Latest news with #Ghostbusters:Afterlife
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Happy Gilmore 2 is here. But has Adam Sandler shanked it or scored a hole in one?
Happy Gilmore 2 ★★½ Hollywood is deep in its requel era – the remake masquerading as a sequel. Top Gun: Maverick, The Matrix Resurrections, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife all twist the homage dial up. But doing the same with Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler's scrappy 1996 cult comedy about an ill-tempered ice hockey hopeful crashing the professional golf tour, is an odd choice. Anarchic defiance of the status quo is hard to replicate on the cusp of turning 60 years old. But in his comedies, which have moved from multiplexes to Netflix, Sandler has always been, well, happy to make do. In a film that celebrates family unity, Happy Gilmore 2 honours its forebear with a swathe of self-referential tributes and some amusing callbacks. It's a little too dutiful, and could have done with more chaos and absurdism before it revs up for a ludicrous but mostly pleasing finale. Written, as the original was, by Sandler and Robert Herlihy, the plot delivers a rapid-fire update of Happy's life after becoming an unlikely winner of the US Open. Romantic interest Virginia Venit (Julie Bowen) became his wife, further success and a posse of kids followed, before tragedy leaves Happy broke, boozing, and hating golf. It's bad, but not too bad – he can still let real-life golf maverick John Daly live in his garage. In a reflection of the clash between the golf establishment and the Saudi-backed LIV tour, Happy's return coincides with the launch of Maxi, the brainchild of energy drunk magnate Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie). The oily disruptor sees Maxi as a continuation of Happy's disruption. After all, he screamed at the ball and literally traded blows with his pro-am partner. But this Happy is, uncomfortably, a traditionalist. The film's solution to philosophical quandaries is to pile on the cameos. Famous veteran golfers such as Jack Nicklaus give way to numerous current stars, including Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Characters from the first film are remembered here with offspring. Ben Stiller returns. Margaret Qualley plays a round. Some try too hard (Travis Kelce), some get it right (Eminem), some do not try (Post Malone). The producer who made the schedules match deserves a medal. Loading It's jocular as opposed to hysterical; nothing ruptures the mood. Director Kyle Newacheck (Workaholics, What We Do in the Shadows) is in third gear until the final act, where the two rival tours face-off on a Maxi-fied course. The fantastical fit-out has the madcap gravity of Stephen Chow circa Shaolin Soccer. It gives Happy Gilmore 2 a welcome burst of energy, but you could still chalk it up as Adam Sandler's mulligan.
The Age
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Happy Gilmore 2 is here. But has Adam Sandler shanked it or scored a hole in one?
Happy Gilmore 2 ★★½ Hollywood is deep in its requel era – the remake masquerading as a sequel. Top Gun: Maverick, The Matrix Resurrections, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife all twist the homage dial up. But doing the same with Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler's scrappy 1996 cult comedy about an ill-tempered ice hockey hopeful crashing the professional golf tour, is an odd choice. Anarchic defiance of the status quo is hard to replicate on the cusp of turning 60 years old. But in his comedies, which have moved from multiplexes to Netflix, Sandler has always been, well, happy to make do. In a film that celebrates family unity, Happy Gilmore 2 honours its forebear with a swathe of self-referential tributes and some amusing callbacks. It's a little too dutiful, and could have done with more chaos and absurdism before it revs up for a ludicrous but mostly pleasing finale. Written, as the original was, by Sandler and Robert Herlihy, the plot delivers a rapid-fire update of Happy's life after becoming an unlikely winner of the US Open. Romantic interest Virginia Venit (Julie Bowen) became his wife, further success and a posse of kids followed, before tragedy leaves Happy broke, boozing, and hating golf. It's bad, but not too bad – he can still let real-life golf maverick John Daly live in his garage. In a reflection of the clash between the golf establishment and the Saudi-backed LIV tour, Happy's return coincides with the launch of Maxi, the brainchild of energy drunk magnate Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie). The oily disruptor sees Maxi as a continuation of Happy's disruption. After all, he screamed at the ball and literally traded blows with his pro-am partner. But this Happy is, uncomfortably, a traditionalist. The film's solution to philosophical quandaries is to pile on the cameos. Famous veteran golfers such as Jack Nicklaus give way to numerous current stars, including Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Characters from the first film are remembered here with offspring. Ben Stiller returns. Margaret Qualley plays a round. Some try too hard (Travis Kelce), some get it right (Eminem), some do not try (Post Malone). The producer who made the schedules match deserves a medal. Loading It's jocular as opposed to hysterical; nothing ruptures the mood. Director Kyle Newacheck (Workaholics, What We Do in the Shadows) is in third gear until the final act, where the two rival tours face-off on a Maxi-fied course. The fantastical fit-out has the madcap gravity of Stephen Chow circa Shaolin Soccer. It gives Happy Gilmore 2 a welcome burst of energy, but you could still chalk it up as Adam Sandler's mulligan.
