Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Now Showing: Ocean Pawn

 

Ocean Pawn
Genre: Action/Superhero/Fantasy
Director: Steven S. DeKnight
Writer: Jack Ryder
Cast: Marisa Abela, Charlie Hunnam, Penelope Cruz, James Spader, Terry Crews, Juliette Binoche, Ronda Rousey, Martin Sensmeier, Gwilym Lee  

Plot: A holographic projection of King W'rusa Kayin (James Spader), ruler of the submerged futuristic army training base, appears. He is a merfolk with a majestic fishtail and sturdy fins. His regal blue scales and green attire gleam while his seaweed-like hair frames his determined expression. Holding a royal staff, he announces their united defense against threats to their sovereignty. The recruits exchange curious glances before resuming their drills with renewed focus and determination.
Amidst the rhythmic clang of training drills and the tranquil whispers of the ocean currents, one figure stands out among the recruits. K'nani Okande (Marisa Abela), merfolk, her lower half adorned with a majestic fish tail and her shoulders adorned with sturdy fins. Her scales boast a sturdy blue hue, while her warrior attire gleams in shades of resilient green. Her hair, a cascade of seaweed-like strands, frames her determined expression. At her side, the hydro-sword glints with an aura of power, a determined warrior, continues her training with unwavering focus even as King W'rusa Kayin's holographic proclamation echoes through the underwater base.

Her movements are fluid and precise, a testament to years of dedicated training in the art of combat. While her comrades pause to listen to the king's words, K'nani remains steadfast, her resolve unyielding in the face of adversity.

As the holographic projection fades, leaving behind only the gentle hum of the base's machinery, K'nani's fellow recruits cast admiring glances her way, impressed by her dedication and determination. Among them, Commander Urooj (Charlie Hunnam), Dolphin Tribe, his lower half adorned with a majestic fish tail and his shoulders graced with sturdy fins. His scales boast a sturdy blue hue, a testament to his deep connection with the ocean depths. Clad in vibrant green warrior attire, he exudes an aura of strength and resilience. At his side, a hydro-blaster gleams, a sleek weapon harnessing the power of the sea, observes K'nani's movements with keen interest, his gaze lingering on her with a hint of admiration. He sees her trying to improve her water magic.

There's a subtle shift in the commander's demeanor as he watches K'nani navigate the training grounds with grace and precision. It's not just her skill that captures his attention, but something deeper—an undeniable attraction that he finds impossible to ignore.

As they train, Urooj senses a connection with K'nani, seeing in her a kindred spirit. He recognizes her potential as a leader and nods to her to lead a practice drill, with fellow recruits following her.

But before they can begin, chaos erupts as the training base is suddenly besieged by a rogue group. With lightning speed, the attackers strike, their weapons flashing in the dim underwater light as they inflict damage upon the base.

K'nani reacts swiftly, her training kicking into high gear as she wields her futuristic sword with precision. Unlike traditional blades, hers gleams with radiant energy, its blade forged from a shimmering alloy that seems to dance with light as it cuts through the water. Embedded within the sword's hilt are hydrodynamic channels, allowing it to slice through the water with unparalleled ease.

Beside her, Urooj unleashes a barrage of energy blasts from his blaster, his movements fluid and precise. But it's not just their weapons that prove formidable—K'nani and Urooj harness their superpowers with skill and finesse.

As the rogue group closes in, Urooj channels his intense vibration power, sending shockwaves rippling through the water with devastating force. With a flick of her wrist, K'nani unleashes the electrifying charge of her sword, sending arcs of electricity crackling through the water to shock her opponents into submission.

The battle rages on, a mesmerizing display of strength and strategy as K'nani and Urooj fight side by side, their unity and determination shining brightly amidst the chaos of combat. And when the dust settles, it is K'nani and Urooj who emerge victorious.

During the defense of the Aquatic Citadel, holographic projectors broadcast the battle to citizens. Urooj and the young warrior K'nani Okande fight together, with K'nani becoming a beacon of strength amidst the chaos. The citizens watch in admiration, but Unooma Okande (Juliette Binoche) looks on with visible disdain. Despite Unooma's resentment, citizens are captivated by the bravery of Urooj and K'nani.

In the opulent chamber of the royal palace, King W'rusa Kayin sits on his throne, surrounded by his councilors. Among them is Queen Phalinus Kayin (Penelope Cruz), her presence a stark contrast to the king's charismatic yet conniving demeanor. Though they sit side by side, there is a palpable distance between them, their relationship strained by years of political maneuvering and mutual distrust.

As the councilors express their concerns about the recent attacks and growing unrest among the public, King listens thoughtfully. He devises a solution to quell the rising dissent, suggesting a tournament of strength. The spectacle will distract the populace from their fears and serve as a means to solidify his power. Warriors from other tribes will be invited to participate, showcasing the kingdom's strength and unity.

However, the king's intentions are not just limited to the tournament. He announces that Commander Urooj will also be granted a spot in the competition in a contemptuous tone. To the king, Urooj's role in defending the training base is nothing more than child's play.

The king then turns his attention to K'nani with an unsettling gaze, displaying his power. He fast-tracks her training and declares that she will be joining the Pawns unit. This move is designed to bolster public opinion and satisfy his perverse desires.

In her home, K'nani is confronted by Unooma, who berates her for lying about her intentions to join the military. Unooma reminds K'nani of the family's painful history with warfare, bearing the weight of her husband's memory and the loss of their eldest son, both revered warriors of their tribe. K'nani stands firm, justifying her decision as a calling to defend the kingdom against those who would threaten its peace. However, their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of military officials, who announce that the king has fast-tracked K'nani's training. With a sense of dread, K'nani prepares for her new role in the military. We see her donning the official military attire with determination etched on her face. She completes her enrollment process with a sense of solemnity, signing her name on the documents that seal her fate.

Next, we witness K'nani's entrance into the Echo Room, a chamber of significance where enlistees proclaim their allegiance to their unit and kingdom. As she steps forward, her voice rings out with clarity and pride, "Private K'nani Okande, reporting for duty in the Ocean Pawn unit."

Her declaration reverberates through the chamber, echoing off the walls with a sense of finality. And then, in a mesmerizing display of magic, her words are encapsulated within a shimmering water bubble, preserving her identity and allegiance for eternity.

But as K'nani watches her bubble join the ranks of countless others, a pang of emotion tugs at her heart. With no one watching, she searches among the bubbles until her gaze settles on two others, bearing the name "Okande."

As the evening unfolds, K'nani finds herself amidst the opulent surroundings of the royal banquet hall, where she and Urooj have been invited to dine with the King and his esteemed council. The air is thick with anticipation as well-wishes are exchanged, particularly directed towards Urooj for his upcoming participation in the tournament.

Amidst the festivities, the dynamic between Queen and Urooj is palpable—a camaraderie that some may interpret as something more than mere friendship. Meanwhile, the King's demeanor toward Urooj is laced with thinly veiled insults and demeaning remarks, a subtle display of his disdain for the esteemed warrior.

But it's not just Urooj who draws the King's attention—K'nani finds herself the object of his unusual interest. The King seeks excuses to engage her in conversation, his touch lingering longer than necessary, his presence encroaching upon her personal space.

Alone on the balcony, K'nani finds herself in the King's company, his small talk masking an underlying tension that sends a shiver down her spine. As he moves closer, his actions become increasingly inappropriate, culminating in an unwelcome embrace and an attempted kiss on her cheek from behind.

