• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Film
  • DVD
  • Editorial
  • About ScreenFish

ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • News
  • OtherFish
  • Podcast
  • Give

Michael Cera

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank – Fast and Furry-ous

July 14, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Learning to be a hero can be a funny thing.

Set in a remote village during the age of the samurai, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank tells the story of Hank (Michael Cera), a struggling young hound who yearns to become a hero. When he’s hired as the town samurai in an area filled with cats, the inexperienced pup finds himself in over his head and in need of a mentor. Enter his reluctant teacher, Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson), a once-great master who has fallen on hard times. As Hank enters into his contract with Jimbo, soon he must jump into action as a ruthless villain (Ricky Gervais) attempts to wipe their village off the map.

Ricky Gervais as “Ika Chu” and George Takei as “Ohga” in Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.

Although Paws of Fury seems like a carbon copy of the long running Kung Fu Panda franchise, the two storys are very different in their style and execution. Yes, the story of an unworthy animal taking on the role of samurai feels familiar but Fury’s penchant for self-awareness keeps the film fresh. In a lot of ways, the film is as much of a parody of western and samurai films as much as it seeks to emulate them. Fueled by meta-humor and rapid-fire jokes, Fury understands the tropes of the genre and addresses them with a winking eye. (At one point, as the music swells, Hank even pauses to point out that this ‘must be the part of the film for the training montage’.) Although the film may lean too heavily on ‘potty jokes’ in parts—the final battle takes place on a toilet, for example—there’s a surprising sharpness to the film that keeps it entertaining.

Although admittedly some of the performances lack bite (looking at you, Gervais), Fury is anchored by an absolutely fun pairing in Cera and Jackson. Throughout his career, Michael Cera has crafted his own unique style of humour and his self-deprecating nature works well for the inexperienced Hank. Held up against Samuel L Jackson’s no-nonsense Jimbo (a subtle nod to Kurosawa’s Yojimbo), Cera’s ‘fish out of water’ energy brings balance to their performances and there’s some genuine chemistry between the two veterans.

Kylie Kuioka as “Emiko” and Michelle Yeoh as “Yuki” in Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.

At its heart, Fury speaks to the importance of humility. After Hank finally seems to have some success, it goes straight to his ego. Beginning to believe the hype about himself, he insists that he has already achieved greatness. But his inability to see the truth about himself makes him reckless. Missed training sessions and general arrogance causes Hank to make mistakes that potentially damage the same people he’s called to protect. (“Pride comes before a fall,“ warns Jimbo.) As such, Fury recognizes that true greatness begins when we’re willing to own our weaknesses as well as our strengths.

Where Fury succeeds most, however, is in its call to see past the external. Here, almost every character seems to be judged by their appearance (and for different reasons). Because he’s a dog, the people don’t consider Hank to be an appropriate choice for their samurai. At the same time, Emiko (Kylie Kuioka) is not taken seriously by the townsfolk because of her gender and age. (Even Jimbo is largely considered a failure because of his catnip habit and out of shape physique.) In this way, Fury addresses the pain and ignorance caused by racial and gender stereotypes. Due to their own blinders, the citizens of this world refuse to believe that anything—or anyone—different is as good as they are. However, as they begin to see past the appearances of others, so too do they begin to see the value in one another. In fact, they even begin to celebrate each other‘s differences. (For instance, at one point, Jimbo even realizes that he must train Hank to use his unique skills as a dog to be the best samurai that he can be as opposed to his more traditional ‘cat training’.)

Gabriel Iglesias as “Chuck” and Aasif Mandvi as “Ichiro” in Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.

Although it doesn’t have the seriousness or emotional impact of some other recent kids fare, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank has a fire to it that makes it work. Fast and furry-ous with its humor, the film’s endless stream of silliness and pop culture references keeps the film moving and should delight children of all ages. 

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is available in theatres on Friday, July 15th, 2022.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Djimon Hounsou, Gabriel Iglesias, George Takei, Kylie Kuoika, Michael Cera, Michelle Yeoh, Paws of Fury, Ricky Gervais, Samuel L. Jackson

GIVEAWAY! Advance Screening of PAWS OF FURY!

June 24, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Celebrate #InternationalCatDay with some Fury!

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is a fun and furry-ous adventure and we’re giving away passes to see it before it’s released in theatres! Thanks to our friends at TARO PR, we’re giving away family passes of 4 to see Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank in Toronto, Montreal (French and English), Calgary, and Vancouver on Saturday, July 9th, 2022!

DATE
Saturday, July 9th, 2022

LOCATION
Toronto – 10:30am @ Yorkdale Cineplex Cinemas
Vancouver – 10:30am @ Cineplex Cinemas Metropolis
Montreal ENG – 10:30am @ Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal
Montreal FRE – 10:30am @ Cinéma Starcité Montréal
Calgary – 10:30am @ Scotiabank Theatre Chinook

A hard-on-his-luck hound Hank (Michael Cera) finds himself in a town full of cats who need a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain’s (Ricky Gervais) evil plot to wipe their village off the map.  With help from a reluctant teacher (Samuel L. Jackson) to train him, our underdog must assume the role of town samurai and team up with the villagers to save the day. The only problem… cats hate dogs! Also starring Mel Brooks, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, Kylie Kuioka, and Cathy Shim.