Tom's Guide
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 classic summer blockbusters just landed on streaming — and they'll make you feel like a kid again
They just don't make summers like they used to. Growing up, these months meant no homework, riding bikes until the streetlights came on, and listening out for the tune of the ice cream man. Nowadays, your summers likely aren't so carefree, but you can still get a blast from the past with these quintessential nostalgic summer blockbusters that just landed on streaming. Some of the biggest summer movie hits from the '70s, '80s, and '90s can be found across the best streaming services, and some are even streaming for free (if you don't mind a few pesky ads). There's never been a better time to indulge your inner child by revisiting the same films that captivated you on those rainy days or summer nights that feel like yesterday. So grab some popcorn, curl up in the AC, and stream these five classic summer blockbusters that'll transport you back to a simpler time. A list like this isn't complete without the OG summer blockbuster, "Jaws." Steven Spielberg's nerve-shredding thriller struck a nerve in our collective consciousness, sparking a tidal wave of sequels, imitators, and an enduring fear of the ocean that still haunts beachgoers today. Adapted from Peter Benchley's best-selling novel, "Jaws" follows police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) as he hunts down the great white shark responsible for a string of deadly attacks off Amity Island's shores. Driving the suspense is John Williams' legendary, Oscar-winning score—an ominous two-note motif that has become one of the most iconic pieces of music in film history. Watch it now on Tubi Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The '80s and goofy sci-fi movies go together like Stay-Puft marshmallows and s'mores. While recent sequels like "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" and "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" haven't exactly been blockbuster hits, there's no question that the original 1984 "Ghostbusters" remains a true classic. Whether they're battling the paranormal or just trading wisecracks, comedy icons Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis are endlessly entertaining. Their effortless chemistry is what truly makes "Ghostbusters" so rewatchable; everything else, including the looming apocalypse, is just icing on the ectoplasmic cake. Joined by Ernie Hudson, the crew plays a team of ghost hunters that take on a growing supernatural crisis in New York City, though the specters they face are more hilarious than horrifying. Watch it now on Peacock Let's be honest, "Jurassic Park" doesn't need much of an introduction. When it roared into theaters in 1993, it became the highest-grossing film of all time. Now with half a dozen sequels under its belt, the franchise has earned a reputation as towering and unforgettable as the T-Rex on its iconic poster. Steven Spielberg's sci-fi adventure follows eccentric billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) as he unveils a one-of-a-kind theme park that's home to living, breathing dinosaurs cloned from ancient DNA preserved in amber. A small group that includes Alan Grant (Sam Neil), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) is given a tour before it's open to the public, but a bit of corporate sabotage turns their dream expedition into a prehistoric nightmare when the dinos get loose. Watch it now on Peacock Seeing Jim Carrey being his usual wacky and hilarious self in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" sent me on a binge of his greatest hits, and you know "The Mask" topped that list. Carrey stars as Stanley Ipkiss, a timid bank clerk whose life takes a wild turn when he discovers an ancient mask that turns the wearer into a manic, near-invincible trickster. With the help of his newfound alter ego, he sets out to impress a nightclub singer (Cameron Diaz) only to get tangled up in a local crime syndicate. It's another one of Carrey's roles that feels tailor-made for him. His expressive face, kinetic energy, and rapid-fire delivery turn the character into a living cartoon, making "The Mask" feel like pure animated chaos in live action. "The Mask" not only solidified Carrey's place as a 1990s comedy icon but also launched Diaz's Hollywood career. To this day, it remains a fan favorite from the period for its slapstick humor and groundbreaking visual effects. Watch it now on Hulu Another titan of '90s comedy, Will Smith, stars in my favorite entry on this list, "Independence Day." When Earth lands in the crosshairs of a massive alien invasion that threatens to wipe out humanity, a ragtag group of heroes — including fearless fighter pilot Captain Steven Hiller (Smith), brilliant computer whiz David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), and the determined U.S. President Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman)—come together to launch a desperate counterstrike. It all builds to a high-stakes showdown on July 4th, turning America's Independence Day into a global fight for survival. Packed with explosive action, groundbreaking special effects, and one of the most iconic presidential speeches in movie history, "Independence Day" remains a crowd-pleasing spectacle that helped define '90s blockbuster cinema. Watch it now on Tubi
Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Mckenna Grace, actress set to play Maysilee Donner in ‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping'?
Actress and singer Mckenna Grace has been cast as Maysilee Donner in 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping', set for release on November 20, 2026. Joseph Zada will portray a young Haymitch Abernathy, while Whitney Peak has been cast as his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird. Who is Mckenna Grace? Grace gained early recognition for her portrayal of young Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel (2019) and as Phoebe Spengler in Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and its sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) Wikipedia. She also starred in I, Tonya (2017) and Troop Zero (2019), showcasing her range in various genres?