But K'nani's instincts kick in, and she pushes the King away, her defiance sparking a flash of anger in his eyes. As the tension mounts on the balcony, Urooj appears, his sharp intuition sensing the discomfort in the air. With a knowing glance exchanged between them, he intervenes, excusing himself and K'nani under the pretense of urgent military matters.

With a sense of relief, K'nani follows Urooj's lead, grateful for his timely intervention. As they walk away from the fraught encounter, Urooj subtly reassures K'nani that they are needed elsewhere, his words carrying a sense of urgency that leaves no room for further questioning.

It's clear to K'nani that Urooj understands the gravity of the situation and is keen to protect her from the King's unwanted advances. As they make their hasty retreat from the palace, she can't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards her fellow warrior, knowing that she has an ally she can trust in the tumultuous waters of the royal court.

Urooj briefs the unit for an impending attack on a rebel outpost, but a royal message interrupts their plans, the message being King urgently needs 10 soldiers from this team, Urooj knows this is the repercussions from before. Urooj drafts K'nani into the attack team, despite being short-handed due to the King's demands. The unit sets out for the outpost and divides into different teams upon arrival, charging into the outpost while K'nani and her backup team remain on standby.

Initially, Urooj and his team make quick work of the initial defenses, but they soon realize they have underestimated the rebel forces. As the battle intensifies, they find themselves outnumbered and trapped in a fierce firefight.

Meanwhile, K'nani and her team face their challenges as they fend off waves of approaching rebels. In a display of her unique abilities, K'nani manipulates the water around them, creating a barrier that provides much-needed distance between them and the enemy.
As K'nani's team is engulfed by the whirlpools, she struggles to maintain consciousness. Through the chaos, she notices a flash of purple darting into the base before darkness envelops her.

When she regains consciousness, K'nani finds herself surrounded by a group of Shark People, their sleek bodies shimmering in the water. Standing among them is Zwaan Raazki (Martin Sensmeier), the Shark Ambassador, his imposing figure adorned with gray and white rugged scales, and a prominent shark fin adorning his back. His presence exudes strength and authority as he addresses K'nani with a wry remark about Urooj's haste.

Meanwhile, inside the base, Urooj finds himself locked in combat with a formidable adversary. The Octo-Folk he faces is a striking sight, with sinuous tentacles emerging from his lower body and a humanoid upper body adorned with purple and blue iridescent scales. His movements are swift and graceful as he creates whirlpools and jets of water to gain the upper hand against Urooj.

Despite Urooj's attempts to use his echolocation to disrupt his opponent's attacks, the Octo-Folk remains relentless. With a sinking feeling, Urooj recognizes his foe as Water Hawk (Terry Crews), one of the top rebel leaders known for his ruthless tactics and powerful abilities. As Hawk stands triumphant over him, Urooj realizes that their mission has just become infinitely more dangerous.

As Zwaan and K'nani's team charge through the base, Zwaan dispatches any opponents with effortless grace, his formidable strength and skill evident with every strike. They finally reach the chamber where Urooj and Hawk are locked in combat, and the sight that greets them is horrifying.

Water Hawk, with a cruel smile on his face, delivers a devastating blow to Urooj, breaking his back with brutal force. The scene sends a surge of horror through K'nani, her scream echoing with raw intensity. In her anguish, she taps into her latent powers, summoning a powerful air bubble that throws Hawk off balance and inflicts significant damage upon him.

In the chaos, Hawk turns his attention to K'nani, his eyes narrowing with recognition. With a cruel smile, he says now he knows why the aura of the water smelt similar, it's the same as of the Father-Son duo that came after him a few years ago, the fools thought they would catch Hawk, I don't think anyone even found a single bone of the "Okande" duo after I was done with them while finishing his sentence he attacks K'nani, K'nani is a bit distraught with tears coming out of her eyes, as she prepares to fight, Zwaan passes by her and hits Hawk. Zwaan and Urooj are also hit by the revelation that they didn't identify K'nani being from the same Okande family. Zwaan and Hawk fight blow to blow. A weakened Hawk is still too much for Zwaan, K'nani then joins the fight using her powers but back to the level they were before. soon, K'nani and Zwaan can knock Hawk down unconscious, they take him back with them to the capital while they are more worried about Urooj who is taken to intensive care.

K'nani tries to meet Urooj but is surprised to see that no one is given entry at the moment even the announcement broadcasters, when K'nani sneaks in she finds Queen Phalinus crying while hugging a lying Urooj, They see K'nani coming and correct themselves. Queen gives a kiss to Urooj on cheek and leaves. K'nani asks how Urooj is feeling and while they talk everyone else enters the room. They notice the lips mark on Urooj and think it's given by K'nani. One of them asks what he is gonna do about the tournament. He announces that he can't take part in it anymore but he has found a fighter to replace him, the people start asking who to which Urooj raises the hand of K'nani saying she is the fighter. K'nani is surprised but she knows she can make him proud.

K'nani goes to her home, where her mother is still angry at her for joining the military. There's a long silence which is broken by K'nani saying she knows what happened to his father and brother to which her mother starts bawling, they embrace each other and comfort themselves. After some time K'nani is called to the palace and given a special access card to be used in the palace lift.
Using the access card, K’nani enters a top-floor room in the Palace, where she sees half-naked women of various species partying. She walks further and finds the King with two women on his bed. The King praises her for capturing Hawk and joining the tournament. He tries to seduce her by offering her a spot in the Elite Knights squad if she agrees to join him and his ladies. K’nani rejects him firmly and warns him not to touch her again, or she will humiliate him in front of everyone. She leaves the Palace, while the King fumes with rage.

The King instructs a broadcast manager to smear K’nani, the fighter as Urooj’s lover. The next day, the broadcast praises Zwaan and mocks K’nani’s achievements and motives, showing footage of her and Urooj in the hospital. The Queen smiles slyly, while K’nani is angry but aware of the King’s schemeK'nani is furious but understands it's a ploy from the King.

Day of the tournament, 8 participants will participate in one of fights 4 will move forward, and then 2 will meet in the finale. K'nani and Okande meet her first opponent, Marisya Thalassa (Ronda Rousey) a Dolphin Tribe fighter, it's said before she became a tournament fighter she used to fight in lawless underground fights. K'nani notices that King's messenger is leaving the room of Marisya.

The arena crackles with energy as K'nani and Marisya Thalassa face off, their determination palpable in the charged atmosphere. As the signal is given, the fighters spring into action, their movements fluid and precise.

As the fight begins, Marisya wastes no time in launching a ferocious assault, her strikes coming fast and hard as she seeks to assert her dominance over K'nani. With each blow, she aims to inflict pain and leave a lasting mark on her opponent.

Despite Marisya's aggressive onslaught, K'nani remains vigilant, her defenses holding strong against the barrage of attacks. Frustration builds within Marisya as her strikes fail to find their mark, her relentless assault met with resilience and determination from K'nani.

Unwilling to concede defeat, Marisya resorts to dirty tactics, aiming to exploit any weakness in K'nani's defenses. With a cunning smirk, she delivers a low blow, hoping to catch K'nani off guard and gain the upper hand.

The blow lands with a sickening thud, sending a jolt of pain coursing through K'nani's body. But despite the pain, K'nani refuses to falter, her resolve only strengthening as she taps into her latent powers.

With each passing moment, K'nani's control over the water around her grows stronger, her movements becoming more fluid and precise. Sensing victory within her grasp, she retaliates against Marisya's aggression, her strikes fueled by a newfound determination to overcome her opponent.

As the fight reaches its climax, K'nani's mastery over her powers becomes undeniable. With a surge of energy, she unleashes a devastating counterattack, catching Marisya off guard and leaving her reeling.

