Displaying items by tag: Dave Franco

HOPPERS

US, 2026, 104 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Eduardo Franco, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Meryl Streep.

Directed by Daniel Chong.

Hoppers is a Pixar entertainment. Audience expectations are usually high with the announcement from Pixar, memories of such films as Toy Story, Brave, Inside Out… And Hoppers open to strong box office, audience enjoyment and critical praise.

As with many Pixar films, there are serious themes. The tone is set with the introduction of Mabel at school, upset at student pranks leaving a turtle on its back, her stealing all the animals to free them but caught, sent home, her mother leaving her with her kindly grandmother who sits with her on a rock by a lake, contemplating, smiling, gradually hearing the myriad sounds of animals, birds, insects. So, we begin with a conservation frame of mind.

Then, Mabel is 18, supposed to be studying at college, but stridently campaigning for animals and, especially, against the Mayor, Jerry, who is planning to destroy the animal habitat that she loves and build a Beltway. So, we are invited to have an anti-business-development frame of mind.

But, Hoppers is much more complex than this confrontation. The nice Dr Sam at college is developing all kinds of technology – and, Mabel is able to transfer her mind and voice to a mechanical recreation of a Beaver. (Well, we are in an age of AI development!).

We spend a lot of time with this mechanical Mabel with the animals, especially beaver King George, a leader, and gradually meeting a whole range of animals, who have been banished, driven away by Jerry’s sound waves in the trees, but with Mabel, eliminating the repellent sound, they are able to come back. We are on side.

And, of course, we are against Jerry, absolutely smug, blowing up the habitat, clashing with Mabel. But, the animals fight back against Jerry. Even a large shark leaps out of the water onto his car to get rid of him!

The voice talent in the film is quite extensive. Piper Curda voices Mabel, Bobby Moynihan King George. But, in the supporting voices, we have Jon Hamm as Jerry, Kathy Najimi as Dr Sam, Dave Franco as the Insect King and, of all voices, Meryl Streep as the Insect Queen.

And, will it be a happy ending! Of course, but not before having to sort out Mabel’s deception of the animals, reconciliation, the hounding of Jerry and his conversion, and the message, important for audiences but, especially, younger audiences with social concern, progress is made not by confrontation but by dialogue and collaboration. Progress can win – but nature must also win.

1. The tradition of Pixar entertainment? Comic themes, serious themes?
2. The title, expectations, animals in nature, beavers, technological experiments?
3. The style of animation, the characters, delineation, backgrounds? Special effects? Editing and pace? The musical score, the final song?
4. The introduction to Mabel, at school, sympathy for the turtle, the reaction of the children, against her, her stealing the animals, caught, her mother, sending her to her grandmother, the kindly grandmother, sitting on the rock, the silence and contemplating, hearing all the animal sounds?
5. The initial issue of nature, attention to nature, preservation?
6. Mabel grown-up, campaigner, Jerry, Mayor, the building of the Beltway, destroying the animal habitat? Mabel and protests, strident, eager, going door to door, no help, the kindly old man, but his finally giving her the grocery list?
7. Dr Sam, her role at college, Mabel’s studies, suffering from campaigning? The discussions with Dr Sam? Her experiments?
8. Mabel, her intervening, using the experiments, her brain, creating the Beaver, her chatter, encountering George, king, the bonding, their working together, the saving of the animals, the countering of the Beltway?
9. The range of animals, their personalities, the voice talent, Insect Queen, Titus, the members of the council? And Diane, the shark?
10. The strategies, Jerry, the confrontations, his having the sounds in the trees to scatter the animals? Mabel taking them down, Reconstruction? The attempts against Jerry, the shark? Jerry and his personality, determination, his workers? The initial blowing up of the barrier? The later attack, the fire, the destruction, moving towards the city?
11. The animal politics, the death of the Insect Queen, the butterfly, Titus, his taking over?
12. Mabel, the truth, the disillusionment, working with Dr Sam, the experiments with Jerry, confrontation, the animals, communication, the face? The blend of the serious and the comic episodes?
13. The buildup confrontations, Titus, Jerry and his change of heart, Dr Sam and her work, the strategies, using the technology, communication with the animals?
14. The final resolution, the fire, extinguishing, Jerry and his change of heart, moving the Beltway, the restoration of the habitat? And Mabel and her final communication with George, the phone and facial recognition and voice?
15. The blend of the serious concern for nature, progress and the need for dialogue rather than confrontation?

NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T

US, 2025, 113 minutes, Colour.

Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Rosamund Pike, Morgan Freeman, Lizzy Caplan.

Directed by Ruben Fleischer.

Surprisingly, given the popularity of the original, this third part of the series comes 12 years after the first Now You See Me. Then there was the sequel two years later. And it has taken most nine years for this episode.

Fans will probably agree that it has been well worth the wait!

The attraction of the film is that it is about magicians and magic, sleight of hand, I deceptions, creation of illusions. And, with 21^st-century special effects, there is no lack of magical turns, creative use of special effects, a whole range of deceptions.

The original team is back again, led by Jesse Eisenberg, so often primly determined. Woody Harrelson is also back with his laid-back charm. And, Dave Franco as well as either Fisher. And Lizzy Caplan, who joined the team and the second film, also returns.  And, once again, the power behind the team, Morgan Freeman in his mid-80s.

While it is important to highlight the familiar team, the film actually opens with some very clever impersonations by a new young team, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt. They make quite an impression – but they also do impersonations of the original team, taking on the teams mantle of seeking justice, exposing criminals, taking them down. So we are treated to quite a spectacular performance, and we are deceived into thinking that it is the main team in action. But…

Jesse Eisenberg’s Atlas is not impressed and seeks out the young group. But, it emerges that some kind of overseer has sent cards to assemble everyone. They gather, and find that the villain of the piece is relic, daughter of a South African mogul, about to option a diamond. And, surprisingly, she is played by Rosamund Pike, rather relishing the role of a kind of evil femme fatale.

If this sounds intriguing, the two teams combining to confront Veronica, to steal the diamond, to pretend to destroy it, to try to trap her in her guilt, travelling around the world, from the Emirates to France, then audiences will be delighted to be intrigued.

While there are quite a number of spectacular magic episodes, we enjoy meeting the old team again but are trying to make out whether we like the new team, especially Dominic Sessa who is full of himself often able to justify his self-satisfaction with his skills. Justice Smith plays the very nice member of the group and plays a very interesting role in the final solution.

So, we know what to expect, more or less, and there is more rather than less. Already the rumour is around that there will be a fourth episode. And, in light of having two teams now, why not?

