Monday, September 30, 2013

Linsanity (FILM REVIEW)



Linsanity
Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Hoop Dreams Documentary Chronicles Jeremy Lin’s Transformation into an Overnight NBA Sensation

            Jeremy Lin came very close to abandoning his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA after a couple of unremarkable seasons spent mostly in the developmental league as an undrafted free agent. He had been released by both Golden State and Houston after brief stints, but was picked up by the New York Knicks in December of 2011 when the team was suddenly in need of a backup point guard due to an injury.
            Still, at fourth on the depth chart, it looked very unlikely that Lin would ever get to play except during garbage time when the outcome of a contest was no longer in doubt. But he did get a chance in a February 4th game against the then New Jersey Nets where he made the most of the opportunity, scoring a surprising 25 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and making 7 assists.
            Furthermore, he went on to prove that that feat was no fluke, as he averaged over 20 points per game while leading New York on a 13-game winning streak. As a Harvard grad and the only Asian-American in the NBA, Jeremy caused quite a stir as fans flocked in droves to Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks’ new sensation.
            Directed by Evan Jackson Leong, Linsanity chronicles the Palo Alto product’s path from high school standout to Harvard Ivy League star to obscure journeyman in the pros until miraculously becoming a household name virtually overnight. An Evangelical Christian, Jeremy freely credits the Lord for his unprecedented emergence in the NBA, saying “I know that God orchestrated this… There was just too much out of my control.”
            A moving biopic about a humble underdog who surmounted overwhelming odds with the help of family, friends and a strong faith.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
In English and Mandarin with subtitles
Running time: 88 minutes
Distributor: Ketchup Entertainment  

To see a trailer for Linsanity, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q14ooGPJZBs  

This Is the End (DVD REVIEW)



This Is the End
DVD Review by Kam Williams

Celebrities Aplenty in Apocalyptic Comedy

            When Jay Baruchel was picked up at L.A. airport by his close friend and fellow Canadian Seth Rogen, he was disappointed to learn that instead of unwinding, the plan was to attend a housewarming party at James Franco’s mansion where a lot of A-list celebrities would be in attendance. For, despite having achieved his own measure of success, low-key Jay still lives in Montreal, in part to avoid the trappings of such shallow Tinseltown gatherings.
            Upon their arrival, Jay awkwardly exchanges pleasantries with the host and Jonah Hill, both of whom he secretly suspects hate him. Furthermore, he’s overwhelmed to find himself surrounded by so many famous faces he’s never seen in person before, icons like including Kevin Hart, Channing Tatum, Jason Segel, Emma Watson and Mindy Kaling, to name a few.
            Jay also feels uncomfortable about the booze, drugs and bawdy behavior typified by Michael Cera’s playfully slapping Rihanna on the rump only to get smacked in the face by the pop diva. Then there’s Craig Robinson who sits down at the piano to sing a tune called “Take Your Panties Off,” while sporting a T-shirt emblazoned with the same phrase.
            However, all of the above is irreversibly rendered irrelevant when an earthquake registering 9.7 on the Richter scale rocks the city and rips a giant fissure right in front of Franco’s place. The guests scatter in all directions as a widening sinkhole starts to swallow some of the revelers at the same time that blue beams of light lift others heavenward.
            Meanwhile, James, Jay, Seth, Emily, Craig and Jonah beat a hasty retreat and barricade themselves inside to await rescue. Eventually it dawns on them that the cavalry might never be coming, since what’s unfolding all across Los Angeles looks more like Judgment Day than the fallout from a momentary shift in tectonic plates.
            Thus unfolds This Is the End, a zany apocalyptic comedy marking the directorial debut of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the writing team previously responsible for Superbad and Pineapple Express. This novel adventure proves to be every bit as side-splitting as their earlier offerings, with much of the inspired humor coming courtesy of actors willing to be the butt of the joke despite playing themselves.
            Armageddon never looked like so much fun!

Excellent (4 stars)
R for crude humor, coarse sexuality, graphic nudity, drug use, violence and pervasive profanity
Running time: 107 minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment  
Blu-ray/DVD combo pack extras: Commentary with directors Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg; Directing Your Friends featurette; Marketing Outtakes; Cast Featurette; Redband Sizzle Trailer; Aziz Haunts Craig Confessional; James & Danny Confessional; Jonah Confessional; Seth & Jay Confessional; deleted scenes; gag reel; blooper reel; Meta Apocalypse; Let’s Get Technical; Party Time; The Cannibal King; The Making of The Making of Pineapple Express 2;  and Jay & Seth vs. The Apocalypse: The Original Short.