But even in defeat, Marisya refuses to go down without a fight. As the final bell rings, she delivers one last vicious blow, aiming to break something within K'nani and leave her mark on the fight. On the other hand, Zwaan makes easy work of his opponent in the first round.

K’nani, faces Arvan Selachi (Gwilym Lee), an Octo-Folk Elite Knight, in the next round. Despite her pain from the previous fight, K’nani is determined to win. But Arvan surprises everyone by forfeiting, claiming he is injured. He later confesses to K’nani that the King ordered Marisya to hurt her and gave him her medical report, suggesting he could kill her in the fight. Arvan refuses to fight dishonorably.

The final match is between K’nani and Zwaan, a hushed anticipation falls over the arena, the crowd on the edge of their seats as they witness the clash between these two formidable opponents. With a nod of mutual respect, they jump in the ring, each combatant displaying a mastery of their respective skills.
The fight unfolds with a thrilling display of speed and strength, their movements agile and powerful as they dart through the water, trading blows with unparalleled skill. Zwaan, relying on his shark-like attributes, unleashes a barrage of attacks, using his sharp teeth, fins, and tail to inflict damage on K’nani.
K’nani, fueled by determination and unwavering resolve, counters Zwaan’s attacks, surprising both the audience and the King with her tenacity and prowess. She uses her merfolk abilities to manipulate the water, creating shields, blades, and blasts of water to defend and attack Zwaan.
Their exchanges are a spectacle of ferocious strikes and cunning tactics, each fighter using the water to their advantage, creating waves, bubbles, and whirlpools to distract, confuse, and attack their opponent. The arena roars with the sound of their clashes, the intensity of their battle drawing the rapt attention of all who bear witness.
In a breathtaking moment of clarity, K’nani taps into her latent powers, harnessing the water around her with precision and control. With a deft flick of her wrist, she creates a massive sphere of water, enclosing Zwaan in its watery prison.
Caught off guard by K’nani’s sudden display of elemental mastery, Zwaan struggles to escape the sphere, but to no avail. K’nani then unleashes a final blow, sending a powerful jet of water piercing through the sphere, hitting Zwaan in the chest with astonishing force.
Zwaan is flung out of the bubble and out of the stadium, landing on the ground with a loud thud. The crowd erupts into thunderous applause as K’nani emerges victorious.

In the aftermath of the battle, K'nani stands tall amidst the cheers of the crowd.
As the celebration fills the arena with jubilation, the King's fury simmers beneath the surface, his dissatisfaction boiling over as he descends upon the coronation ceremony. Seizing the mic with a steely grip, he shatters the illusion of victory, declaring that the true test of strength has yet to be faced.

With a flourish, the King unveils a mysterious box, shrouded in secrecy, and from within emerges none other than Water Hawk, the notorious Rebel leader. The crowd's astonishment is palpable as the King unveils his final challenger, his words dripping with arrogance and disdain.
As the King's proclamation echoes through the arena, a ripple of shock courses through the crowd at the unexpected turn of events. Water Hawk, released from his confines, steps forward with an air of defiance, his eyes burning with determination as he accepts the King's challenge. With a sinister grin, the King offers a tantalizing promise: should Water Hawk emerge victorious, he will walk free, absolved of his crimes and granted his freedom.

As the tension mounts, the King's council bristles with indignation, their protests silenced by the King's ominous display of power where he creates air bubbles surrounding them cutting their water supply. K'nani, weary from the trials and tribulations of the tournament, watches in dismay as the King manipulates the crowd to his will, the weight of his tyranny pressing down upon her.

With resolve in her heart, K'nani steps forward to face her ultimate adversary. The battle begins in a whirlwind of chaos, as Hawk unleashes a torrent of whirlpools infused with hidden knives, his ruthless tactics pushing K'nani to her limits.

But K'nani refuses to yield, her determination shining through as she deftly evades Hawk's attacks, her movements guided by a steely resolve. As the battle rages on, K'nani finds her opening, her relentless assault driving Hawk to the brink of exhaustion.

Yet, just as victory seems within reach, K'nani is struck down by a sudden surge of water, the King's dark magic manipulating the battlefield to his advantage. Undeterred, K'nani presses on, her spirit unbroken as she channels the King's tactics against him.

With a surge of power, K'nani creates an air bubble similar to a water bubble like last but instead of water it has air around Hawk, leaving him gasping for breath, she tortures him for some time slowly making him grasp for breath and then she delivers the decisive blow. In a stunning display of skill and determination, K'nani emerges victorious.

The atmosphere is electric as K'nani stands tall amidst the cheering crowd. She fixes her gaze on the King who quickly retreats from her intense glare. With a triumphant smile on her face, she reaches out to grab the medal and exclaims, "K'nani Okande, Ocean Pawn!" Her voice echoes through the stadium, and the audience erupts into a deafening cheer.


Monday, October 14, 2024

Release: Baby Teeth

 

Baby Teeth
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Director: Olivia Wilde
Writer: Rosie JoLove
Based on the novel by Zoje Stage
Cast: Margot Robbie, Vivien Lyra Blair, Jack O'Connell, Julia Stiles, Giancarlo Esposito, Glenn Close, Jessica Raine




Budget: $46,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $62,190,066
Foreign Box Office: $38,048,530
Total Profit: $2,105,005

Reaction: The 18th film from writer Rosie JoLove has managed to earn a small profit for the studio despite Margot Robbie's salary inflating the budget of the film more than the studio initially was hoping to spend on this one.



"Baby Teeth is a shockingly long, incredibly unfocused film - a horror-thriller that will leave the audience more frustrated than frightened. The few eerie, creepy moments the story manages to conjure up are quickly undercut by clunky moments and poor pacing. Margot Robbie is decent in the lead role, but the film becomes repetitive with how it focuses on the daughter's manipulative behavior and Robbie's reaction to it." - Gregory Fletcher, Los Angeles Times-Journal


"Margot Robbie delivers an outstanding performance despite being given a poorly developed role. However, the film itself is a chaotic disappointment. It's frequently tedious, with an inconsistent villain and lackluster thrills and scares that fail to make any impact. I found myself questioning why I even bothered to leave my bed to watch it—aside from the paycheck, of course." - Jim Kent, Log Cabin Democrat



"Baby Teeth occasionally develops an appropriately unsettling atmosphere and some tension, but Rosie JoLove's script and Olivia Wilde's direction have no clue how to pay any of it off for the viewer. Plot developments that should take a scene or two in a normal film take 5-10 scenes here, resulting in a bloated and slow-paced thriller lacking the chilling, psychological intensity it is desperately aiming for." - Ken Hammerschmidt, Washington Post








Rated R for violence, sexual content, language and disturbing content involving a child





Top 10 Animal Animated Films

 

Sherman J. Pearson here for another Top 10. Earlier this round, Scrappy became the 10th animated film featuring animal main characters according to my records, so I decided to take a look and see how they all stack up together.

Top 10 Animal Animated Films
10. The Banded Ants 2 - The Mortal Enemy
9. Bringing About Discord
8. Oh Deer
7. The Banded Ants 3 - Showdown
6. Calvin and Hobbes
5. Scrappy
4. Khumba the Flying Zebra
3. Raptor Red
2. The Banded Ants
1. The Big Top

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Now Showing: Baby Teeth

 

Baby Teeth
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Director: Olivia Wilde
Writer: Rosie JoLove
Based on the novel by Zoje Stage
Cast: Margot Robbie, Vivien Lyra Blair, Jack O'Connell, Julia Stiles, Giancarlo Esposito, Glenn Close, Jessica Raine

Plot: Suzette walks her daughter Hanna through the hospital to her next appointment. The doctor greets them. Hanna’s scan had been clear. He advises that they begin to search for a psychological, rather than a physical, reason for Hanna’s mutism. He recommends a child psychologist named Dr. Beatrix Yamamoto. Since Hanna’s been kicked out of preschools and kindergartens for strange, aggressive behavior, Suzette leaps at the prospect of controlling her daughter’s bizarre outbursts.

