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will arnett

Murderville: Whose Crime is it Anyways?

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Murderville. Will Arnett as Terry Seattle in episode 105 of Murderville. Cr. Darren Michaels/Netflix © 2021

Murder can be a funny thing.

Produced by Will Arnett, Murderville introduces the world to Terry Seattle (Arnett), a hard-nosed homicide detective who is struggling to get his personal life together. However, even though his marriage is crumbling, he’s still the man you want on the job but he can’t do it alone. In each episode of the series, Seattle finds himself working with a different celebrity as his rookie partner. From Annie Murphy to Kumail Nanjiani to Conan O’Brien and more, Seattle and his accompanying guest dig deep into the world of murder to solve the case and get justice for the victim.

A loose adaptation of the BAFTA award-winning series Murder in Successville, Murderville is an absolute treat for the cold nights of winter. Anchored by Arnett’s commitment to playing the broken detective, the film does its best to feel authentic to the crime genre. Gravelly voiceovers, filtered lighting and bland colour palettes all work together to create a light-hearted, noir-ish atmosphere. 

Murderville. Will Arnett as Terry Seattle in episode 103 of Murderville. Cr. Lara Solanki/Netflix © 2021

However, what makes the show so unique is how it manages to use all those same tropes as backdrops for improvisational comedy. Part Whose Line is it Anyways and part Punk’d, Murderville drops each guest star into the storyline completely unaware of what’s about to happen next. Although the series remains scripted for Arnett’s cast and crew, the special guest is left to react without the benefit of the script. Whether its interviewing suspects or examining evidence, these ‘rookie detectives’ are often thrown into situations and asked for immediate responses. Sometimes they handle themselves well. Other times… not so much. (For instance, watching Conan O’Brien attempt to explain to a young witness what happened at a bloody murder scene is both cringe-inducing but also absolutely hilarious at the same time.) 

It’s this sort of evolving reality that sets Murderville apart from other improv series. On the search for each clue, guests must determine the most determine details amidst the madness unfolding around them. They know they’re playing a game but watching them attempt to decipher clues in a chaotic atmosphere is just plain entertaining. In fact, watching these celebrities bumble their way through the activities set before them almost feels like watching friends endure an escape room. From the outside, it looks relatively easy… but we aren’t the ones faced with the unexpected.

Murderville. (L to R) Lilan Bowden as Amber Kang, Will Arnett as Terry Seattle, Marshawn Lynch as Guest 105 in episode 105 of Murderville. Cr. Darren Michaels/Netflix © 2021

What results is a bizarre experience for the celebrity guest and hilarious content for the viewer. Because the guest has no idea what they’re about to face, there’s a certain authenticity to their performance. When Marshawn Lynch reacts to the discovery of a bizarre murder weapon, we know that his confusion is genuine. When Annie Murphy gets increasingly flustered by Seattle’s bizarre demands in the kitchen, we understand her frustration. As a result, there’s an honesty and mischievousness to the series which simply makes it a joy to behold. 

At its heart, this is a series that’s simply about play. There’s no prize money at stake and no consequences for being wrong. All that’s up for grabs are the potential bragging rights of being able to say that they figured out whodunnit. As Arnett walks his friends through these strange murder scenes, one can see the sheer delight in their eyes. While guests with a background in improv comedy are clearly more prepared for what’s to come, each rookie partner manages to hold their own with Arnett’s antics. Whether its Conan O’Brien’s undercover storytelling or Lynch’s antics as a false mirror, every newcomer to the series is willing to commit to the silliness of the moment. They’re having fun, so we do as well. (In fact, there are multiple moments when both guests and cast members visibly break into laughter, especially Nanjiani and Jeong who constantly struggle to keep a straight face.)

Murderville. (L to R) Kumail Nanjiani, Haneefah Wood as Chief RJ-Seattle, Will Arnett as Terry Seattle in Murderville. Cr. Lara Solanki/Netflix © 2022

There’s little question that Murderville is one of the silliest surprises to drop in recent memory. Loose and light-hearted, Arnett’s hilarious little improv experiment simply has a feel-good vibe about it, making it an easy watch. Though Nanjaini and (shockingly) Sharon Stone may end up being the series’ MVPs, all the guest celebrities are up for the challenges which range from infiltrating a mob hideout to committing surgery.

So, after an intense investigation, the verdict on Murderville is that it absolutely kills it when it comes to comedy.

Murderville streams on Netflix on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2022.

The Lego Movie 2: The Toxic Gender Wars

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We all owe Disney a collective ‘Thank You’.

After their unceremonial firing as directors of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were immediately offered involvement in two projects that needed guidance. One such project was Spider-Man: Into The Spider Verse, an animated spin outside the confines of the MCU that was met with critical acclaim and may well net a Best Animated award from this month’s Oscars. The other project was, of course, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, a sequel which clearly benefits from their unique energy and voice.

The Second Part arrives at an interesting point in the franchise. Despite the critical and financial success of the first film and its follow-up Lego Batman, the misstep of The Lego Ninjago Movie seems to have tempered anticipation for the world of Bricksburg. While the first entry felt like a fresh take on the importance of play (and its stunning connection to the human world), follow-ups have felt increasingly like extended toy commercials. Thankfully, The Second Part feels like a return to form for the series that almost achieves the same success as the first.

