The Croods + Questions and Answers with Actress Catherine Keener and Directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco!

Da Da Daaaa! By now I'm sure you've seen the super cute commercials for the upcoming movie The Croods.

About The Movie:

The Croods tells the story of the world's first family road trip. When their cave is destroyed, the Crood family must embark on a comedy adventure into strange and spectacular territory in search of a new home. As if patriarch Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) didn't already have enough to handle, it goes from bad to worse when they encounter an imaginative nomad named Guy (voiced by Ryan Reynolds.) With Guy's help the Croods conquer their fear of the outside world and discover that they have exactly what it takes to survive - each other.

The Cast:

Crug (The Dad) is voiced by Nicolas Cage

Ugga (The Mom) is voiced by Catherine Keener

Eep (Daughter) is voiced by Emma Stone

Gran (Grandmother, Ugga's Mom) is voiced by Cloris Leachman

Thunk (Son) is voiced by Clark Duke

Sandy (baby) is voiced by Randy Thom

Guy (The New Guy) is voiced by Ryan Reynolds

Belt (The Sloth) is voiced by Chris Sanders (III)

The Event:

As you know Mamarazzi screenings with The Moms are not your typical movie screenings, they are EVENTS! This screening was followed by a Questions and Answers Session with the films two directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco as well as Actress Catherine Keener the voice of Ugga who is the family matriarch in DreamWorks animated film The Croods.

You know me, I like to take you through the event via photos from begining to end so you can see everything I got to see! Before we got upstairs a very special mascot made his entry in the lobby and caused quite a bit of excitement, it was BELT!!! So when we got upstairs there he was so we could take pictures, and you know I love Mascot photos (as all my photos from most BlogHer Conferences are with the Mascots I find on the exhibitor floor!).

Left: Ascending Butterfly, Center: Belt Mascot from DreamWorks Pictures The Croods, Right: Mama Butterfly

My eyes were closed in the first photo above, so thankfully they got another one!

Now we're talking! DA DA DAAAAA!

And there was another cute photo opp waiting at the entrance to the auditorium:

I didn't dare sit on that little chair, so I snapped a picture of it!

And there was cute Crood branded Popcorn Bags at the ready for us too!

The screening was followed by a Questions and Answers Session led by Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein the dynamic duo behind The Moms, Catherine Keener the voice of Ugga, and directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco!

Below is a video with Questions and Answers that were asked prior to the audience Q&A but it opens with some of the pre-screening reception and don't blink because I'm in the beginning of this video posing for my picture with Mama Butterfly and Belt!

I can see why Actress Kristen Bell likes Sloths, Belt is kind of sweet and cuddly! Here are my photos from the Questions and Answers Session, thankfully it's accompanied by the video of the session as my shots weren't super clear. (This butterfly definitely needs a new camera!)

Left: Denise Albert from 'The Moms', Center: Actress Catherine Keener, to Catherine's Right  Director Chris Sanders, Far Right: Kirk DeMicco

Left: Catherine Keener (Voice of Ugga in DreamWorks Pictures The Croods), Center: Director Chris Sanders, Right: Director Kirk DeMicco

Left: Vincent DiCaro, Director of Public Affairs, National Fatherhood Initiative, Right: Denise Albert from 'The Moms'

Here is the Video of the Questions and Answers Session:

My Take:

The Croods is good family fun for ALL ages! While I did enjoy Oz The Great Powerful, that movie is definitely for older children and teens, while The Croods is good for all ages. It touches on so many different aspects of what being a family means, and the great lessons they learn along the way when they were forced to embrace change ready or not. Parents learning how to let their children grow and go, and the struggles that children go through when they want more freedom than they may necessarily be quite ready for.

The Croods hits theaters on March 22nd and I would definitely say it's a 'Ticket' if you are looking for a family friendly film that is fun for all ages!

Once you've had a chance to see it, come back here and let us know what you thought! And Bloggers feel free to link us to your Wordless Wednesday Posts here too!

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FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly attended a Private Screening of DreamWorks Pictures The Croods, we were provided with snacks and a gift bag, however this is NOT a sponsored post and no monetary compensation has been received to share our screening experience or film review. Full disclosure policy: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

People Like Us {Movie Review}

No butterflies I was not on vacation yesterday, this post was actually supposed to go live Friday, but lately technology has not been my friend! (If anyone hears of a casting call for 'Pimp my Electronics' please let me know!)

On Tuesday, June 26th, The Moms, TV Personalities and media duo, Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein hosted a private Mamarazzi event, sponsored by MARTINI, to celebrate the release of People Like Us. The event kicked off with a lovely breakfast sponsored by Panera, and included MOMosas and MARTINI Sparkling Prosecco, followed by a screening and then a Questions and Answers session with the movie's star, Elizabeth Banks!

I will tell you The Moms 'Mamarazzi' events are always fantastic and never disappoint, I only wish that every single movie being released would hold screenings with them!

MARTINI and The Moms celebrate release of People Like Us with Elizabeth Banks - (Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MARTINI)

What's in a MOMosa? Glad you asked, here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 parts chilled MARTINI Asti

1 part Orange Juice

Directions:

Pour Orange Juice into a flute glass, top with Martini Asti and garnish with a strawberry (or the seasonal fruit of your choice)

(Please MOMosa responsibly, don't drive under the MOMosa influence, LOL, no seriously, call a cab)

Sam (Chris Pine) gets to know Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) the sister he has just discovered and her son Josh (Michael D’Addario) while trying to figure out how to tell her they are siblings in the DreamWorks drama/comedy People Like Us opening June 29, 2012.

