Displaying items by tag: Hannah Waddingham

LILO AND STITCH

US, 2025, 108 minutes, Colour.

Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, Chris Sanders, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnusson, Courtney B.Vance, Amy Hill, Tia Carrere, Kaipo Dudoit, Hannah Waddingham, Jason Scott Lee.

Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp.

What is needed these days to make a successful Disney feature for young children? Lilo and Stitch suggests some of the answers. During the 90s, classical stories were popular. We think of Beauty and the Beast, a comic version of Aladdin and The Lion King.

Who are Lilo and Stitch? Stitch is introduced to us first. He is genetic experiment 626, produced by a mad scientist in a galaxy far, far away. The Council banishes him to earth. But, just as we are settling into a mini version of some star wars, the mood changes completely.

We are then introduced to Lilo. She is a young Hawaiian girl who lives with her sister, Nani, with whom she is always quarelling. When Nani allows Lilo to buy a dog, whom does she find in the pound, terrifying all the stray dogs, but Stitch? She has to have him. Together, Lilo and Stitch are able to rustle up quite a bit of mischief and some slapstick comedy.

So, it looks as though we need something from outer space, something alien and a close encounter as well as something slightly exotic here on earth which will finally give us a warm glow as everyone is reconciled, Stitch saves Lilo and the day and we appreciate what it is to be nice and human.

And, of course, this is what happens.

The film-makers stress that the quality that really appealed to them in Hawaii was what the locals call 'ohana', which means a sense of family. Lilo has to learn to love Nani so that they will not be a broken family. Stitch is all alone and what he needs to learn is to belong to a family.

Along the way, we are treated to some exotic characters from the galaxy, including Pleakley, a one-eyed, three-legged expert on Earth and Cobra Bubbles, an ex-CIA operative who has become Lilo's social worker. Nani's boyfriend, David, is a perfectly ordinary surfer who does fire-eating stunts which literally bring part of the house down.

What is attractive about Lilo and Stitch is the use of water colour backgrounds and drawings rather than computerised characters. Lilo idolises Elvis, so there is a pleasing soundtrack of his songs.

In fact, the above is most of the review written for the 2002 animated version -but it also serves here. This 2025 version, is live-action, but following the original plot in great detail. (And, there was the popular television series, 67 episodes, from 2003 to 2006.) And, instead of just voices previously, we have the strong cast of live actors, Maia Keloah a very feisty Lilo and the charmingly energetic Sydney Elizabeth Adugong as her sister, Nani. There are very broad comic turns from Billy Magnusson, especially, and Zach Galifianakis when the two space creatures become human. Tia Carrere who voiced Nani in 2002 now appears as the welfare supervisor. Courtney B.Vance is the CIA agent.

This version is 20 minutes longer than the original but it seems to have been embraced enthusiastically by young viewers in America and in Australia (as well as their parents who were young for the 2002 version?).

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING

US, 2025, 169 minutes, Colour.

Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Trammell Tillman, Angela Bassett, Shea Whigham, Charles Parnell, Mark Gattis, Rolf Saxon, Cary Elwes.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie.

The grand finale.

The spin-off from the very successful television series, with its pounding score and the messages disappearing after five seconds, the first Mission Impossible, the introduction to Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, was released in 1996. Cruise was 33. Now, 2025, the eighth film in the franchise, and here is Cruise in his early 60s, athletic, doing all his stunts, very serious saviour of the world.

There is something of a complex background to this finale, an AI development called The Entity and the danger of its overcoming the human race, and setting off a nuclear holocaust. Luther, Ving Rhames from the past films, is here developing a mechanism to counteract The Entity. But, arch-villain, Gabriel (Esai Morales) wants to conquer the world and has the other piece. The President of the US, Angela Bassett, surrounded by advisers (several British character actors, including Janet McTeer and Mark Gattis) is relying on Ethan Hunt to save the world.