Hanna sees her mother’s disapproval. Mommy thinks Hanna’s defective. In Hanna’s eyes, schools and babysitters were ways for Mommy to get rid of her.

While Mommy’s getting ready for a party, Hanna puts on her own dress, hoping to join. When Mommy says no, Hanna steals a pair of diamond earrings, hiding them in her toy. Then Abha, a young college student, arrives. Mommy acts nervous, leaving her but then flees out the door. From the stairs, Hanna stares intensely.

Abha comes into the bathroom to the sound of shrieks finding a pile of Hanna’s feces on the floor. Abha puts her to bed and then reads her a story. As she got up, Hanna pulled hard on her long black hair. Abha managed to pull away but quickly left, disturbed. Abha was the last babysitter.

The next day, Suzette decides to take Hanna with her to Trader Joe’s. Hanna ricochets through the aisles in search of chocolate. They passed a mother comforting a crying toddler. Hanna stops to look at the child, who lashes out. Before Suzette can intervene, Hanna wallops the toddler. Apologetic and deeply ashamed, Suzette hurries her daughter through the checkout aisle. Hanna hums happily over her blueberries, returning to the angelic face she puts on in front of Alex.

Hanna wants to play in the sizeable walled-in garden, but Mommy tells her it’s time for school. When Mommy asks her to spell love, Hanna writes hate. When she asks for summer, Hanna spells bitch. Mommy’s smile melted as Hanna wrote, “Fuck Mommy. She’s weak and stupid”.

Horrified, Mommy orders her to read by herself. Hanna likes reading about the ancient Egyptians. It reminds her of the medieval witches she’d researched on Daddy’s computer. Hanna especially liked Marie-Anne Dufosset, the girl who’d been the last witch in France.

Suzette loves to clean the pristine bathroom in their beautiful house. Suzette had met her husband Alex when Suzette worked as an interior designer. On their second date, she’d told him about the health problems that had plagued her since she was young. Her depressive mother had ignored her symptoms until her intense pain forced them to go to the ER. After emergency bowel surgery, she’d develop a fistula. She’d lived with the open intestinal wound for four years, becoming ashamed and reclusive. Alex saw strength in her survival, and they were soon engaged. Suzette quit working when she became pregnant. The pregnancy aggravated her Crohn’s, spending nine months in pain. She wondered if her resentment towards her baby had somehow hurt Hanna.

Hanna knocked on the bathroom door over and over. When Suzette finally answered, annoyed, Hanna whispered, “I’m not Hanna,” rolling her eyes until only the whites showed. To her surprise, her mother swung the door closed in her face. Hanna retreated to her father’s office until he came home. He hugged her, calling her “squirrely girl.” Hanna wanted to marry him when she grew up, and Mommy went away.

Suzette couldn’t wait to talk to Alex alone as they ate their pasta dinner. Yet as he talked about his architecture firm’s newest project, she realized she couldn’t hold it in. “Hanna talked.” As she described the episode, Alex’s joy turned to confusion, but he comforted her when Hanna mutely denied everything. Later, with Hanna in bed, exhausted, Suzette explained how Hanna behaved differently from her. Alex agreed that a psychologist might help and suggested they try one more school, Sunnybridge. Hanna had already been expelled after five weeks from expensive Green Hill Academy for behaving aggressively with the other children. Not long after, Suzette had been forced to withdraw from the Frick School. Suzette thought longingly of how she could spend her days without Hanna gardening or developing new skills.

In her cozy room, Hanna’s father read her a bedtime story. Her favorite was about an “UnderSlumberBumbleBeast” that lived amongst the detritus under children’s beds. She had tried to attract it with barrettes and socks, but her mother always cleaned everything up. In the night, she heard strange grunts from her parent’s room. She decided it was time for a new project. She crept into their room in the morning and took a photo of her mother as she lay naked. When Mommy woke startled, she whispered, “My name. Is Marie-Anne. Dufosset. Don’t forget”.

Over coffee, Suzette tried to put Hanna’s newest words aside and focus on the day. She decided they would visit Sunnybridge that afternoon. Suzette wanted to enroll her as soon as possible. When Alex asked her to wait until after the summer, she broke down, asking him if he knew who Marie-Anne Dufosset was, feeling tired. She googled the name in the shower, and when she read that she was a 17th-century French witch, Suzette realized she was in a game of “Scare Mommy.” Alex offered to stay home, but she told him she’d cope.

Hanna hated preschool. They’d promised it’d be fun, but the other children were annoying. She particularly disliked one girl she nicknamed Sunshine for her long blond hair. Sunshine liked fruit punch, so she gave her a cup of water mixed with red paint. She loathed her squeaky teacher at the next school and pretended to faint. Now she was older though, she might have fun at this new school.

Suzette was unimpressed by the dingy, underfunded school hallways. Forced to wear thrift store clothes, her mother had prevented her from doing any normal teenage activities. When her fistula developed, she had spent years alone in her room, only going to the Art Institute after her wound had healed. She struggled to be the parent she hadn’t had, and the memory of her mother’s early death from sepsis haunted her. She contemplated her ragged school years as they waited to speak to the principal.

The principal Mrs. Wade appeared and welcomed them. After exchanging some pleasantries, Mrs. Wade asked Hanna how she felt about starting first grade. In response, Hanna barked like a vicious dog. Suzette prepares to flee in embarrassment. Mrs. Wade gently tells her that she believes Hanna might do better at Tisdale School, a place for children whose needs aren’t addressed. Relieved, Suzette promised to call the principal, Dr. Gutierrez, as soon as possible.

When they got home, Hanna wondered why her mother was so happy. When she agreed to let Hanna work in her room, Hanna decided to implement her plan. Hanna printed out Mommy’s naked photo that morning and photos of women in coffins and dead children that Hanna had found online. Cutting and gluing, she collaged them together, with Mommy’s photo in the middle. When Mommy came in, she was horrified. Mommy warned her to tell her father. When she left, Hanna began to twist her own arm, smirking.

Suzette waited in the tub for Alex to return. Realizing she needed to act as an adult, she rose to get her phone and dialed her husband. She described the college and told him to come home. Hanna emerged from her room as Suzette did the washing. Suzette tried to compose herself and tell Hanna things would improve when she went to school. Still, Hanna began to bark again and even tried to bite Suzette. She held her back, eventually pushing her into the backyard, where she locked her outside. She was disturbed to feel sudden hatred for her daughter. When Alex came home, he let Hanna back in. She showed him the bruise on her arm. Horrified, he took Hanna upstairs, ignoring her apologies and pleas.

Dinner’s tense. Hanna’s mother told Daddy she had barked at the Sunnybridge principal and wanted to send her somewhere called the Tisdale School. Daddy looked shocked as Mommy said that Hanna scares her sometimes. That night, she shows Daddy how she had been building a nest for the UnderSlumberBumbleBeast. He told her he would tell Mommy not to clean it up. Later that night, she heard her parents arguing. Soon, however, their voices turned to grunts and moans. She crept into the living room and saw them entwined together. She began to wonder if she could get rid of Mommy by making her ugly.