To see a trailer for This Is the End, visit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYlQOutbjZA 

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Rush (FILM REVIEW)



Rush
Film Review by Kam Williams

Formula 1 Drama Recounts Death-Defying Racing Rivalry

            Back in the Seventies, a couple of racecar drivers as different from each other as Dudley Do-Right and Snidely Whiplash became sworn adversaries on the Formula 1 circuit. England’s James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) was a brash daredevil willing to put his life at risk every time he drove around the track. By contrast, Austria’s Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) was a technical genius who invariably employed a relatively-scientific strategy.
            The pair were also polar opposites afterhours, with handsome Hunt being a flamboyant playboy who liked the limelight, while relatively low-key Lauda preferred to spend his free time in peace and quiet with his socialite wife, Marla Knaus (Alexandra Maria Lara). The bitter rivalry between the two came to a head during the 1976 season, when both were in contention for the coveted title of world champion.
            That cutthroat quest is the subject of Rush, a character-driven drama
directed by two-time Academy Award-winner Ron Howard (for A Beautiful Mind). Based on a screenplay by two-time Oscar-nominee Peter Morgan (The Queen and Frost/Nixon), the picture’s engaging plotline repeatedly juxtaposes the personas of the leads, painting the hunky Brit as a lovable bon vivant on a crusade to wrest the crown from a defending champ portrayed as just too methodical a nerd to root for.
            The movie masterfully depicts the cat-and-mouse mental as well as racecar jockeying which transpired, with the tension mounting at adrenaline-fueled contests staged in international ports-of-call ranging from Brazil to Spain to Monaco to Germany and inexorably leading to a white-knuckle showdown in Japan.
            Along the way, we’re treated to the sight of chain-smoking Hunt’s substance abusing and womanizing, as he all but makes a mockery of uptight Lauda’s Spartan regimen. The emotional build-up subtly suggests that getting the checkered flag at Fuji will serve as a confirmation of the eventual victor’s approach.
             A compelling, high-octane thriller, literally and figuratively!

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for profanity, nudity, sexuality, smoking, disturbing images and brief drug use
In English, German, Italian and French with subtitles
Running Time: 123 minutes
Distributor: Universal Pictures 

To see a trailer for Rush, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmLvpSOh1QA      

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Top Ten DVD Releases for 10-1-13



This Week’s DVD Releases
by Kam Williams


Top Ten DVD List for October 1, 2013      
         
This Is the End

      
Branca’s Pitch  


The Croods       

            
Laurence Anyways     


The Little Mermaid [Diamond Edition]


Tupac 2-Pack: Tupac Conspiracy and Tupac Aftermath

  
A Fierce Green Fire         

 
Halloween [35th Anniversary Edition]


The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown



Honorable Mention
         
China Beach: Season One


Life and Death in Assisted Living         

 
With Love… from the Age of Reason      
       
Teen Mom: The Complete First Season


Anything Is Possible


The Neighbors: The Complete First Season    


Littlest Pet Shop: Petacular Escapades 

         
Awkward: Seasons One and Two

         
Sesame Street: Being Brave

      
So This Is Christmas


An Oversimplification of Her Beauty

         
Turtle Hill, Brooklyn

  

Iron Man 3 (DVD REVIEW)


Iron Man 3

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Robert Downey,Jr. Reprises Title Role as Smart Aleck Superhero