1. The popularity of the first two films? The nine year gap until this one? The plausible explanations?
2. The popularity of the cast, the characters? The appeal of magic? The portrayal of various magic tricks? Special effects and the lighting? Has part of the plot? The musical score?
3. The past history, of the Four Horsemen, their performances, their skills, the team work, interactions? The role of Thaddeus and control? The presence of Dylan Roads? The breaking up of the group? Reassembling? The addition of Lula?
4. The opening, the reassembling of the Horsemen, their personalities, on stage, the arrogance of the young man and his friends? The introduce introduction to Bosco, Charlie and June? Their jobs, behind-the-scenes, June at the bar, pickpocket? Confrontation with the young men, Merrick and his capacity for putting people to sleep, Bosco on stage, the sleep, the rest of the Horsemen and the confrontations, the money and the denunciation, the angry young man? And the Horsemen disappearing?
5. The three friends, personalities, age, their talents? The appearance of Daniel, the confrontation? The magic, their show, using lanterns and projections, their achievement? Daniel’s criticism? Charlie, agreeable, June and friendly, Bosco and his surly attitudes and behaviour?
6. Daniel and his proposition, joining with the trio, the master command, The I, planting cards for the others, their all coming together? Building on the old personalities and past stories? Daniel and his touch of arrogance, Merrick and his humour, heavily returning to the group, Jack and his genial presence? Exercising all their magic abilities?
7. The situation, Veronica Vandeberg, her story, her father, the diamonds, his wife and her suicide, the housekeeper and his relationship with her, the quizzing his fortune to Veronica? The scenes in South Africa, Veronica and her personality, dominating, her bodyguard, her entourage, the plan to option the diamond, her shady contacts? Her performance to the public?
8. The group, working together, the plan? The social, her wanting the photographs? Hiring the photographer with his arrogant manner? The magic tricks of the group, unit and her pickpocketing ability getting all kinds of passes, Charlie and his blending into the work background, Bosco impersonating the photographer? The photo shoot, and wanting to photograph the diamond with Veronica? The revelation of Charlie and the alternating of the cases, in and her manipulation, Bosco and the photographs, the presence of Daniel and his confrontation, the tricks with the opening of the glass case, the diamond, the substitute, smashing it? Confusion?
9. The personalities of the group, their working together?
10. The mystery of the cards, Charlie and the cards, the map, finding the location, the vast house, the encounter with Thaddeus? Memories of the past, his encouraging, the mystery of who had organised the action? The attack, the siege of the house, Thaddeus and his dying, his encouraging the group? The mystery of the house, revolving rooms, the confusion of the police attack? Finding Veronica’s client list? The arrest of gives one, in the police station?
11. The police station, Veronica confronting Merit, his abilities with her, telling her story, the truth about her mother, contriving her death? The father’s relationship with the mistress, her death? The arrival of Muller, her collaboration with Merit, the escape for June? Merit imprisoned, and the possibility of a bargain, the diamond for The Release of Merit?
12. The Emirates, the location for the driving exhibition, Veronica and the vehicles, the drivers? The arrival of the group, infiltration, Bosco and impersonations and driving the vehicle, Charlie and June in the background, the tasks?
13. The driving and the display? Bosco the crashes? The rounding up of the four Horsemen, trapped underground? Veronica and her superiority, the sand coming into the basement? The discussions, using their wits, the idea of water and the sand, Jack and his using the wrench, the water, heavily using her ring to break the glass, there are escape?
14. Veronica, the mysterious caller, challenge her about the diamond?
15. The escape, Veronica and the confrontation by her brother, the revelation of Charlie, the revelation of the truth, his being her brother, the role of their father, his mother and her death?
16. Veronica on stage, trapped, the revealing of the true story, the diamond?
17. Charlie revealed as Peter, his intentions, his masterminding the whole plot, his time in the US, studying magic, befriending Moscow Bosco in June, planting the cards to entice the horsemen to help him with his plan to unmask Veronica?
18. Peter, his decision, distributing his wealth to those in need? Fulfilling the aims for the Horsemen and justice?
19. The postscript, the intervention of Dylan Rhoades, the achievement – and the future?

REGRETTING YOU

US, 2025, 116 minutes, Colour.

Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco, Mason Thames, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, Clancy Brown, Sam Morelos, Ethan Costanilla.

Directed by Josh Boone.

Based on a novel by Colleen Hoover might be enough recommendation for audiences to see this film. Her novels have been highly popular, especially in the United States. There is an appeal to younger generations as well as to older readers.

There was a film version of It Ends With You. Now there is Regretting You. And early in 2026 there will be Reminders of Him. And Colleen Hoover fans will be glad to hear that there will be another film towards the end of 2026, Verity.

The initial appeal of Regretting You is with the younger audience, two couples, early 20s, their lives before them. Two are quiet. Two are eager extroverts. And then the revelation that one of them, Morgan, played by Allison Williams, is pregnant. And the father to be is Chris, played by Scott Eastwood (reminding audiences of his father, Clint). The other two in the group are the very outgoing Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald) and the quiet Jonah (Dave Franco). But, this is just a prologue.