Suzette woke refreshed in the morning. Then she saw her hair on the pillow. In the night, Hanna had cut off several chunks. Frustrated and wondering how to salvage the hair she had left, Suzette does her morning medicine injection, then sternly tells Hanna that they’re going to school. Tisdale was an ordinary enough school. When they met Dr. Gutierrez, Hanna growled, but he told her that he liked dogs. They toured the school, and Hanna enjoyed the garden and Bouncy Room. Feeling optimistic, Suzette enrolled Hanna immediately, and then they headed to the hairdresser.

Hanna thought she had been two when it happened. It was lunchtime, and Mommy was feeding her. She played a game where she threw the grapes and cheese across the room. Mommy scolded her, so Hanna took some food, chewed it into a glob, and then spit it in her face. Mommy took the mush and shoved it in her mouth, holding her hand over Hanna’s mouth so she couldn’t breathe. When she realized what she was doing, she took her hand away, horrified and apologized. But Hanna never forgot.

They both took naps after their long day. Suzette woke to the sounds of sexual moaning coming from Hanna’s room. Disturbed, she rushed in. Hanna was naked on the bed, writhing as if having sex. She shouted that the devil was visiting her, putting his thing in her to give her power. Horrified beyond words, Suzette ran to the bathroom to vomit. It was time to call Dr. Yamamoto. When she answered, she asked for an emergency appointment. Dr. Yamamoto told her she could see her that Monday and asked what the matter was. When Suzette described the most recent events, she asked whether sexual abuse could happen. Suzette said she wasn’t sure. Suzette spent the rest of the day cleaning.

Mommy showed Daddy her new short hair at dinner and explained how Hanna had cut it off. Then they talked about her new school. Hanna liked it, but she thought the other children seemed weird. She wished that she could turn into a giant tree and kill them to have school to herself.

That night, Daddy brought her a potato to be her UnderSlumberBumbleBeast. Hanna was thrilled. Before bed, she set her alarm to wake her at three a.m. It was time for the third phase of her plan. After some difficulty, she went to the kitchen and opened one of Mommy’s pill bottles. With great care, she opened each capsule and replaced the insides with flour. The next day, they went school shopping, and when Mommy said no to a new bathing suit, Hanna grinned, knowing what she had done.

The pain Suzette felt when during her pregnancy was extreme. Her Crohn’s spread to her throat when she stopped her injections, which had threatened the baby. Now, Suzette started to feel a flare-up starts. She took extra Imodium pills, but with no effect. Mommy tried to get Hanna excited on the way to school but ignored her. After she dropped her off with her teacher Mrs. Atwood, Suzette bought easy-to-digest food and went home to clean. Alex had told her to leave Hanna’s room alone for a while, but the temptation was too great. When she found the detritus under her bed, she swept it all up. Mommy found a strange potato and, in horror, thought it might be a voodoo doll. She threw it away, telling herself to remain calm.

All the adults at Tisdale talked to Hanna like she was stupid. She was surrounded by weird kids all the time. Mommy looked happy when she picked her up, so she told her that Hanna would cast a spell to kill the other kids if she was sent back. Mommy ignored her and drove her to the house of a strange, skinny woman named Beatrix. She was left alone in a room full of toys.

Suzette found Dr. Beatrix Yamamoto’s office cozy. Beatrix was calm and friendly as she explained Hanna’s silence and her new invisible friend Marie-Anne. Beatrix left to talk to Hanna on her own, and Alex arrived and joined Suzette. Though the psychiatrist had been kind, Suzette felt she was on trial as a wife and mother. When Beatrix returns, Suzette explains believing Hanna has adopted Marie-Anne’s alter-ego. She has started speaking, but she is still not ready to communicate. When they got home, Hanna fled to her room. She emerged in tears, holding the crushed potato creature in her hands. Alex, furious with Suzette, explained that it had been the UnderSlumberBumbleBeast. Suzette apologized, feeling genuinely guilty, as Alex comforted their sobbing daughter.

Daddy let Hanna watch Star Trek on the sofa bed, and Mommy came in later with sorbet. She and Daddy talked about how her Imodium pills weren’t working and how Mommy lost patience with Hanna. Daddy seemed angry at Mommy, which made Hanna happy. Hanna spent the next week at school miserable, except when she was sent to the Quiet Room for misbehaving. Mommy went to the doctor and got new pills. Hanna started thinking of new ways to hurt Mommy. At school, she was sent to the Quiet Room to research poison. A kid named Ian, who wore a red helmet, was already there. He interested her, and when the aid left them alone briefly, she took off his helmet and began barking at him like a dog. Incredibly upset, the boy smashed his head repeatedly on the wall. He was bleeding by the time the aid returned.

Alex and Suzette were called in for a meeting with Mr. G. After explaining what had happened, he told them they’d need to withdraw Hanna. Alex was outraged, though Suzette was apologetic. On the way home, Alex told Suzette that he thought Hanna had learned to be violent from the other children. Still, Suzette told him Alex was in denial. Alex left for the gym in a huff, and Suzette told Hanna that he was mad and she was becoming a disappointment. When Alex returned, they all had dinner, and he apologized for being unsupportive.

In the morning, Hanna woke up early to get her revenge. Part one was easy, but she worried she would not be strong enough to hit Mommy with the hammer for part two. She positioned herself outside her parents’ bedroom and screamed.

At the sound of screaming, Suzette leaped out of bed. In an instant, pain filled her vision, and she fell back onto the mattress. Tiny, colored dots covered her feet. Thumbtacks. Hanna entered, clutching a hammer. Suzette screamed that she would call the police, and Hanna ran. Alex was in an interview when Hanna called him in hysterics. She had pulled out the tacks when he arrived home and helped bandage her feet. They called Beatrix. She told them that they could always take Hanna to a hospital if Suzette was in danger and that she would try to give them a diagnosis on Monday. Suzette wondered once again where she had gone wrong with Hanna. She asked Alex to take care of Hanna, but he apologized for how oblivious he had been. He promised to work with her from then on.

Daddy came downstairs, looking as sad as Mommy usually did. But when Hanna came over to him, he brightened. As they ate pancakes, Daddy asked why she had hurt Mommy. He told her that this Sunday was Walpurgis, the Swedish bonfire night and that if she drew a picture of Marie-Anne, they could throw it into the fire and make her disappear. Hanna agreed but was not sure how to draw Marie-Anne. Then, she thought of the picture of Mommy that she had. If she threw it into the fire, torn into little pieces, maybe she could make Mommy disappear.

Alex came into the bedroom to tell Suzette he was leaving to pick up supplies for Walpurgis. Suzette initially protested, but she eventually agreed when he explained the idea of exorcising Marie-Anne.

In the morning, Hanna hated how affectionate he was with Mommy. Daddy felt distant when he read her a story that night. Mommy apologized for pushing her too fast to go to school, but Hanna knew that was not enough. Then she offered to help Hanna draw the picture of Marie-Anne. Hanna had been having trouble, so she agreed. Mommy sketched the outline of a girl and let Hanna fill her in with color. Despite herself, Hanna was impressed by how talented Mommy was. The finished product felt real, and she was proud.

On Sunday morning, Suzette sat at the table and sketched ideas for a book. She sipped from a goblet of champagne. Outside, Alex prepared for the bonfire. As it got dark, he made open-faced sandwiches for them all. Suzette hobbled out on her crutches and sat by the fire, finally feeling relaxed as she watched her family celebrate. As she watched the fire, she remembered a strange dream from the night before. In it, she had been entrusted with the care of a girl named Greta, a strange, emaciated young woman covered in old burns. It had unnerved her, and now that it was time to burn Marie-Anne’s image, she felt frightened. Alex put on a great show of condemning Marie-Anne as Hanna tossed the picture into the flames. Hanna then also threw in what looked like a handful of confetti. Suzette spilled wine on herself a moment later, and Alex rushed inside to grab a towel. Then, Hanna stepped in front of her and began mouthing silent words. Marie-Anne was not gone yet.