            This film is the seventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series kickstarted by Iron Man 1 in 2008 and followed in succession by The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers. This episode remains true to the basic comic book adaptation formula in that it pits a superhero against a diabolical villain bent on world domination.
            However, Iron Man always adds a little more to the trademark mix of derring-do and visually-captivating special f/x thanks to Robert Downey, Jr.’s bringing so much charm to the title character. Downey again delights, delivering a plethora of pithy comments, whether playing bon vivant billionaire Tony Stark or his intrepid alter ego.
            Also reprising their roles are People Magazine’s reigning Most Beautiful Woman in the World Gwyneth Paltrow as Iron Man’s love interest Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle as his best friend Rhodey, and Jon Favreau (the director of episodes 1 and 2) as chauffeur-turned-obsessive chief of security Happy Hogan. And critical additions include Ty Simpkins as Harley, Iron Man’s prepubescent, new sidekick and Sir Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin, the maniacal spokesman for an international terrorist organization.
            The point of departure is Bern, Switzerland on New Year’s 2000 which is where we find Tony Stark declining an offer to go into business being made by Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), a disabled scientist who ostensibly covets an experimental drug being developed by Stark Industries botanist Dr. Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall). The storyline immediately fast-forwards from Y2K to the present as a string of bombings are being ostensibly orchestrated by The Mandarin.
            Against his better judgment, Tony dares the madman to a fight, and no sooner is his oceanfront home leveled by a barrage of incoming rockets. Fortunately, a number of Iron Man outfits were left unscathed and, with the help of precocious Harley and pal Rhodey (aka Iron Patriot), he proceeds to get to the bottom of who is really behind the attacks bombings.
            Brace yourself for an array of visually-captivating stunt work interrupted intermittently by comical, tongue-in-cheek comments courtesy of our smart aleck protagonist. Fast-forward past the closing credits and you will be rewarded with a brief session of Iron Man decompressing on the shrink’s couch with Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo).   
            In sum, a worthy addition to the vaunted Marvel franchise.

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for intense violence and brief sensuality.
Running time: 130 minutes
Distributor: Buena Vista Home Entertainment  
Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Gag reel; director Shane Black and scriptwriter Drew Pearce audio commentary; Deconstructing the Scene: Attack on Air Force One; deleted and extended scenes; behind-the-scenes look at Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World; Marvel One Shot: Agent Carter; and more.   

To see a trailer for Iron Man 3, visit:
        

 

Friday, September 27, 2013

The Kings of Summer (DVD REVIEW)



The Kings of Summer
DVD Review by Kam Williams

Teens Retreat to Forest in Quirky, Coming-of-Age Comedy

            Freshman year of high school has just ended for Patrick (Gabriel Basso) who isn’t looking forward to spending the summer under the same roof as his helicopter parents (Megan Mullally and Marc Evan Jackson), given their monitoring his every move and their merciless teasing about his raging hormones. The situation’s even worse for Joe (Nick Robinson) whose widowed father’s (Nick Offerman) way of grieving involves belittling and grounding him at the drop of a hat.
            One night at a keg party, the best friends come up with a viable solution to their predicament when they discover a clearing in the middle of the forest. Why not build themselves a house out in the woods where they will finally be free from the abuse and control of meddling adults?
            Swearing each other to secrecy, the malcontents hatch an impromptu plan to live off the land. And they are joined in the clandestine endeavor by classmate Biaggio (Moises Arias), a mysterious weirdo wiling to tag along and utter an occasional, odd non sequitur.
            Next thing you know, they’re building a shack out of materials found on a construction lot, and also foraging for food by diving into a dumpster behind a restaurant. Meanwhile, their worried folks are calling the cops, convinced the missing boys must have been kidnapped.
            That is the absorbing point of departure of The Kings of Summer, a quirky, coming-of-age comedy marking the magnificent directorial debut of Jordan Vogt-Roberts. His laugh-a-minute adventure is reminiscent of some the best of the rebellious adolescent genre, ala Stand by Me (1986), Superbad (2007), Ghost World (2001), Super 8 (2011) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).
            The picture’s clever script by first-timer Chris Galletta is laced with lots of hilarious scenes like when Biaggio attempts to throw the police off their trail with a ransom note from the fictitious “Jamal Colorado” inspired by a combining a black first name with one of the fifty states. But human oddity Biaggio is basically around to provide intermittent comic relief.
            At heart, the movie is about the intrepid trio’s struggle to survive while eluding the frantic search party. The plot thickens upon the sudden arrival of Kelly (Erin Moriarty) at the lad’s lair, a cutie pie Joe’s interested in dating.
            Will the fetching femme fatale prove to be the boys’ undoing? Or will their bond remain intact? No spoilers here. Suffice to say that between a host of memorable performances by a cast of relative newcomers, and a haunting, grungy score by Ryan Miller, The Kings of Summer is a bona fide sleeper not to be missed.
           
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for profanity and underage alcohol consumption
In English and Italian with subtitles
Running time: 95 minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Cast and crew commentary; and an on-set interview with Alison Brie and Eugene Cordero. 
               