There are various characters who have worked with Ethan in the past, especially Benji, Simon Pegg, and a reunion with Grace, Hayley Atwell. The first part of the film is setting the scene, Hunt building up his team (and some mask removing action scenes). In this film there are quite a number of references to the action in 1996, especially an angry character, Briggs (Shea Whigham) whose father was killed by Hunt (with some flashbacks from the original and Jon Voight). Briggs is working with Kittredge, Henry Czerny, Hunt’s sometime control. But, especially with killer, Pom Klementieff rescued from prison, the team is ready.

The second part of the film has Ethan Hunt underwater most of the time, and some extraordinary stunt work, as he dives into a sunken vessel in the Behring Sea, the difficulties of the depth, compression, breathing, an narrow tube which means that he has to strip down to his boxers! and survive and reach the surface. Ultimate success (but perhaps some realists in the audience wondering about meals, sleep, toilet stops! None of which are shown.)

The last part of the film is action adventure, stunts and CGI, making mission impossible, Mission Impossibler, in fact, Mission Impossiblest. And, with some instant travelling from Europe to Africa, beautiful mountain and valley African locations for the finale, especially with Hunt pursuing Gabriel in light planes, and some ultra-gymnastics as Hunt leaps, dangles, climbs on to Gabriel’s plane, overcomes him, takes the connection to destroy the Entity, tension with the time coming down to the splittest of seconds to save the world.

In the American presidential control room, enormous relief, then a final puzzling scene in Trafalgar Square, Ethan Hunt, each member of his team approaching him, looking knowingly, then turning away… And we wonder actually if he is dead and this is the final tribute to his world saving achievement from his team…

1. Popular 30 year franchise? The television series (and the continued use of the musical theme)? The character of Ethan Hunt, saving the world? Tom Cruise, his presence, performance, stunts, hero-saviour?
2. The development of the character of Ethan Hunt over the decades, this film using flashbacks to the original film, to past films? Tom Cruise at 30 something then 60 something?
3. The locations, Washington and the President, the vast security headquarters? The Arctic, the Behring Sea, underwater photography, the long sequence exploring the submerged vessel, the transition to Africa, the beauty of the scenery, London, Trafalgar Square? The background musical score, sense of excitement, tension, amplified?
4. The explanation of the basic situation about The Entity? Control of the human race? The nuclear danger? The role of Gabriel, wanting power? President of the US, her response, her advisers, the reliance on Ethan Hunt? Those dissenting? The short time to DEFCON, the focus on the clock?
5. Re-introducing Ethan Hunt, his reputation, his achievements, Kittredge, the explanations of his achievement, dangers, deaths, the presence of Briggs, the flashbacks to his father and Hunt causing his death? Refusing to shake hands? Kittredge and Briggs working together, building up to a confrontation? Then a reconciliation?
6. Luther, his presence in the previous films, technical skills, getting older, facing The Entity, the preparation of material for the capture of The Entity? His death? His final message after the achievement and exploding after five seconds? Seen in flashbacks?
7. Benji and Grace, their characters, in the previous films? The team, Grace, pickpocketing, her skills and timing, the relationship with Ethan? Benji, technical skills? The recruiting of Paris, going to the prison, as guards, the masks, the shootout, Capt Bledsoe, the guns, the fight? Paris, her character, killer, speaking in French?
8. The explanation of the strategy, the team possessing Luther’s capture, Gabriel, the confrontations, arrogant personality, his troops, the escape, his possessing the other part of the capture? The explanation of the timing, the split second timing?
9. The background of locating the sunken vessel, the issue of the key, who had the keys? The compass points, the technology, the submarines, Hunt and the various ships, the explanation of the dangers, the cold, compression, revival? The captain of the ship, getting the information, the code? The Admiral supervisor, the collaboration?
10. The team, going to St Matthew Island, the discovery of William Donloe, his wife, his presence 30 years earlier, his achievement on the island? The arrival of the Russians, the buildup to the fight, Don and his transmitting the code, his wife and Grace with the compressor for revival?
11. The long sequence of Hunt underwater, the dangers, the depths, tunnel and his having to remove his clothes, going to the top, unconscious, the revival, Grace and Donloe’s wife?
12. Washington, the dilemmas for the the president, the personalities of her team, the timing, her reliance on Hunt? Different advisers, the decision about bombing the American city, the advisers with the gun, his being shot, the general killed?
13. The tension with Hunt, Gabriel’s arrival, confrontation, his men the shooting, Gabriel and the plane, Hunt in pursuit, the beautiful scenery, the range of highflying stunts, possible or impossible? The battle in the sky, overcoming Gabriel, getting the peace for controlling The Entity? Parachuting down?
14. The fight, Benji wounded, Donloe and his collaboration, Benji giving the directions for the wires, Grace waiting to cut when the signal came through? Down to the final second? The achievement?
15. The president, her decision, not to destroy the town city, the power going off, coming on again, the world saved, her going to inspect the troops, her son?
16. The team, the achievement, Benji and his wound, care, Grace and Hunt?
17. The final sequence, Trafalgar Square, the world saved – did Hunt survive or was this a symbolic death sequence, his meeting once again the significant people in his team?