CBC
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Sharing, inclusion top list of Calgary Expo perks
Ben Eadie doesn't go to comic conventions to meet celebrities, or to nerd out about a particular video game or film franchise. He goes for inspiration. "What I love is to see the costumes that people have built, and how they've done it, the unconventional materials, and, like, the MacGyvering instinct of everybody," said Eadie, a props and special effects artist from Calgary. "You see somebody that's got a really cool light-up jacket arm and you're like, 'How did you do that?' And they show me something that I didn't know, and it's like, 'Oh my god, that's amazing!'" Eadie has created intricate movie sets and props for major Hollywood films, including Star Trek Beyond (2016) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). The Star Trek project required him to build giant rotating machines that looked and moved like the starship Enterprise while it was being attacked by alien ships. And he got to create all the fictional gizmos used to detect and capture ghosts in Ghostbusters, including proton packs, PKE meters and ghost traps. He credits his childhood on a farm south of Calgary for his ability to invent, build and fix things. "In High River, I spent a lot of time just monkeying around, and because of that, I have an innate sense of what works and what doesn't," he said. "You know where you've got to put a bolt so that you can actually get at it with a wrench. And that kind of skill set is interestingly missing sometimes. There are a lot of people who can design things, but because they haven't put stuff together, they don't understand that it won't work that way. They don't have that practical know-how, the visual and doing-stuff-with-your-hands mechanicalness of it." Wandering through the crowds at the Calgary Expo gives Eadie a chance to admire and inspect the often elaborate cosplay costumes and accessories that have become the norm at comic cons around the world. "It's the builds and how they did it, and, you know, the story behind it," he said. "The literal blood, sweat and tears behind each costume is always so amazing." Fan costumes are on full display each year at the POW! Parade of Wonders, a Calgary Expo mainstay that draws thousands of participants and spectators into the city core. This year's parade on Friday, April 25, has a new route through the Beltline to the BMO Centre, and will include surprise appearances by some of the celebrities attending this year's convention. Strathmore cosplay guest and judge Autumn Desjardins went to her first Calgary Expo in 2012, at the age of 12. She and her friend thought dressing up was a requirement to get in. "We thought it was a rule," Desjardins recalled. "So we built these costumes, and I made the Ash Ketchum Pokemon costume from Value Village, and put all these pieces together, and since then I was hooked," Desjardins said. "It was game over, this is what I was going to do." In the years that followed, her costumes grew increasingly intricate. "I'd go to my mom, and I'm like, 'Mom, how do I use a sewing machine?' And she's like, 'I don't know how to use a sewing machine, so we're going to figure it out together!'" Desjardins, now 25, has won dozens of awards for her cosplay creations, and has represented Team Canada several times at international competitions, even placing second in 2024 at the MegaCon in Orlando, Fla. She loves learning new skills as part of her builds, be it woodworking, or sword-making, but says it's just as important to share those skills and ideas with others. "In Calgary, specifically, we have a community that's being created where at the end of the competition, people will trade their build books with other competitors. This is something I've only seen in our area, that people will trade, so then they learn off of these other costumes they've seen. It's so cool, and it's such a good community-building thing." But that willingness to talk shop and share tends to be a feature of the broader cosplay community, she notes. "You worked so hard on something that someone asks you one question and you want to go on a half-an-hour tangent about how you built it. Because a lot of us take a lot of pride in what we've built as well. And we want to share what we've done, and what small details you might miss, and 'did you notice this detail from Episode 6 that I added in?' All these little things. And so it really opens itself up to being a community of sharing and learning from others and building up one another, rather than being competitive and secretive and tearing people apart. Eadie emphasizes that, even though the innovation he sees is inspiring, any costume is just fine by him. "It doesn't have to be super amazing, either. I remember being at one of these cons with a couple of friends, and there was this one costume that was cardboard. It was rough. It was a great try, but it wouldn't make a movie scene. And (my friends) were kind of giggling at it, and I was mad. And they were like, 'Why are you so mad?' And I was like, 'Do you see a smile on that person's face? Because that is what this is about. This isn't about you, and what you see. This is about their escape, and the fun they've had, and don't you dare take that away from them.'" 'An escape where you can be you' Positivity and acceptance are a key part of comic convention culture, says Eadie, a father of two teenagers. Both are neurodivergent and LGBTQ, and they revel in dressing up to go to the expo, he adds. "And if you're a little bit weird or quirky, it just plays into the character," he said. "So they suddenly are not holding this shield up in public around themselves. They become them. I'm actually kind of tearing up about this. It's an escape where you can be you. "Whether you're neurodivergent or neurotypical, it doesn't matter," he added. "If you can escape into these things, it's so liberating. If you do these long stares and have to sit in a corner to breathe, that's part of the character, and that's cool. And nobody questions it. And that's lovely." The 2025 Calgary Expo runs April 24-27 at Stampede Park, with celebrity Q&As, photo ops, panels, workshops and demos. Confirmed VIPs include the cast members from Back to the Future, Twilight and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Alicia Silverstone, John Boyega, James Marsters, Helen Hunt and Nicholas Hoult. Friday morning's Parade of Wonders kicks off at 10:30 a.m. in Haultain Park with a new route, travelling east on 13th Avenue S.W., then south on Centre Street and east on 17th Avenue to the BMO Centre. Most celebrities taking part in the parade are being kept secret until the parade, but Peggy the Dog from Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) has been confirmed, as well as honorary parade marshals Jyoti Gondek, mayor of Calgary, and Loki, Dog Mayor of the Culture + Entertainment District. The Parade of Wonders is being hosted by CBC Calgary's Anis Heydari and Jenny Howe.