To order a copy of The Kings of Summer on DVD, visit:  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos

/ASIN/B00C7BZZAA/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20

Kam's Movie Kapsules for 10-4-13



OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:      
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         
by Kam Williams
For movies opening October 4, 2013


BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Gravity (PG-13 for intense peril, disturbing images and brief strong profanity) Sci-fi survival thriller about a veteran astronaut (George Clooney) and a medical engineer (Sandra Bullock) on her first mission who find themselves in a race against time when they’re left suspended in space with limited oxygen after satellite debris destroys their rocket ship during a spacewalk. With Ed Harris, Amy Warren, Basher Savage and Paul Sharma.     

Runner, Runner (R for profanity and sexuality) Crime drama about a Princeton grad student (Justin Timberlake) who travels to Costa Rica to confront the owner of an online poker website (Ben Affleck) after being cheated out of his tuition money, only to become the corrupt mobster’s right hand man. Support cast includes Gemma Arterton, Anthony Mackie and Michael Asper. 


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS  

A.C.O.D. (R for profanity and brief sexuality) Dysfunctional family comedy about a man (Adam Scott) left traumatized by his parents’ (Catherine O’Hara and Richard Jenkins) bitter divorce who ends up victimized again when his younger brother’s (Clark Duke) wedding brings them back together again. With Amy Poehler, Jane Lynch, Jessica Alba and Ken Howard.

 Bad Milo (R for profanity, sexuality and graphic violence) Horror comedy about a stressed-out office worker (Ken Marino) who learns that his stomach pain isn’t from an ulcer but being caused by a demon living in his intestines. Featuring Stephen Root, Patrick Warburton, Mary Kay Place and Gillian Jacobs.

Concussion (R for profanity and graphic sexuality) Robin Weigert stars in this midlife crisis drama about a lesbian disillusioned with her humdrum life who decides to try a new line of work as a prostitute catering to females after being hit in the head by a baseball. Cast includes Maggie Siff, Ben Shenkman and Emily Kinney.

Five Dances (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama, set in Manhattan, revolving around an aspiring ballet dancer (Ryan Steele) torn between pursuing his passion and feelings of responsibility about his fractured family back in the Midwest. With Lulu Roche, Kimiye Corwin and Reed Luplau.      

Grace Unplugged (PG for mature themes and teen drinking) Prodigal Daughter drama about a rebellious 18 year-old (A.J. Michalka) who runs away to L.A. in search of fame and fortune as a pop singer only to learn that faith and family are far more important. With James Denton, Kevin Pollak and Shawnee Smith.

I Used to Be Darker (Unrated) American Dream drama about a runaway (Deragh Campbell) from Northern Ireland who takes refuge with relatives in Maryland only to discover that her aunt (Kim Taylor) and uncle’s (Ned Oldham) marriage is in crisis. Support cast includes Hannah Gross, Nicholas Petr and Geoff Grace.

Linsanity (Unrated) Hoop dreams documentary revisiting Harvard point guard Jeremy Lin’s unlikely transformation into an overnight NBA sensation over the course of two weeks in 2012 when he made the most of a chance to fill-in for a New York Knicks’ injured starter. 

Parkland (PG-13 for profanity, smoking, violent images and graphic emergency room procedures) JFK assassination drama recounting the futile efforts of doctors and nurses to save the president’s (Brett Stimely) life at Parkland Hospital after he suffered fatal wounds at the hands of Lee Harvey Oswald (Jeremy Strong). A-list ensemble includes Zac Efron, Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Giamatti, Marcia Gay Harden, Colin Hanks, Jacki Weaver and Jackie Earle Haley.  

Red Wing (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama chronicling the perilous journey of an orphan (Glen Powell) into manhood as he attempts to maintain his honor and integrity in the face of hostility. Supporting cast features Bill Paxton, Luke Perry and Frances Fisher.

The Summit (R for profanity) Five miles-high documentary revisiting the deadly day on K2 in 2008 when the so-called “Savage Mountain” mysteriously claimed the lives of 11 climbers.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (FILM REVIEW)


Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Film Review by Kam Williams

Eco-Conscious Sequel Pits Flint and Friends against Evil Agri-Corporation

            When we first met Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader), he lost control of a contraption which turned water into food and triggered a foodalanche which wreaked havoc all across Swallow Falls before being turned off. At the point of departure of this worthy sequel, we find the young inventor being duped into relocating from his hometown to the impersonal confines of San FranJose based on a promise of employment as a “thinkquanaut” from his idol, Chester V (Will Forte), the Chairman of Live Corporation.
            Flint is so gullible that he is initially blissfully unaware of his new boss’ secret agenda. But Chester has emptied Swallow Falls entirely of its residents under the guise of cleaning up the once idyllic island.
            Truth be told, the conniving CEO has managed to get Flint’s food machine going again, and has hatched a diabolical plan to repopulate the place with about 40 varieties of sentient creatures. Each of these “foodimals” has a name which is a punny play on words, such as shrimpanzees, watermelophants, cheespiders, hippotatomuses, pb & jellyfish, flamangos, buffaloaves and wildebeests, to name a few.
            Eventually, Flint wises up to the fact that he’s been manipulated and that something evil is afoot. Soon, accompanied by his pals and his meteorologist girlfriend, Samantha (Anna Faris), he returns to Swallow Falls where they find themselves attacked by tacodiles and stampeded by a flock of bananostriches.
            Will Flint and company figure a way to subdue the menacing, manmade menagerie before their beloved city is totally ruined? That is the question at the heart of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, another inspired animated adventure with an eco-conscious theme.
            Co-directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, the film features the distinctive voice work by a veteran cast which includes returnees Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Neil Patrick Harris, Andy Samberg, James Caan, Will Forte and Benjamin Bratt, as well as a critical new addition in Terry Crews as the motor-mouthed Earl Deveraux.
            A dazzling and delightful sequel every bit as charming as the original!

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG for mild rude humor
Running time: 95 minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures  

To see a trailer for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNiVB_d_z4k

Bill Hader (INTERVIEW)



Bill Hader
The “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” Interview
with Kam Williams

Don’t Mess with Bill!

Actor, writer, comedian, producer and repertory player Bill Hader recently finished his eighth and final season on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 7, 1978, he was heralded by New York magazine as “SNL’s new secret weapon” when he first joined its ensemble cast. 

Known for his uncanny impersonations and a biting sarcasm delivered with an eviscerating deftness, Bill received Emmy nominations in 2012 and 2013 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on the show. He won an Emmy Award in 2009 for his work as a producer on Comedy Central’s “South Park.”

On the big screen, he enjoyed a full slate of film work in the summer of 2007 that included Knocked Up and Superbad. The very next year, he found great success as Jason Segel’s compassionate step-brother in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He also delivered memorable performances in Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder. In 2009, He appeared in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Adventureland.

Last year, he co-starred Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black 3, which grossed over $624 million worldwide. He’s also voiced several animated characters in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Turbo, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Doogal, and Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil.

Bill lives in Los Angeles with his wife, filmmaker Maggie Carey, and their two daughters. Here, he talks about his latest outing reprising the lead role of Flint Lockwood in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.

Kam Williams: Hi Bill. I’m honored to have this opportunity to talk with you.
Bill Hader: Oh, thanks, Kam.

KW: I loved Cloudy 2. How was it being Flint Lockwood again?
BH: A lot of fun. I don’t feel like the first one ever ended. Because the filmmaking process is so long, you kind of go right into the second one.
There was probably a year or so lag time for me, but it’s really cool. I love it.  

KW: I got a lot of questions for you from fans, so why don’t I jump right into them. Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How different is the preparation for an animated versus a live-action role?
BH: I would say the biggest difference is that you’re just in a studio by yourself when you’re making an animated movie. You don’t have anybody to play off of. 

KW: Marian Greenberg asks: Do you think it will be possible to teach the foodimals to befriend instead of fight humanoids so they can all live happily ever after in peace?
BH: Marian, you’ll get your answer when you see the film. 

KW: Marian also says she thinks that, if there is a Cloudy 3, Flint should save the world by changing takers into givers. Do you agree?
BH: I can’t say, because I don’t exactly understand what she means.

KW: Kate Newell says: Bill Hader is a god in our household. SNL is the only show we watch together. She’s wondering how many takes you needed to do Stefon without totally cracking up.
BH: Aww, thanks, Kate. Well, on SNL you only get one take. And it always happened. And I was never once able to keep a straight face.  

KW: Let me ask you about leaving SNL. Are you feeling any regrets or any pangs of emotion, especially right now since the new season is about to kick off?
KW: Not really. I’m not sad, just excited to watch the show and see what the new people are doing. I already watched some of it online and it’s really good.