THE GARFIELD MOVIE

US, 2024, 101 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Chris Pratt, Samuel L.Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillen, Snoop Dogg.

Directed by Mark Dindal.

Garfield the cat.

Once upon a time, the 1970s, Jim Davis created the cartoon, soon on television, computer games, Garfield. Then upon a time, 20 years ago, two feature films with Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield. Now upon a time, 2024, a big budget animated feature with a strong voice cast led by Chris Pratt as Garfield.

Garfield has been described as “greedy, but with a heart of gold”. On the evidence of this film, “gluttonous” (and the fastest gluttony we have ever seen on screen) would be more appropriate. And, as regards the heart of gold, this is not immediately evident, Garfield being very smug and self-satisfied – though, a bit of a spoiler, he is finally redeemed, glimpses of his potential heart of gold.

The story does go back to Garfield when little, abandoned by his street-cat father, Vic (Samuel L.Jackson), and the hungry little creature plaintive at the Italian restaurant window where his about-to-be strong friend, Jon (Nicholas Hoult) is having a lonely meal, opens the window, in comes Garfield and the pizza immediately and instantly munched! The beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Jon and his engaging little dog, Odie, have long been popular in the cartoons. Jon, is the most tolerant of owners, and Odie the most generous of friends, setting up Garfield with heaps (understatement) of food, comfortable armchair, watching Catflix, not a care in the world.

Where could this story possibly go – actually, into quite a lot of action and plot, the story Vic and his entanglement with a British vanity ring cat, Jinx (Hannah Waddingham), a plot to steal a milk truck, a tough police chief called Marge Malone (Cecily Strong), a bull in love (Ving Rhames) and Jinx’s thugs. In fact, plenty of action, the truck getaway, police pursuit, and everyone on a train hurtling towards a bridge.

The emotional key to the story is Garfield’s resentment towards his father leaving, his discovering more of the truth about Vic, reconciliation and happiness – and plenty of food with Jon discovering that he had paid thousands of dollars for drones with food to repel the enemy on the train!

(Which means that this reviewer enjoyed a lot more of Garfield than anticipated!)

THE FALL GUY

US, 2024, 126 minutes, Colour.

Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke.

Directed by David Leitch.

A big-budget, Northern Hemisphere summer blockbuster, action and romance – and plenty of stunts – for a happy popcorn audience. And based on an 8os television series with Lee Majors.

The fall guy is usually the one who has to take the blame but the emphasis here is on stunt men who have to do all kinds of literal falls for the action sequences of the movie. Actually, later it is revealed that Colt Stevens, longtime reliable stuntman, is actually the fall guy for a murder.

And it was filmed in Sydney! Action on the Harbour Bridge. Elaborate futuristic science-fiction stunts in front of the Opera House, action chases on the harbour.

And the star is Ryan Gosling. For 20 years he has been a very serious actor, able to do comedy, and hitting the headlines as Ken, I’m just Ken, in last year’s very popular Barbie. The Fall Guy won’t dent his popularity at all. All kinds of stunts, some deadpan lines, some pining for Jody, the camera director who is now making her first feature film, Metalstorm, an action show which looks like a minor variation on Dune. And she is played with charm and energy by Emily Blunt.