The main action of the film in fact takes place 17 years later. Morgan is the devoted mother of her daughter, Clara (Mckenna Grace) and most of the action concerns this relationship. Morgan has been married to Chris all these years and he is still rather happy-go-lucky. Jenny has also grown up and is pregnant – and the revelation that Jonah who had disappeared 17 years ago has now returned and is teaching at the local school.

Will this simply be a pleasant family story? Or what will be the implications of the title, the regrets.

Needless to say, there will be some complications. Especially in the relationships of the older generation. But, the centre of the film soon becomes Clara, enthusiastic teenager, devoted to her father, often having emotional clashes with her mother, feeling her over-protective. She is very friendly with Miller (Mason Thames), both the same age, school experiences, bonding, ups and downs in their relationship. Then there is a car accident which turns everybody’s lives upside down – with a great number of regrets.

Depending on your life’s experience, there will be sympathies for some characters, irritation with the behaviour and attitudes of others. And, when things become rather dire, can there possibly be a hope of a happy ending? But who wants to leave the cinema feeling emotionally down? So, the ending is not without hope!

1. The popularity of Colleen Hewitt’s novels? Adaptations?
2. The Middle America setting, the small town of Dillon, 30,000+? A story of ordinary Americans?
3. The setting, the youngsters together, School memories, the outings, Chris and Jenny, outgoing, the games, together? The contrast with Morgan and Jonah, more introverted? And the news that will Morgan was pregnant, Chris the father?
4. 17 years later, Morgan married to Chris, their life together, domestic scenes, Clara, her age, admiration for her father, her relationship with her mother, her mother protective, mortgage retirement, not fulfilling ambitions, devoted to family?
5. Jenny, Morgan’s sister, younger, Morgan helping bring her up? Her relationship with Jonah? His absence, return, teaching at the school? Jenny pregnant? The gatherings?
6. The focus on Clara, independence, her father, her mother and the arguments? Her friendship with Lexi? The encounters with Miller? Discussions, his girlfriend? Their encounters, the attraction? Miller, moving the signposts for pizza delivery? Clara giving him a lift, meeting his grandfather, his grandfather’s comments? Smoking, lungs, illness?
7. Clara and her devotion to Jenny, the birthday party, the making of the cakes? Clara and her texting Jenny? About Miller? About her mother? The sudden stopping?
8. The accident, the deaths, the revelation of the affair? The impact on Morgan? The impact on Jonah? Not telling Clara? The funerals? Clara leaving, going with Miller, smoking, her mother tracking her on the phone, the confrontation? The further difficulties? Clara and her confiding in Lexi?
9. Miller at the diner, his friendship with Ethan, the showing of the films, the dates, Ethan awkward but skilful with the camera, Lexi and the relationship with Ethan?
10. The baby, Jonah and his devotion, suspecting that the baby was Chris’s? His reaction, separation, yet dependence on Morgan? The cave and the baby? Clara and the baby?
11. Clara, with Miller, the discussions about sex, her inviting him over, the window, the condom, his care, her reluctance? Morgan finding her, the reactions?
12. Morgan and Jonah, mutual support, the love from the past, decorations, the kiss, Clara finding them? Reaction?
13. The drama, Clara and her puzzle about Jenny and the stopping of the texts, the car, her discovering the truth?
14. The awkward birthday party, Morgan inviting Miller, Lexi present, tensions, Miller leaving?
15. The happy ending, everybody together, Miller’s grandfather and the inheritance, the background of studies, Jonah teaching them, scholarship to school, Clara getting in, not telling Miller, his eventually getting in – and his showing of the film, happy times?

TOGETHER 

Australia/US, 2025, 102 minutes, Colour.

Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon Herriman.

Directed by Michael Shanks.

The couple, played by Americans Dave Franco and Alison Brie, actually married for many years in real life, are together in this film in more ways than we might have imagined. Together is being categorised as an example of Body Horror, audiences noting the success of 2024’s Oscar-nominated, The Substance, with Demi Moore.