Hanna knew that alcohol was an accelerant. Prodding the flames with a stick, she threw burning coals on Mommy. She screamed as Hanna hurled more and more. Then suddenly, Hanna was in the air and coming down hard with a bump. Daddy had thrown her, and now he was asking Mommy, who had a big red hole on her cheek, if she wanted to go to urgent care. Hanna’s wrist hurt when she fell on it. They all went in the car to the hospital. The doctor bandaged her wrist and said it was sprained.

The next day was the therapist’s appointment. Suzette’s doctor told her she might have a slight scar after the wound healed. When she asked about all of Suzette’s injuries, pressing whether someone was hurting her at home, Suzette reluctantly explained about Hanna’s violence.

Hanna liked Beatrix, who didn’t speak down to her like the other adults. When Beatrix asked how Hanna saw Mommy, she drew a picture of an ugly witch casting a Daddy spell. Beatrix asked whether she wanted Mommy gone or dead, and Hanna nodded enthusiastically.

In Beatrix’s office, Alex and Suzette explained the Walpurgis celebration gone wrong. Alex began to panic as he talked, but Beatrix silenced him. She told them that the situation had become too unstable, and they should consider a facility for Hanna. They were both shocked, and Alex asked whether Beatrix thought Hanna was a psychopath. She carefully explained that she could only give a preliminary diagnosis; still, she thinks it’s likely they’re dealing with either psychopathy or sociopathy. The prior was genetic and “marked by more-aggressive, remorseless traits.” Simultaneously, the latter was acquired by brain injury or abuse and was characterized by manipulation. She suggested that Marshes, a nearby, state-of-the-art mental health facility for children, might be the right option for them. There were horses and 24/7 care. Alex initially resisted, brokenhearted at the idea of sending Hanna away for months or even years. Still, Suzette insisted they treat her mental illness like any other medical issue. Hanna needed care, and this was the only option. She suggested that they pack her things, take her on Wednesday, and make up a story so Hanna wouldn’t resist.

Mommy and Daddy were weirdly nice to Hanna when they got home. On Tuesday, Mommy helped her make a new UnderSlumberBumbleBeast out of felt, cotton, and buttons. When he was finished, Hanna immediately fell in love and named him Skog, the Swedish word for forest. On Wednesday, they went for a drive. Mommy dressed her in her best clothes and fell asleep as the car meandered through the countryside. They finally arrived at some official-looking buildings at the top of a hill. Hanna hated it on sight, but her parents took her inside, where they were greeted by two old women, one with bright white teeth and the other with dingy brown. Brown Teeth, whose name was Audrey, offered to show Hanna around, and she said goodbye to her parents. Brown Teeth took her to a bedroom and began to unpack bags of Hanna’s things, explaining that this was Hanna’s new home. Horrified, Hanna ran outside in time to watch her parents’ car pull down the driveway. She screamed, clutching Skog, as Brown Teeth finally caught up to her and brought her back inside.

Suzette met with Beatrix later that week to discuss Hanna’s progress and her own feelings. She told her that she felt guilty, and her daughter’s absence felt like a missing limb. But after the first week, Suzette and Alex’s anguish softened into relief. Suzette began baking for them both, and Alex shaved off his beard. They felt relaxed with one another. One day, Suzette found an empty Imodium capsule in the flour jar and realized what Hanna had done. Things were getting better, though, and Suzette had been diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency and felt her old energy returning.

Hanna had to protect Skog at Marshes. She clutched him close at night when she couldn’t sleep. The adults spent days asking her questions about herself and her family. Hanna believes she is being punished for not fitting in. One afternoon, when an older girl punched her shoulder on the playground, Hanna ran inside for comfort from Skog. At that moment, she decided she’d do anything to leave Marshes.

Alex and Suzette were eating ice cream when the call from Marshes came. The voice on the other end, small and fragile, was Hanna. They were both shocked as she apologized and asked to come home. They explained carefully that she needed to be there for her own good. Alex nearly gave in, but Suzette told him to stay healthy. She knew she couldn’t face Hanna coming home, though she kept this unforgivable thought to herself. When Hanna asked if Suzette loved her, she told her not enough and hung up the phone.

Hanna had thought her voice would be enough. They didn’t want her anymore. Crying, she realized that Mommy had finally bewitched Daddy. She whispered to Skog that it was time for a new plan. They would have to be very good, so Hanna could go home and save Daddy. She would pretend to be the best girl ever. And then she would have revenge.


Release: Scrappy

 

Scrappy
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy
Director: Chris Wedge
Writer: Jacob Jones
Voice Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kristen Schaal, Denis Leary, Will Arnett, Halle Bailey, Ramy Youssef, James Earl Jones






Budget: $75,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $69,199,857
Foreign Box Office: $144,938,003
Total Profit: $36,295,599

Reaction: Finally some solid numbers at the box office this season, which got off to a rough start in Round 1. This is the fourth profitable animated film in a row for writer Jacob Jones (not counting his producing role on The Big Top).



"The animation may not be the best at times (almost straight-to-DVD if you ask me), but the story is nice enough, as is it's message, with a more than talented cast makes SCRAPPY a must-watch for family across the board." - Tiffany Lynch, Knoxville News Sentinel





"Scrappy's globe-trotting adventure comes across as disjointed and, in the end, pointless. The script drags viewers through a tiresome, repetitive journey that feels as unfulfilling as its protagonist's search for purpose. The characters were entertaining, but the story needed more work - especially the ending, which I found frustrating and rendered the film's entire adventure aimless." - Dave Manning, Ridgefield Press




"Scrappy presents a mostly formulaic storyline filled with endearing, but one-dimensional, characters. The final message of the story, while heartfelt, lacks subtlety. I did appreciate the wacky, adventurous tone of the story. The film is just missing that one extra kernel to push it into the realm of great." - Charles Yost, Oregonian









Rated PG for some mild action and thematic elements





Saturday, October 12, 2024

In Development

 


God of War III - Part One: Katy O'Brian (Love Lies Bleeding, Twisters), Lizzy Caplan (The Woman Upstairs, Crush) and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Pulp, Pirate Latitudes) are set to round out the supporting cast of the latest film in the God of War video game adaptation franchise. Andy Serkis is directing from an adaptation from Wesley Campbell.

Animal Farm: Joining the voice cast of the Orwell adaptation Animal Farm will be Sally Hawkins (Risico, Revelations), Rhys Ifans (Thorne, Kingmaker Chronicles) and Ciaran Hinds (The Sandman: Season of Mists, An Eye For An Eye). Hawkins and Ifans will voice a pair of hourses, while Hinds is voicing a donkey. Genndy Tarakovsky is helming the animated film from an adaptation by Meirad Tako.

The Life Survey: Jesse Plemons (Gas Bar Blues, Miracles) and Christopher Walken (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Silver Surfer: The Power Cosmic) have been cast in a new drama, The Life Survey. Plemons will play a young man called in to take part in a mysterious survey conducted by Walken's character. Spike Jonze (The Untitled Paul Nichols Project, Calamity) is set to direct the film from an original story by Wyatt Allen (The Untitled Paul Nichols Project, A German Tragedy).

