In this version, Harold is living a happy life, and drawing with his crayon, solving every need with a drawing = and there it is.. He is accompanied by his close friends, Moose and Porcupine. So, a pleasant opening, an introduction into Harold’s world, his conversations, his listening to the voice of his creator, whom he calls Old Man (voiced by Alfred Molina), but with a desire to go out into what he calls “The Real World”.

And, out he goes, in the form of Zachary Levi. Soon after Moose emerges but in human form, played by comedian Lil Rel Howery. But it takes rather a longer time for Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds) who discovers her friends missing, but does not emerge in the real world anywhere close to them, spending a long time in the search, looking for clues – and they are always purple.

And the purple crayon! Whenever Harold draws, it is with his beloved purple crayon. And, when he emerges into the real world, he simply puts his old talent into practice, drawing a purple bike, replacing a flat tire was a purple one, painting of a house, purple no limits – even later, a plane which flies through the city.

Harassed mother Teri (Zoe Deschanel) driving with her son, Mel (a likeable Benjamin Bottani), an intelligent boy who has a secret invisible mini-dragon friend, crashes into Harold and Moose on their bike. Which leads to a whole lot of adventures, searching for The Old Man, all kinds of funny and dangerous escapades and situations, and some villainy in the form of Jemaine Clement, librarian who they think will be able to find The Old Man but, frustrated with his Game of Thrones -like novel not being accepted, steals the purple crayon for dastardly purposes.

The film will appeal to boys of Mel’s age, 13 and down. As regards adult audiences, parents, the difficulty is the character of Harold, a child in an adult’s body, uttering childlike (and childish) comments (and, for this reviewer, difficult because actor Zachary Levi has played the central role in the least liked superhero films, the two Shazams).

But, within the limits it sets itself and the limits for the age audience and identifying with Harold, it can be quite a nice pastime.

1. The original books, the story, the sketches? Television episodes?
2. The intended audience, children, boys identifying with Harold, the age group, 13 down, identifying with Harold but also with Metal?
3. The animation style, bringing Crockett Johnson’s style to life, simple, creative? And the decision to have a purple crayon? And breaking it, Mel having half and being creative, Gary stealing the half, swallowing it, having the power, bringing it up again? The adventures of the crayon?
4. Harold, visually, Moose and Porcupine, visuals? Their adventures, Harold drawing, solving every problem? The voice of The Old Man, the creator? Narrative? Harold wanting to find The Old Man, to go into the Real World?
5. Drawing the door, going into the real world, in the person of Zachary Levi? His voice and tone? Moose following, transformed into human, Lil Rel Lowrey, African-American? Porcupine later discovering they had gone, transformed, into the girl, but not near Harold and Moose, tracking them down? The detectives and their suspicions?
6. Exhilaration in the Real World, looking for the Old Man, the man in the park, his reaction, talking to the detectives? Drawing the bicycle, enjoying the ride, the city, the transition to Teri and Mel, the absent father, the argument, Mel and his invisible dragon friend? The crash? The reaction, the flat tire – and Harold drawing the purple tire?
7. Teri, exasperated, mil wanting them to come home, in the house, the room, painting the house purple, the meals and the pies? Teri and her work, not liking it, at the supermarket, her boss and his comments, getting the two to take her place, Mel and the trouble at school? The chaos in the store, pratfalls and mayhem? Teri sacked?
8. Mel, the friendship, the visualising of the Dragon?
9. The episode of drawing the plane, flying, the exhilaration, the dangers, and the sky writing of Teri’s phone number in the sky, asking for the old man, the incessant number of phone calls?
10. The library, Gary, smug, his novel, the fewer the reading, their walking out? His infatuation with Teri? Mel and his dislike? The issue of the old man? Gary offering to help? The drama, getting them into trouble, Gary doing the drawing, the forcing the crayon out of him?
11. Happy ending, Porcupine finding them, their being together, Mel happy, his mother? And the glimpse of Gary and his imagination and Teri in his fantasy, turning him down?
12. Younger audiences identifying with Mel, with Harold, the impact for parent audiences?

CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET

UK, 2023, 101 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, David Bradley, Jane Horrocks, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Mohammed, Miranda Richardson.

Directed by Sam Fell.

Who hasn’t enjoyed the films from Aardman Studios? Happy memories of Wallace and Gromit from the past, Shaun the Sheep, and Chicken Run.

It is something of a surprise to find that it is 20 years since the first Chicken Run. This sequel has had something of mixed reviews, some joy at another Chicken Run film, some complaints of how slight it is. And it went to Netflix streaming.

Fans of the original will remember Ginger and Rocky and their adventures. Here they are again, this time voiced by Thandiwe Newton for Ginger and, instead of Mel Gibson, American Zachary Levi for Rocky (somewhat incongruous with the rest of the accents being so British, some so very very British)

Once more, we are at the Chicken Run with the tyrannical Mrs Tweedy, voiced by Miranda Richardson again. This time Ginger shows her defiance and the overthrow of Mrs Tweedy. But, this time, the family is different, with the hatching of a little chicken, Molly (Bella Ramsey) and her growing up rather quickly, wanting some independence, her mother wanting what is best for her but being strict, Rocky sometimes a bit ditzy.

The initial action is the rebellion against the Chicken Run and everybody migrating to a paradise island where they are all very happy. The second action is a new, reinforced concrete building for mass production of eggs and chickens, especially for the making of nuggets for takeaway restaurants. And, who should be in charge along with the odd Dr Fry but Mrs Tweedy herself. They have so many chickens but control them with a neck brace which takes away their minds and fills them with false contentment, ready to go up the chopping block and come out nuggets!

While everybody gets a chance for some kind of heroism to confront this evil regime, the main action goes to Molly, very enterprising, using her wits, tracking down the villains, catching up with her mother as well as Rocky and other members of Ginger’s friends. And, there are the two comic rats who get into all kinds of strife.

So, the action eventually is more or less as expected, happy family, happy chickens, happy rescues..

1. The popularity of Aardman studio films? Of the original Chicken Run?
2. A sequel, 20 years later, continuation of the story, the characters, new adventures?
3. The style of. Stop-Motion animation, characters, situations? The voices? British, except for Zachary Levi, American as Rocky?
4. Audience knowing the situation, at the chicken run? Knowing the characters and their past?
5. The situation, Mrs Tweedy, harsh and bossing, her appearance, her voice, her severity? The response of the chickens, the response of Ginger, defiance, toppling her, the uprising?
6. Ginger, familiar, a leader, her group of friends, her relationship with Rocky, their pride with Molly? Molly, egg, little chicken, her rapid growing up?
7. The expedition, all the chickens, finding refuge, the peaceful island? Life?
8. Molly, growing up, venturesome, wanting freedom, her friendship with Frrizzle? Her parents, protective?
9. Ginger, sympathetic, leadership, supportive of Rocky? Rocky, the touch of dotting us? The concern about Molly?
10. The new chicken run, elaborate, large, set down, the chickens in the captivity, collars, control of their minds? Willingly to give themselves up to be nuggets?
11. Molly, with Frizzle, out for the adventure, their discoveries, Molly and her sense of mission, the other chickens, following Dr Fry and the restaurant entrepreneur? Plan of action? Frizzle, her being captured, the collar and the loss of her mind?
12. The mission, to rescue Molly, to free the chickens? Ginger, her group, the various adventures, lost, trapped, freed, Molly and linking up with her father, then her mother? Wanting to free Frizzle?
13. The comedy with the rats, their deliveries, bargains, part of the adventure, with Rocky, silly and sensible, the knockabout comedy and pratfalls, verbal comedy, participation in the adventure?
14. Dr Fry, sinister, evil chicken, his mask, his legs, his voice? Working with Mrs Tweedy? The visit of the entrepreneur, the demonstration, his return, the large order?
15. The adventures in the mechanised chicken run, the photograph of the guard and holding it up for security, the guards trying to stop the chickens? The various ruses, deceptions, the dangers?
16. The confrontation with Mrs Tweedy, her ruthlessness, enmity with Ginger, the final confrontation? Defeat?
17. Rescue, achievement, happy ending?