It is probably more than prudent to state that some of the sequences later in the film, especially a prolonged and intense encounter between the couple in a corridor, are certainly not for the fainthearted. Nor the climactic bodily togetherness that might make audiences aghast. In fact, for this reviewer, they are sequences so visceral that one finds one’s feet pressing towards the floor to get some steadiness and balance. Which, probably, is a compliment to the director and the creator of the special effects.

While the couple seems ordinary enough, both in their mid-30s, he a would-be musician, she a teacher, they move to a country town so that he can compose and go on tour and she will work in the local school. In fact, the writer-director of the Michael Shanks, is Australian and the film was made in the Dandenong ranges at the edge of Melbourne. There are some attractive forest sequences until they become quite sinister, a frightening pit where a local church for a kind of cultish group sank and disappeared under the ground.

But, there is something askew with Tim, Dave Franco, not quite right, dependent on Millie, Alison Brie. And, when they fall down the pit by accident, and he drinks the water, there are strange transformations and nightmares that he experiences. Milly, on the other hand, his practical but is wary that there is something definitely role with Tim.

A teacher at the school, also a neighbour, Jamie, played by Damon Herriman (who has played some sinister characters in his day, including Charles Manson) who offers support – and, finally, some frightening revelations.

The first part of the film intimates some psychological disturbance which will lead into horror experiences. The second part of the film puts the characters and the audience on edge, especially when the first intimations of the bodies basically connecting and needing to be pried apart. The third part of the film brings in the religious and superstitious beliefs and behaviour behind the horror - with some speculation is based on Plato’s philosophy of human beings, and references to his shadows in caves.

Rather different in story and treatment than might have been expected – and, once again, the caution for audiences that some of the sequences are more than disturbing.

1. The title, love, partnership, marriage? And physically literally interpreted?
2. Themes of body horror, religious cults? Supernatural themes?
3. The setting, the mountains and forests, the opening and the forest and search, the pit in the mountains, the submerged Chapel, the interiors, the religious symbols, the paintings and icons, together?
4. The ordinary settings, house, streets, school, railway station, railway lines…? The musical score?
5. The situation, Tim, age 35, his musical ambitions, moderate success, tours, playing the guitar, technical equipment, lack of self-confidence, depending on Millie? Millie, love for Tim, leaving the city, the on-line chat with her sister giving the situation? Her teaching?
6. Indications of tension, Tim and his mental health, dependence, the party, Millie and the proposal, Tim’s hesitation, embarrassment, indication of things to come?
7. Settling into the house, the decision to go for a hike, getting lost, falling into the pit, the injuries, spending the night, drinking the water, the religious symbols, getting out the next day? The consequences for Tim, at home, the sudden fits, spasms, loss of consciousness, nightmares?
8. Millie, at school, meeting Jamie, pleasant friendship, his visit to the house, the drinks?
9. Tim, Millie driving him to the station, the overwhelming experience, leaving his gear, wandering the streets, to the school, the toilet sequence, the little boy, Jamie, the embarrassment? Millie arriving to apologise?
10. The indication of the physical and psychological togetherness, the lakes together in the pit, the pain of separating, the gashes in their legs, the psychological consequences nightmares?
11. Millie, going to Jamie’s house, for the car keys, talking with him, his knowledge of togetherness, the story of his marriage, the photos of the couple, the video, the pastor, the ceremony, then the reality of the merging, Jamie as the combined couple? Billy and her fear, escape?
12. The physical and psychological impact of the merging into one sequences, in the corridor, the two fighting to keep separate, visuals, visual, the effect on the audience watching this merging?
13. Tim, going to the pit, going down, searching, the together icon on the wall?
14. The two returning, trying to remain separate, hanging on, gradually coming together, their willingness to blend, the visuals of their becoming one character?
15. The parents arriving, the one character coming to the door? The future?