One of the main attractions for The Fall Guy is the range and extent of so many of the stunts, many going on for quite a while. The director of the film, David Leitch, was a stuntman and body doubled in the past, even in Sydney for The Matrix films. One can tell that he is very enthusiastic about all the stunts. And, he was one of the powers behind the original John Wick, so is not afraid of violent confrontations. And, there are quite a lot of those, always serious but is a lot of tongue-in-cheek humorous touches..

Television audiences will have seen Hannah Waddingham in the popular series, Ted Lasso. Here she is the big, upfront, producer, spurring people on, sometimes sweet-talking them, other times manipulating them, ruthless. And, as the action goes on, we discover that she is even more ruthless! And the hero of Metalstorm, is show pony, Tom Ryder, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, full of himself, prone to flattery, unscrupulous – and sporting a very broad Matthew McConnaughy kind of Texan accent.

And the romance pervades the whole film, stuntman and director pining for each other, split, gradually coming together (symbolised by the split screen sequence where with all their talk about the plot of the film and happy ending, they gradually walk towards each other!).

There will be many more American summer movies like The Fall Guy – but this is the one that we have this year. And a drawcard for American tourists to Sydney to see the sights where Ryan Gosling went into action!

1. A popular blockbuster? Action, stunts, intrigue, murder, romance? And a tribute to stunt experts and their performances?
2. Hollywood, the studios, the sets, Sydney, Harbour Bridge, Opera House, harbour, the use of locations?
3. The musical score, songs and lyrics, the theme for the stunts, the theme for Jody? Background to the action?
4. The opening, colt, personality, appearance, manner, getting ready for the stunt, relationship with Jody, her camera work, his voice-over explaining the situation? The harness, his fall, breaking his back? 18 months away, valet parking, the actor who recognised him? The message from Gail inviting him to come back, saying that Jody wanted him as she was directing Metal Storm? The sneer of the actor, Colt in the car swerving? Response to Gail, flying to Sydney?
5. Jody, with the camera, Gael encouraging her, her first feature film, onset, acting like the Dir, discussing the scenes, with the stunt experts, the graph assistant and his abusing people and her rebuke, the action sequences? Setting it up, suddenly seeing Colt, her not expecting him, her reaction?
6. Colt in Sydney, agreeing to the stunt, meeting up with Dan, their discussions, the car and the role, is seeing Jody, her reactions?
7. The romance theme, at the opening, the separation, her reaction, his reasons, the songs and the themes, the conversations about the screenplay echoing their romance, happy endings, the split screen sequence, coming together, the gradual mellowing, the work on the film, his stunts, her reliance on him? The karaoke, his not turning up, her song, upset, in the screenings, ignoring his phone calls? The shock of his being accused of murder?
8. Colt, the stunt work, at the front of the Opera house, the details of the stunt work? Stunts in action, the fights in the hotel room, Alma and the deal, the chase, the stunts, the Harbour Bridge, the streets and crashes? The issue of the phone?
9. Tom Ryder, self-satisfied, star, absent, Colt set to find him, Gail and her intervention, his going to the room, the body in the bath, camera capturing him, seeking the room, the drug connections after his going to the club, the thugs in the truck, his being captured?
10. The revelation of the truth, Tom Ryder, killing his new stunt double, his motivations, the revelation of his setting up Colt is the fall guy? His security henchman, vicious?
11. Colt tied up, dust with petrol, ready to be killed, his blowing the flame to the villain, the petrol in his mouth? The boat, guiding it facing backwards, getting loose, the pursuit about the harbour, the explosion, presumed dead, the media and the reports, the finding of his jacket, a sign for Jody?
12. The final plan against Tom after his return for the film, the setting up of a scene, the close-ups, trapping him, setting him up with the wire, the drive, his confession, the actual stunt and his reaction?
13. Gail, setting up Colt, giving him the plane ticket, her pretences, the meeting with Jody, the fight, unmasked?
14. The film a success, starring Jason Mamoa, the scenes, the reception?
15. The humour of the final credits, the repeat of so many of the sequences – and then the sudden scene of Alma taking stock of the situation and calling for Jason Mamoa’s agent?