Synopsis:

English: "People Like Us"  tells the story of a struggling man who, after flying home to L.A. for the funeral of his estranged record-producer father, discovers that the will stipulates that he must deliver $150,000 in cash to a 30-year-old alcoholic sister he never knew existed, and her troubled 12-year-old son.

Spanish: "Gente como nosotros" narra la historia de un hombre de lucha que, después de volar a casa a los Ángeles para el funeral de su padre productor de registro, descubre que la voluntad estipula que debe entregar $150.000 en efectivo a una hermana alcohólica de 30 años de edad nunca supo que existía y su hijo de 12 años de edad conflictivo. 

Sam (Chris Pine) gets to know Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) the sister he has just discovered and her son Josh (Michael D’Addario) while trying to figure out how to tell her they are siblings in the DreamWorks drama/comedy People Like Us opening June 29, 2012

The movie opens with Sam (played by Chris Pine), a salesman who suddenly finds his job in jeopardy (and in need of monies to help save his job), having to find a way to save his job and then finding out his estranged Father died and he needs to fly back  home for his funeral. He gets back home with both his personal and professional life both very much in the up in the air. He is soon confronted with the challenging task of carrying out his father’s final wish – to deliver $150,000 to a single mom named Frankie (played by Elizabeth Banks) and her 11-year-old son, Josh (played by Michael Hall D’addario).

Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Lillian, recently widowed she is reconnecting with her son in the DreamWorks drama People Like Us opening June 29, 2012.

Michelle Pfeiffer plays Sam’s mother Lilllian, she struggles to cope with the loss of her (cheating) husband and the son who has been absent for so long returning home.

Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) has a heart-to-heart conversation with her son Josh (Michael D’Addario) in the DreamWorks drama/comedy People Like Us opening June 29, 2012.

Elizabeth Banks plays Frankie, struggling Single Mom, recovering addict, and Sam's long lost sister. Her pre-teen son Josh, played by Michael D'Addario is rebellious, getting in trouble in school and testing his boundaries.

What would you do if you needed the money, and $150,000 falls into your hands and your task is to give it someone else?

Not such an easy task!

After the screening which was sponsored by MARTINI and hosted by The Moms, Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein, Elizabeth Banks joined us for a question and answer session.

Here are a mix of photos from the Q&A:

When asked about single moms, Banks replied: “I know so many of these women who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.” Center: Actress Elizabeth Banks (photo credit: www.ascendingbutterfly.com)

When asked about Work/Life Balance, Banks replied: “You have 500 million things on your plate – never enough money, or enough time, or enough people to rely on, and you are always wondering how you are going to get it done.”

"They have a lot of friends but there will only be one of you"

MARTINI and The Moms celebrate release of People Like Us with Elizabeth Banks - (Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MARTINI)

MARTINI and The Moms celebrate release of People Like Us with Elizabeth Banks - (Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MARTINI)

My Take:

I hope "People Like Us" doesn't get lost in the summer 3D/Action and Blockbuster movies that we tend to associate with summer releases. It's as real as family life gets, and you are drawn into the character's struggles because it is so well acted.

Get Social with People Like Us on Facebook and Twitter remember to use the hashtag #PeopleLikeUs

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored/compensated post. No monetary compensation has been received in exchange for this movie review. All opinions are 100% my own. I attended an Advanced Screening of People Like Us via The Moms.

Real Steal Movie Review!

Real Steel is out in theaters, and if you can, catch it in Imax so you can really enjoy the fight scenes. The movie is set in the near future and the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech. Robot Boxers in underground matches have replaced human boxers (apparently HBO disappears in the very near future, and we must resort to watching Robot Boxing in underground matches in questionable 'arenas'). It's sort of where 'Rock Em Sock Em Robots' and 'Rocky Balboa' meet with a touch of 'Transformers' for good measure. While this is PG-13 rated, I warn you Hugh Jackman's character, Charlie Kenton, is not quite 'likable', there is some strong language, and an opening scene with a bull that I could have lived without.

Other than the opening scene, it moves along relatively predictably, the fight scenes are enjoyable (yes folks, this butterfly has always been a bit of a tomboy and studied martial arts instead of ballet), and the humanizing of the 'good guy' robot 'Atom', and his relationship with Charles Kenton's son, Max Kenton (Played by Dakota Goyo who you may remember played Young Thor in the Thor Movie) gave the movie a little more depth. Evangeline Lilly as Charles Kenton's ever faithful love interest Bailey was OK, but she's no Talia Shire. (OK, I promise no more Rocky references).

I can't wait to try out the Video Game (although I probably won't get the chance, as it's not available for Wii, it's being released for the Xbox 360 (on October 12) as well as Playstation Network (October 18). So if any of you try it out, please come back here and let me know all about it!

Hugh Jackman (as Charles Kenton) in "Real Steel" (DreamWorks) with Robot 'Atom' and Dakota Goyo who plays son Max Kenton

“The father-son aspect is the spine of the movie,” Jackman said. “As cool a concept as it was to have all of the boxing robots, and as great as that is, we needed to achieve a couple of things beyond that. We needed to make people care about those robots and even with the great design that requires the audience to care about the people around the robots. It’s a redemption tale about all three beings — the father, the son and the robot.” ~Hugh Jackman (via LA Times)

It has the feel good ending audiences can get behind, and enough hi-tech cool factor to keep everyone involved! Visit the Real Steel website to make a cool paper robot and catch up with all things social for Reel Steal on Facebook and Twitter too!

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FTC Info: This is a NON-compensated Post. I attended a Press Screening of Reel Steal. All opinions are my own.