Kylie Kuioka as “Emiko” and Michelle Yeoh as “Yuki” in Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.

In order to enter, simply tell us your city, like/share this post on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram and tell us the name of the actor who plays Hank!

Winners will receive a family pass of 4 to the pre-screening of Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank on Saturday, July 9th, 2022

All entries must be received by 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 6th, 2022.

#PawsofFury
pawsoffurymovie.com/

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Giveaways Tagged With: Dijon Hounsou, George Takei, Kylie Kuioka, Mel Brooks, Michael Cera, Michelle Yeoh, Paws of Fury, Ricky Gervais, Samuel L. Jackson, The Legend of Hank

Cryptozoo: Acceptance and [Animated] Reality

August 20, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Set in a world where humans and mythical creatures call cryptids exist together, Cryptozoo follows Lauren (Lake Bell), a woman who has built a zoo specifically designed to showcase these otherworldly beings to the world. When Lauren hears of a military plot to capture a dream-eating legendary creature called a Baku, she partners with a cryptid named Phoebe (Angelika Papoulia) and sets out to rescue the beast and return it to her zoo.

Written and directed by Dash Shaw, Cryptozoo is a wild and mostly compelling look at the things that divide us and what it means to bring people together. Despite emphasizing adult themes, Shaw’s animation feels both unique and familiar. With a style reminiscent of children’s books, there’s a different kind of beauty to the film as its details and bright water colours highlight the innocence and joy of nature. However, the film’s tone also leans into something far darker and more mature. As such, Shaw never allows you to get comfortable with the area either. Animated sexuality, violence and more highlight the edgier aspects and ground the film within the real world. The result is something both intriguing and off-putting as the viewer remains dazzled by its style yet never fully comfortable either.

Admittedly, the animation here feels far more remarkable than the performances of its voice cast. Although the film has some incredible talent, vocal work here doesn’t particularly excite. (Although Angelika Papoulia turns in some solid work as the earnest and frustrated Phoebe.) 

What is most interesting about Cryptozoo though, is its commentary on the nature of acceptance. Although the development of the Cryptozoo began with the intention to bridge the gap between humans and cryptids, the facility has not accomplished its goal. Instead, the zoo’s middle ground philosophy has actually offended both sides. On the one hand, there are those who despise all cryptids and seek their destruction. (“People fear what they do not understand,” we’re reminded.) This sort of hatred is openly toxic. On the other hand though, when held up against Phoebe’s earnestness, the more subtle danger may stem from Lauren herself. 

Although Lauren adores cryptids and sees them as valuable parts of the world that need to be cherished, her zoo still creates barriers. To her, the zoo is a “necessary stepping stone” to acceptance. Allow people to see them in captivity and they’ll know that they’re not so bad, she reasons. However, whereas Lauren’s vision seems noble, it falls short when partnered with Phoebe’s more hopeful dream. Despite the hopes behind the development of the zoo, Phoebe argues that acceptance doesn’t come at a distance. As a medusa-like character who wants to marry a human, she doesn’t believe that she should have to hide who she is in order to make others comfortable. To Phoebe, the goal is simply to live in peace with others. As a result, Phoebe’s more wholistic dream of togetherness exposes the fact that Lauren’s vision falls short. (In fact, it borders on segregation.) In this way, the film becomes a metaphor for acceptance of others, despite the differences that intimidate us.

Beautifully crafted and executed, Cryptozoo is certainly one of the more creative animated ventures this year. Though, its mature storytelling is what sets it apart. This is not your typical animated fare. Shaw has very specific cultural conversations that he wants to explore and he willing to lean into the darkness in order to do so.

Cryptozoo is available on demand and in select theatres on Friday, August 20th, 2021.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Angelika Papoulia, Cryptozoo, Dash Shaw, Lake Bell, Michael Cera

Primary Sidebar

THE SF NEWS

Get a special look, just for you.

sf podcast

Hot Off the Press

  • Arctic: Our Frozen World – Baby, It’s Cold Outside
  • Dear Edward: Sitting in Sadness, but Never Alone
  • 80 for Brady: Silly & Sweet and an Absolute Score
  • Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls: Fresh Take, Same Quest
  • Knock at the Cabin: Knocking on Heaven’s Door
Find tickets and showtimes on Fandango.

where faith and film are intertwined

film and television carry stories which remind us of the stories God has woven since the beginning of time. come with us on a journey to see where faith and film are intertwined.

Footer

ScreenFish Articles

Arctic: Our Frozen World – Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Dear Edward: Sitting in Sadness, but Never Alone

  • About ScreenFish
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 · ScreenFish.net · Built by Aaron Lee

 

Loading Comments...