Ghost Rider: Damnation: Aaron Paul (Ghost Rider, Outlaw Country), Emma Greenwell (Ghost Rider, Rattlesnake) and David Denman (Queen Margot, Ghost Rider) are all set to return for the sequel to Season 21's Ghost Rider. Paul is back as the title character, Danny Ketch aka Ghost Rider. Greenwell is back as Ketch's sister Barbara and Denman is back as Detroit Police Detective Badalino. Ilya Naishuller (Ghost Rider, Wolfenstein) is returning to direct the Marvel Universe production, once again penned by Mark Newton (Gears of War 2, Pompeii).

Saving Yemen: Adam Sandler (Five Boroughs, D.I.C.K.) and Reese Witherspoon (Idlewood Ranch, The Youngest Hart) are set to headline the new comedy Saving Yemen from writer Jacob Jones (Scrappy, The Scam of Success) director Jeremiah Zagar (Hustle, We the Animals), making his LRF debut. The film tells the story of an American family man who becomes President of the war-torn country of Yemen while on vacation. Witherspoon will play his bewildered wife.

Ecstasy: Jenna Ortega (Tomato Can, Her Dying Wish) is set to headline Ecstasy, a modern teen adaptation of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, as the film's version of Daisy. Joining her will be Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Scarlet, After Everything) as Gatsby and Dominic Sessa (Anarchy, Love Is Embarrassing), hoping to improve his LRF track record, as Nick. Megan Park (Flick, My Old Ass) is directing the film, which will be the second effort as a writer from Diane Esposito (The Shadow).

Now Showing: Scrappy

 

Scrappy
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy
Director: Chris Wedge
Writer: Jacob Jones
Voice Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kristen Schaal, Denis Leary, Will Arnett, Halle Bailey, Ramy Youssef, James Earl Jones

Plot: Rain pours in the streets of Los Angeles, as thunder and lightning lash out into dusk. As the storm continues, a squirrel scatters about, in search of some sort of shelter. Along the way, he runs into several obstacles, including a car splashing water onto him and even a rabid cat. By morning, a tired and beaten squirrel arrives at a tree by a local park, only to be greeted by the last creature he wants to hear the chipper voice of Silly (Kristen Schaal), another squirrel in the area.

Scrappy (Dwayne Johnson) does his best to fake a grin as the two climb up the tree, leading into the clear topic of the day, it’s raining. Silly is excited for the biggest storm of the year, while Scrappy has severe reservations, not unjustified either. Silly thinks Scrappy just needs to settle down and take in the sights and sounds of “home”. To Scrappy, this includes barking dogs, screaming children and annoying cars.

After some time, the storm comes to an end and the sun comes out, temporarily blinding Scrappy. Wanting to greet the world properly, Silly bids farewell to Scrappy and scampers off. Already feeling defeated about the day, Scrappy grabs onto the nearest acorn and trudges out of the tree. He maneuvers through the many people and their pets, hoping to escape the rush when hears several loud barks. Several pitbulls have surrounded Pugster (Kevin Hart), threatening to do a number on him. Scrappy steps in, warning them to leave the dog alone or he’ll find someone to take care of them. Not wanting any trouble, the pitbulls head off.

Pugster thanks Scrappy for the help, mentioning how the pitbulls got at him for a dog food issue. Scrappy appears nonchalant as he climbs up Pugster’s back. Despite initially not wanting to tell, Pugster’s insistence causes him to relent, admitting that he feels each day feels the same. He wants to know if there’s some sort of meaning and purpose to his life. Eventually, Pugster gets an idea, telling Scrappy that they should visit Hopper (James Earl Jones).

Scrappy is unimpressed, not willing to believe that a magical talking frog will solve all his problems. “Next you’ll tell me that if I wish upon a star, my dreams’ll come true, right?” Silly returns, having ‘befriended’ a pitbull, only for them to chase the three up a tree.

Up there, Pugster tells the legend of Hopper, a wise old frog who many people claim knows the meaning and purpose of life. Those who follow his teachings can find greater being and obtain higher knowledge.

“Sounds great! What’s the catch?” Scrappy asks.

“Oh yeah, that, uh, no one knows where he lives.” Pugster admits.

Silly then gets the idea to find Hopper and learn his teachings. Outnumbered (and in desperate need of something to do), Scrappy accepts the offer. First, they need to figure out their pitbull problem. One that is quickly solved when a rabbit named Cottontail (Denis Leary) hops into view, picking a fight with the pitbull and chasing him away. Pugster thanks Cottontail for the help, only for him to chase the dog for calling him a bunny.

Silly and Scrappy discuss where Hopper might be, with Scrappy suggesting they go around the world to find him. This is enough to get Cottontail and Pugster’s attention as Cottontail calls Scrappy crazy for even suggesting it. “I know, but if we don’t do something, it’s gonna be a boring day.” Scrappy states. To add some sort of incentive, Silly offers Cottontail a carrot once the trip is over. With that, Cottontail accepts and the four animals begin to make plans.

The next day, the animals put their plan into action, sneaking onto an airport dressed up as a businessman, stumbling onto an airplane. As they take their seat, Pugster claims that he has to go to the bathroom, Cottontail warns him not to or else he’ll shove a carrot down his-

“Hey now, let’s be nice!” Silly warns, claiming that kids may be watching. Scrappy merely looks out the window, wondering what this meaning and purpose of life is. When the plane lands, the animals make a run down the street until they find themselves in Canada, or as Cottontail calls it “Cuhneda”.

Hours pass by, and the group is doing no better on their trek. Pugster calls for a break, only for Silly to claim she can get further ground by flying. True to her word, Silly begins flying about in the sky, the others chasing after her through cars, buses and even horses before finally reaching the forests. Silly is having the time of her life gliding about before crashing onto a moose walking through the forests.

Upon hearing a larger crashing sound, the rest of the group scamper into the forest. Eventually, Scrappy finds a fallen tree, a dazed Silly and a moose on the ground. Scrappy calls for someone to wake the moose up, only for Cottontail to kick him. Surprisingly, this causes the moose to awaken as he excitedly rambles about how a flying mouse came to visit.

It soon dawns on the moose that Silly is not a mouse and he cowers in fear. Silly curls up towards the mighty creature and tries to calm him down. The moose sees her and, fully believing she’s a ball, trots away, bouncing Silly all the while. The group follow the mammal, attempting to stop him, all while Silly is being slammed onto mud, ant hills and even rocks before convincing the moose to stop so she can explain.

When the group finally reach Silly and the moose, they’re surprised to find they’ve formed a friendship and learn that the moose’s name is Caillou (Will Arnett). Caillou reveals that Silly told him about their quest to find “Mr. Hooper” and offers to help, claiming to have many talents proceeding to kick Cottontail to the nearest tree. Stunned, Scrappy welcomes Caillou to…whatever this is.

The critters soon venture off in search of Hopper, finding no luck every which way they go, all while listening to Pugster, Cottontail and Caillou banter. Despite appearing at the end of his rope, Scrappy calms himself, suggesting that they look for a boat and set sail. Excited, Pugster starts singing a sea shanty as Cottontail happens upon a small boat full of people.

Caillou absent-mindedly walks in, freaking out a child and causing everyone to flee, leaving the boat free for the animals. From there, “Captain Scrappy” (affectionately named by Pugster and Silly) sets sail. To where? Who knows. On their trip, the gang come across a terrible thunderstorm. The animals all do their best to pilot the ship, only to be engulfed by the waves.