KW: Alison Kruse What advice do you have for a novice improv student?
I just tried out for my school's improv group and didn't get in this time around.
BH: Oh, don’t worry, that’s totally fine, Alison. You’re on your way with the first step, which is dealing with failure. You’re going to have to deal with failure constantly. The best thing to do is to get out in front of an audience as much as you can, and learn from the experience. Steve Martin wrote a book called “Born Standing Up,” which is really great. He talks about how he kept a notebook on his act about what did and didn’t work. It’s a process. It’s not like you get up on stage and you’re immediately a genius. It takes a long time. So, don’t be discouraged.  


KW: Kim Lister asks: How did you come up with the character Mr. Hollywood for the James Franco roast? It was hilarious! 
BH: Oh, that was created with my Stefon writing partner John Mulaney. I wanted to do a character that could talk about various things. And I asked what if I came out as the embodiment of Hollywood? That attitude is something I like to do. And then, yeah, John and I wrote it.  

KW: Kim also asks: Who was your favorite sketch character to play on SNL?
BH: I love playing Herb Welch, the old reporter who hits people in the face with the microphone.

KW: Amy Lister and Patricia Turnier ask: Do you have any advice for an aspiring comedienne who’d like to make it onto SNL? 
BH: I’d offer them the same advice I just gave Alison.

KW: Marcy Held asks: What was it like growing up in Oklahoma? Who were some of your early influences? What did you watch when you were a kid?
BH: Growing up in Oklahoma, there wasn’t much to do. Play sports, do a lot of drugs, or read and watch movies, which is what I did. When I was a kid, Monte Python was big. And early Woody Allen movies. 

KW: Marcy would also like to know whether you always wanted to be a performer?
BH: No, I was into writing and directing. I was a bit of a reluctant actor. I would always ask friends to shoot or direct their movies, but then they’d want me to be in them.

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: What's it like writing for South Park? Is Cartman a jerk off-camera?
BH: Oh, yeah. Yes he is. [Chuckles] No, I’m basically helping those guys out with their ideas, but I don’t actually sit down and write any stuff with them. The way I contribute is basically by just sitting in a room pitching ideas to Trey [Parker, South Park co-creator and voice of Cartman] and he runs off and writes it. It’s a great process that’s a lot of fun and that I learn a tremendous amount from.

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman says. You’ve done a lot of voice work in animated films. Not just Cloudy 1 and 2, but Turbo, Monsters University, Doogal, Ice Age 3 and Hoodwinked 2. She asks: When you are doing animation, do you want your character to resemble you physically?
BH: Not necessarily. You know, they have a video camera on you in the studio while you’re performing. And in the case of Flint Lockwood, I see a lot of me in him, like how I talk with my hands. So, sometimes they do it, but I never request it.  

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks: Do you feel any special joy in bringing a children's book to the screen, especially being a father?
BH: Yes, I do. I loved that book growing up. It’s almost like a little poem or fable. And I love being a part of bringing it to the big screen.   

 
KW: A fan of the franchise asks: Do the watermelophants represent the increase in childhood obesity in America?
BH: I have no idea.

KW: Here’s another question: Do the mosquitoasts leave their stingers in and cause the spread of malaria? I’m amazed that anyone’s thinking that way about the film.  
BH: [Chuckles] Yeah, I agree. And I don’t think the writers of the movie intended that deep an analysis. 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
BH: “Black Swan Green,” a novel by David Mitchell.   


KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
BH: I can’t. I can’t cook. I can barely make a bowl of cereal.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
BH: A very tired dad.



KW: I’m not surprised since you have 1 and 4 year-old daughters. If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
BH: Sleep. [Chuckles]

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?
BH: I don’t know.

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Is there something that you promised to do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?
BH: I don’t consider myself famous.

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?
BH: There really is no difference other than my having some makeup on.

KW: The Anthony Anderson question: If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?
BH: The ability to fall asleep.

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? 
BH: Being able to deal with failure and being wired to pursue your passion because you enjoy the process of creating something, even if you aren’t living in New York or L.A. and work in a hardware store. 

KW: The Kerry Washington question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
BH: I don’t know.

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?
BH: Directing.

KW: Harriet: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?
BH: Not really.

KW: What’s on the horizon for you, comedies like Superbad, Knocked Up, Adventureland and Forgetting Sarah Marshall?
BH: Well, I just did a couple of dramas, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby and The Skeleton Twins.

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity?
BH: I’ve done stuff for Standup for Cancer which is great, but I don’t personally have one.

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?
BH: Just as a good guy.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Bill, and best of luck with the film.
BH: Thanks, buddy.

To see a trailer for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNiVB_d_z4k