Directed by Mike Mitchell (Sky High) and produced by Lord and Miller, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part begins immediately following the events of Taco Tuesday in the first film. Here, the citizens of Bricksburg face a dangerous new threat when invaders from space begin to destroy everything in their path. When Lucy, Batman and their friends are kidnapped and taken to the land of DUPLO, Emmett must venture into unknown territory in an effort to save them from the villainous Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi.

Filled with Lord and Miller’s trademark whip-smart pop culture references and layered dialogue, The Second Part further embraces the interaction between the imaginative and human world by taking the beloved characters beyond the basement and into the vast unexplored region of the Systar system. While the first film was concerned with Emmett’s journey to discovering what it means to be ‘The Special’, The Second Part shifts gears to explore the dangers of toxic gender roles. As the now beloved characters darkly brood over the state of Apocolypseburg, the greatest threat to their world seems to be… brightly colored hearts and glittery musical numbers. Led by WyldStyle and Batman, the lost Legos do their best not to succumb to the suspicious nature of the female-branded toys. (After all, anything that causes Superman and Lex Luthor to become friends must be evil!)

On the other hand, Emmett’s journey to save his friends also brings him into contact with Rex Dangervest (also Chris Pratt), a galaxy-defending space cowboy that trains raptors. Without giving away any spoilers, the inclusion of the dual role for Pratt provides an opportunity to hilariously satire the more ‘masculine’ roles that he has played through his career and lampoon their perceived macho traits. (In fact, the film also includes a cameo by one of Hollywood’s most accomplished action heroes as he mocks one of his most famous characters.) By throwing these two very different gender stereotypes up against one another, The Second Part effectively explores the toxic nature of all labels, encouraging the value of celebrating people for who they are. As a result, there is a divine equality within The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part that acknowledges to our differences and also creates space for celebrating them as well.

While the sequel doesn’t quite carry the same resonance of the first film, the film remains sharp and entertaining with new thematic ground to cover. Thanks to the crazed brilliance of Lord and Miller, The Second Part is funny, self-aware, and more than willing to help children engage in complex topics worth discussion.

So, yes. In the end, everything is still awesome.

Special Features include “Everything is Awesome Sing-along,” “They Come in Pieces: Assembling The LEGO Movie 2,”​ “Emmet’s Holiday Party: A LEGO Movie Short,” “LEGO Sets in Action” (highlighting LEGO product), “LEGO Designers,” “Super Cool Music Video” (by Beck featuring Robyn and The Lonely Island), outtakes and deleted scenes, and promotion spots.

5.10 Deconstructing THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART

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With the release of LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART, Emmet, Wildstyle and the crew find themselves in the worst possible scenario—when everything isn’t awesome. When an attack from DUPLO invaders further disrupts their post-apocalyptic world, Emmett must travel to the far outreaches of the Systar System in order to rescue his friends from the unmalicious queen Watevera Wanabi before she enacts Armomageddon, destroying the entire universe. This week, we welcome back Heather Johnson and Alan Sharrer to talk about the film’s understanding of growing up and the toxic gender wars. 

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, SoundCloud or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!

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.

5.10 Lego Movie 2 – The Second Part

Thanks Heather and Alan for joining us!


 

 

The Nut Job 2 – Nutty By Nature: Easy Doesn’t Build Character

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From the Canadian writer/director team of Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen (Escape from Planet Earth, upcoming Son of Bigfoot), The Nut Job 2 is the clever sequel to the 2014 animated film starring Will Arnett that wasn’t The Lego Movie … but was just as funny. Starring as Surly, Arnett’s voice drove the story of a group of animals from Liberty Park who found a cache of food in a local nut shop. In the sequel, Nutty by Nature, Brunker and Barlen steer their crew of forest friends into a battle with corrupt Mayor Muldoon (SNL’s Bobby Moynihan) over the amusement park he wants to erect on the remains of their park home.

Let’s be clear: at this point in my life, I’m seeing 99% of the animated films released in theaters and on home media, and I’m very aware that they are hit or miss. (For the record, I’ll call Sing, Moana, Zootopia, and Trolls some of the hits.) But Arnett’s vocals – and the clever collection of assorted characters that surround Surly – are amusing and laugh out loud funny, and the script is remarkably engaging as well.

First, we have a star, animated turn by Jackie Chan as Mr. Feng, a country mouse-turned-city mouse who leads his band of “don’t call me, cute” Shaolin-trained mice in defending their turf. While the outtakes during the credits are funny, Chan’s parts are genuine scene-stealers. Throw in Jeff Denham’s Mole, who accidentally causes the nut shop to explode via his own neglect and sets in motion the action of the film, and the pug and bulldog combo of Precious and Frankie (Maya Rudolph and Bobby Cannavale) adds to that as well. For me personally, the perpetual “we’re gonna die!” refrain from one of the chipmunks is absolutely funny, too.

But in a surprise turn – where animated films seem to be either funny or poignant, NJ2 nails both. Here, we hear from Surly’s “girlfriend,” Andie (Katherine Heigl), push Surly to be responsible, even before the nut shop blows up. She tells him that good things don’t come easy, that “easy doesn’t build character,” and continues to implore him to lead well. She’s also the one that reminds Surly that “we’re better together,” and that nothing can’t be accomplished when we work together as a team. These are elements of faith and community, whether you believe in one thing or another, that bind us together as human.

While the film is one I look forward to seeing again for its action, adventure, and hilarious moments, it’s one that I give my highest honor: it’s preachable. Because in the midst of the world we live in, with the ways that things are often presented to divide us and isolate us, NJ2 reminds us that we are all created special, with gifts and grace that we’re supposed to share.