20th Century Fox has released the first teaser trailer for the upcoming film adaptation of the Newbery-winning children’s book Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Directed by Mark Waters (Mean Girls, Freaky Friday, Ghost of Girlfriends Past), the the comedy stars Jim Carrey as a businessman whose “professional side starts to unravel after he inherits six penguins, and as he transforms his apartment into a winter wonderland.” The movie co-stars Carla Gugino, Ophelia Lovibond, Philip Baker Hall, Andrew Stewart-Jones, James Tupper, Clark Gregg, David Krumholtz and Angela Lansbury.
For me, Jim Carrey movies are begining to become a subgenre of wacky family comedies, and all of them feel the same. Mr. Popper’s Penguins seems no different. And yes, the trailer even includes a catchy pop song from pop culture past. Seems like the fulfilled the formula to the T. That said, I’ll probably still see the movie, if not in the theaters then on video, just for the penguins alone (even if they are partly CG). Hit the jump to watch the teaser trailer. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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We only recently got our first look at Mark Waters‘ latest film, the Jim Carrey-starring Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and already the director is negotiating a deal for his follow-up project. He’s in line to direct Get Back, a comedy about two die-hard Beatles fans who, upon discovering a time machine, travel back in time to prevent John Lennon from ever meeting Yoko Ono, who they blame for breaking up the group. Learn more after the break. Read More »
Century Fox has released the first official photos from the upcoming film adaptation of the Newbery-winning children’s book Mr. Popper’s Penguins in today’s edition of USA Today. Directed by Mark Waters (Mean Girls, Freaky Friday, Ghost of Girlfriends Past), the the comedy stars Jim Carrey as a businessman whose “professional side starts to unravel after he inherits six penguins, and as he transforms his apartment into a winter wonderland.” The movie co-stars Carla Gugino, Ophelia Lovibond, Philip Baker Hall, Andrew Stewart-Jones, James Tupper, Clark Gregg, David Krumholtz and Angela Lansbury. Hit the jump to see the photos.
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Briefly: Jim Carrey is starring in an adaptation of the childrens book Mr. Popper’s Penguins, which is set to shoot in New York. (Based on some photos I saw yesterday, the film may be shooting now, or very soon.) And now Carla Gugino has taken up a role in the picture.
Variety summarizes the film’s plot, slightly altered from that of the book (of course) as “Mr. Popper is a high-powered, New York buisnessman who suddenly inherits six penguins. Taking care of the animals is no easy matter, and he quickly hits major hurtles, both at home and at work. But along the way, he learns the value of family and friendship–human and otherwise.”
We don’t know Gugino’s role, but it is reasonable to expect she’ll be the female lead / love interest. Nice bump for Gugino if the film turns out well. Mark Waters is directing based on a script by Jared Stern, who rewrote the Sean Anders and John Morris script. There was a point where Noah Baumbach and Ben Stiller were looking to make the film, but if you’re recalling that info, they’ve moved on.
Well this is unfortunate timing. On the same day news broke of a rather lame-sounding potential Jim Carrey vehicle, confirmation has arrived that he’s going to be starring in Mr. Popper’s Penguins, a needless modernization of the children’s-favorite 1938 book that was originally poised to reteam Noah Baumbach and Ben Stiller.
Director Mark Waters, who’s filmography is decidedly mixed (high points: Mean Girls, The Spiderwick Chronicles; low points: Head Over Heels, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), will direct. Learn about how the film plans to depart from the original story after the break. Read More »
Fox is trying to figure out a strategy to put to work adapting Richard and Florence Atwater‘s WWII-era childrens’ book Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Earlier this year it looked for a moment like Noah Baumbach and Ben Stiller might reunite post-Greenberg to make the film. But that didn’t work out and Fox has continued to look for talent.
Now there’s a report that pins two new names to the project: director Mark Waters (Freaky Friday) and Jim Carrey. Read More »
 
I’ve been extremely disappointed with the recent batch of fantasy films based on bestselling children’s books. The Chronicles of Narnia, Bridge to Terabithia, Arthur and the Invisibles – it seems like the movie studios are trying to capture the magic of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. They are looking for a family friendly film that could be fleshed out into a franchise. But they haven’t been able to get it right, YET at least. The good news is that The Golden Compass is nearing the horizon, and I’m pretty sure that movie is going to deliver (hey, I could be wrong – I have been before).
And today Nickelodeon/Paramount brings us the movie trailer for The Spiderwick Chronicles. The film is of course based on Holly Black and Tony Diterlizzi’s bestselling children’s book series about three kids who battle goblins and other magical creatures who are after Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide. From the look of the trailer, this film might deliver on the promises made in the deceptive marketing for Bridge to Terabithia. And Mean Girls director Mark Waters knows how to make a good teen/childrens flick. Check out the new trailer after the jump. Tell me what you think. One thing is for sure, those giant toad creatures are creepy.
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I think I’m one of the only people still watching Fox’s filmmaking reality show On The Lot. And I’m not quite sure why I’m still watching, they’ve done everything they can to make it an unenjoyable experience. And last week the Marty Martin, the most gifted filmmaker of the bunch was voted off because the public thought he was arrogant. Imagine if Hollywood kicked out all arrogant directors… We’d have no Star Wars or Godfather films.
Reality TV Magazine are reporting that “Mean Girls” director Mark Waters and “Hostel Part II” director Eli Roth will serve as the next two guest judges alongside regulars Carrie Fisher and Garry Marshall. Waters will be on tonight judging six comedy films, and Roth will guest next week to judge six horror films. I’m wondering if any of the remaining filmmakers will include torture porn in their short film to get on Roth’s good side?
