ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Kristen Bell

6.10 Into the Unknown of FROZEN II

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Six years after her powers are revealed, FROZEN II reacquaints us with Queen Elsa as she hears a mysterious siren song that calls her into the unknown. When Elsa responds, she inadvertently creates a disaster that forces them to leave their beloved Arendelle behind. As Elsa, Anna and their friends run off into the dark night, they soon discover that, in order to bring peace to the nation, they also must uncover the terrifying truth about their family history and growing up. This week, Steve welcomes back Miriam Ibrahim and Amanda Jane Smith to talk about the fear of change, being on our own together and healing the sins of our past. 

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

6.10 Frozen IIDownload

More than an hour of special features accompany the Blu-ray combo pack with outtakes, deleted scenes, deleted songs, music videos, and “Did You Know?” to get you started with the experience!

The soundtrack was certified Gold by the R.I.A.A., as the only Oscar-nominated film’s soundtrack that went #1 on the Billboard charts in 2019. “Into the Unknown” (by Idina Menzel) was certified gold, and is part of the soundtrack that has been streamed 1.7 billion times, explaining how it went gold and platinum in Japan, Korea, Philippines, China, Germany, UK and Canada.

Watch the film and sing along!

Bad Moms: Freed for What?

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badmoms

“Moms don’t quit. Quitting is for dads!”

That’s basically the summation of the latest raunchy comedy wrapped around a message about independence, freedom, and friendship. For everyone who ever wished there was an Old School or a Bridesmaids for moms, the minds behind The Hangover deliver… Bad Moms.

Interestingly enough, Bad Moms is the story delivered by writer/directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. In a film about women finding their own voice, there’s some irony there – but it still carries with it some hilarious moments, some “did they just…?” moments, and some stand-up-and-cheer moments. That’s thanks to a witty script and the diverse assembly of actresses that Universal unleashed.

BAD MOMS

Amy Mitchell (Mila Kunis) is the steady half of a marriage – she takes care of the kids from sunup to sundown, works full-time for part-time pay, and takes care of her husband, David Walton’s Mike, who is even more juvenile than her children. When Mike betrays her with an online tryst, Amy snaps, kicking him out, and launching into a wild thrill ride with the hyper-sexualized Carla (Kathryn Hahn) and the repressed Kiki (Kristen Bell) that involves too much drinking, bad choices, and recognizing that she’s not perfect.

Up against Amy in her fight for individuality and motherhood is the picture of snide perfection, Christina Applegate’s condescendingly ominous Gwendolyn James and her two cronies, Stacy (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Vicky (Amy Mumolo). Gwendolyn controls everything about the school, including the soccer coach (J.J. Watts in a hilarious cameo) and the principal (Wendell Pierce). But Amy is not alone – and that’s before she starts romancing single dad Jessie (Jay Hernandez).

While we recognize that Amy has been unfairly treated – by her husband and others in her life, she begins to see that finding herself and her space in life doesn’t have to be at the cost of everything. There’s a balance she comes to that grounds the film: yes, she doesn’t have to be a perfect mom but she still has responsibilities, purpose, and meaning even when she feels like all is lost. Amy is a mom – even if she thinks she’s a bad one!

And just in case you’re worried… Bad Dads is due in July 2017!

You can also see the real life stars interview their real life moms, laugh along with the gag reel, and check out deleted scenes. It just might change how you see motherhood… or not. 

The Boss: The Melissa McCarthy Pattern

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theboss

Let’s consider the post-Bridesmaids chart of Melissa McCarthy vehicles: Identity Thief (good). The Heat (hilarious). Tammy (forgettable). St. Vincent (good). Spy (hilarious). Of course, the next film is The Boss… and it falls into the “forgettable” category, setting up McCarthy’s next film in the good-to-hilarious pattern. (Here’s looking at you, Ghostbusters.)

McCarthy stars as Michelle Darnell, a money-wrangling, speech-giving sociopath (okay, that’s a little strong), who tangles with her ex-mentor/lover, Renault (Peter Dinklage), one too many times. He reports her to the SEC, and she’s left with nothing. No one likes her. But her sympathetic ex-assistant Claire (Veronica Mars, er, Kristen Bell) and her daughter take in the homeless ex-billionaire. And then she takes over the knockoff Girl Scout group and we watch a movie about Darnell and Claire sparring as their brownie (get it?) company takes off.

Sadly, for all of my love for McCarthy and Bell, the film just isn’t funny. I rarely consider anything with Dinklage uninteresting, but this just doesn’t fly. Again, it’s written by McCarthy and her director husband, Ben Falcone, who also helped write and direct Tammy. Uh-oh. Is anyone else seeing a pattern here?

If anything, there’s something to be said for a billionaire who gets their comeuppance, but I don’t know if that’s clever enough for the populace. Right now, our political heavyweights are entertaining enough on their own.

For those fans who wade through and want more, there’s still an original sketch (Darnell was McCarthy’s Groundlings creation), more Dinklage, and the Gag Reel (sadly, the funniest part).