Some time later, Scrappy is awakened to the sound of hisses, horrified to find he’s trapped in a snake’s clutch. She apologizes, not intending to squeeze him so much and introduces herself as Sultra (Hailee Bailey), a snake in Kenya. Scrappy then learns that a kindly eagle saw what had become of their ship and carried them to safety.

“He did run into a few complications.” Sultra sheepishly admits, pointing to Silly coughing up a fish, but that all is well (although noticeably, Silly is lot more snarky when checked on).

With Sultra as their guide, the gang venture to Kenya, observing all the animals and the human activities. Scrappy even picks up a few African words, much to his surprise. Things go terribly awry however when Caillou ventures off to a lion’s den, trying to sneak past one in order to play a joke.

“CAILLOU LOOK OUT!” Silly calls out, pointing to a ravenous lion who has discovered Caillou’s presence.

Caillou runs for his life, screaming for help. The other animals rush to his aid, Caillou standing at the top of a cliff, a group of lions circling towards him when Cottontail swoops in, grabbing one lion by the tail and pummeling him, sending him up and over the cliff and forcing the others to flee. Overly grateful, Caillou asks Cottontail how he can repay him.

“For one, you can get twenty feet away from me.” Cottontail answers, before admitting he’s glad that he’s safe.

The group all converge together when to everyone’s shock, Silly berates Caillou for putting himself through this, saying that he could’ve died. Pugster tries to calm things down, but Silly storms off, having grown “tired” of everything. Scrappy opts to go look for her, scurrying through the grasslands before finding Silly slumped by a watering hole. Silly asks Scrappy if he’s here to yell at her. Scrappy isn’t, wanting to know what’s going on.

“Lets see, I crashed into a moose, tasted rock, dirt, mud and even a fish, nearly watched someone I cared about get eaten and just embarrassed myself in front of everybody, need I go on?” Scrappy insists that Silly not. Silly admits that she feels like the biggest liability on this team. Everyone’s contributed something to this and now, it feels like she’s holding them back.

In a moment of sincerity, Scrappy tells Silly that she hasn’t held anyone back. If anything, it’s because of her that Caillou and Cottontail are on their team. If anything, she’s probably the most important one around. Silly thanks Scrappy for the pick up, but it’s clear something’s still on her chest.
Silly confesses that all her life, she’s felt like she has to stay positive in order to keep something good going and when things aren’t going her way, she gets stressed before finally exploding.

Scrappy says that it’s not healthy to bottle things up, so he tries not to. He’s not a therapist or a guidance counselor, but his idea of being honest is knowing when something’s wrong and when it’s enough. Silly thanks Scrappy, giving him a hug…

“Y’know, you’re a big softy under that grumpy face of yours!” Silly quips.

“Yeah, yeah,” an embarrassed Scrappy mutters, “just don’t mention it to the others, okay?”

Too little, too late as Pugster jokes about the squirrels going nutty for each other. Silly apologizes to the group and they make amends. Pugster then reveals that she found a map lying around while everything went on, handing it to Scrappy. Everyone climbs onto Caillou and the group venture off into the Savannah.

The days pass by and the grass turns into sand as Caillou collapses by a pyramid. Sultra looks around, finding they’re in Egypt. Caillou groans, begging for water. Sultra and Scrappy opt to stay by Caillou while the others seek help. As the hours roll by, Scrappy begins to succumb to the heat, seeing Sultra as a long string of cheese and Caillou as roast beef.

Just before Scrappy becomes irrecoverably delirious, Pugster and Silly swarm in, carrying their friend away. Caillou and Sultra follow suit, watching Scrappy go in and out of consciousness before being splashed into the water.

When Scrappy wakes up, he’s greeted by a camel named Omar (Ramy Youssef) asking if he enjoys the water. Caillou sure is, thanking Omar for sharing the waterhole. Scrappy then falls back to sleep. When he wakes up again, Scrappy finds that the watering hole is gone. Scrappy questions how this is possible…

“My, my, what a thirsty squirrel!” Omar calls out, claiming that Scrappy drank all the water from the hole. Scrappy claims innocence, only for Omar to emerge, having played a trick. In actuality, he’s back by the pyramids. At the end of his brain capacity, Scrappy asks Omar if he knows anything about Hopper. Unfortunately, Omar has no recollection of a frog named Hopper.

Defeated, Scrappy walks off, having given up the quest. Pugster tries to bring him back, but it’s hopeless. They don’t even have a way home. They can take it from here, he’ll find his own way. As the rest of the group travel on their own, a sandstorm begins, blinding everyone involved. Despite their best efforts, they struggle through the sand, Cottontail nearly being blown away at times. Things get worse when a group of buzzards in need of some lunch swarm in. Realizing what they need to do, Silly flies off in search of Scrappy.

Among the dust and sand, Silly finds Scrappy by the pyramids, calling for help. Scrappy, not wanting to interfere any further, resists.

“Why should I help you after I turned you all away?!” Scrappy cries out.

“Because you’re our friend.” Silly says, reaching out to him.

Scrappy hesitantly reaches out to Silly, being whisked to the scene, his friends trapped in the eye of the storm, the buzzards swarming around, ready for a feast.

“HEY YOU!” Scrappy calls out, storming towards the scene. “Leave my friends alone.”

The buzzards turn their attention to the squirrels, intrigued by a potential appetizer, only for Silly to take flight, confusing the buzzards with her aerial moves. Scrappy motions for Cottontail to knock some sense into the birds. Disaster ensues when a buzzard breaks free and swoops up from the sky, scratching Silly with his talons.

With Scrappy all alone, the buzzards circle him, preparing for his end, only for Pugster to rush in, barking about and chasing the buzzards before Caillou and Omar kick them out of sight. As the sandstorm ends, the gang go in search of Silly, Sultra finding her among the sand. Scrappy picks her up, the group fearing her dead.

Except, Silly’s not. The sand cushioned the fall. She has a scratch and is a little shaken up but is fine. Scrappy thanks everyone for the help, finally admitting that they’re all really good friends. Pugster tells Scrappy that he’s been a friend to them. It only makes sense. That evening, Scrappy and Silly look up at the stars, Scrappy admitting that he doesn’t really care if they find Hopper or not at this point. All that matters is that they’re safe.

Several days later, the group venture off into the ether, their search for Hopper continuing until finally, they wind up back in Los Angeles, perplexing Scrappy. The group wander into the park, not much having changed when Pugster notices something. He walks up to it, before excitedly calling for everyone to follow him. As it turns out, Hopper has been by the pond all along.

At first, Scrappy is disappointed, realizing that they went through all this trouble for a pond. Hopper is quick to point out that some trouble is worth going through to get what you want.

“I mean, you’re right…but it kinda feels like it was all for nothing, y’know?”

“Oh, but you have earned something!” Hopper proclaims, having heard of their journey through other critters, opting not to intervene as he wanted them to discover the meaning and purpose of life themselves. “And it seems, you have succeeded.” Hopper claims, observing Scrappy’s new friends.

So, what is the meaning and purpose of life? For some, it’s as simple as jumping from pad to pad, or as complex as a trip around the world. But the journey is worth less if you have not earned something along the way. Friendship, camaraderie, devotion to the other, that’s what was gained in this adventure, and if you let it in, Hopper finds that you can reach your own summit, improving on yourself and becoming better from where you started.

Everyone agrees, satisfied with Hopper’s teaching and heads off. Scrappy stays behind, thinking to himself when Silly calls for him. Scrappy rushes up to the gang, sitting on top of Omar as they observe a beautiful sunset. With that, Pugster asks Scrappy a question.

“You think this is what friendship is like?”

Scrappy stops, stares at the others and smiles.

“Yes, yes it is.”