I walked into the elevator and immediately recognized her from You Again and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.  Despite the fact that I lived in LA most of my life, I still find it surreal to walk into an elevator and come face to face with Kristen Bell, who plays one of the few fictional characters in the film Big Miracle. The character of Jill Jerard (Bell), a TV reporter from Los Angeles, was actually based on several news men and women who made the trek up to Barrow, Alaska to cover Operation Breakthrough in 1988.

We sat down to chat with Bell about her role in the film Big Miracle, her father’s influence on her character, and what it was like to shoot in Alaska.  Having grown up “playing with a teleprompter,” Bell felt at ease in the role of the ambitious reporter, given the fact that her father was a news director and she grew up around news anchors.  “It was kind of my little homage to my dad,” Bell states.  Media was really the catalyst for the international effort in 1988 and it wasn’t until I sat down to speak with some of the talent from the film that I fully grasped this concept.

From a historical perspective, Jill Jerard’s character is integral to the film’s plot and the depiction of the effort.  If you were a journalist at the time (particularly if you were a woman), it was important to be the first person to break a news story.  And as much as media drew attention and garnered support, it was manipulated by many for personal gains.

The story, as impossible as it seems, was only feasible because the world came together to brainstorm and physically assist with the rescue effort. Bell hopes that viewers “will realize how unreasonably powerful it is when human beings can come together for a common goal.  Anything is accomplishable if you’re working together.”

Despite Bell’s accolades, she’s actually quite grounded.  She is confident and “doesn’t identify whether or not [she is] a good human being based on how respected [she is] in the acting community.” And while her travels have brought her to a number of exotic and picturesque locations, she prefers to be at home because she is “such a home body.”

Big Miracle is in theaters on February 3rd, 2012.

If you watch the trailer for the film on Facebook, Universal Pictures will donate $1 to Oceana!

You can read my previous interview with Vinessa Shaw and Bonnie Carroll here.

You can read my interview with Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski here.

No compensation was received for this post.  I was invited to the Big Miracle Press Junket, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

As Vinessa Shaw and Bonnie Carroll sat down together to chat with us for a few moments, I sensed a connection between them…a friendship that extends beyond that which would be required to accurately portray the White House aide’s important role in the effort. When asked whether Shaw found it intimidating to portray a real person (in this instance Bonnie), Shaw explains, “at first, yes, because Bonnie’s life is so amazing and she has a reputation that precedes her.”  It was only after Shaw met the “wonderfully joyful” Carroll that she felt “more relaxed to perhaps try to portray her.”  “It’s been such an honor to do it because I know only a fraction of it is on film” Shaw continues. “Getting to know Bonnie and to know the kind of person she is and what she did after the death of her husband, [taking that] darkness and putting [it] into helping others such as TAPS was just really inspiring.”  As I suspected, the two became close as they spent time together working on the film.  “Here I was just thinking I was doing a role in a film, but then I gained friendship and I gained an understanding,” states Shaw.  The two became so close that Shaw wore Carroll’s hat and coat in the final scenes of the movie.

At first glance, it seems the principle romantic focus is on Alaska newsman Adam Carlson (played by John Krasinski) and animal activist/environmentalist Rachel Kramer (played by Drew Barrymore).  A look deeper into the story reveals a true-to-life romance that budded as a result of this effort.  Carroll and her husband met and wedded as a result of Operation Breakthrough.  As I listened to her recount that moment when she first spoke with her future husband on the phone, I could hear the love in her voice and see the sparkle in her eye.  In the midst of the effort, President Reagan asked her to call someone in The National Guard who might be able to assist and give insight into the effort.  She was up working at two in the morning when the phone rang. “We talked for a few minutes about the whale rescue and how things [were] going, and it just took my breath away” she states.  “And we just stopped, and I just wondered, “Where have you been?” From that moment, the two were inseparable and agreed to be married before they ever met in person.

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures

During the 1988 rescue effort, Carroll felt like her husband truly saw “the bigger picture in the world.” “There were so many things that happened with the Alaska Natives that were not portrayed [in the film] that he was very attuned to,” Carroll states.  “And when he was killed, many of the Native Elders told me he was one of the few white men that could walk in both worlds.”  As a man who was in touch with the Alaska Natives, he was in many ways ahead of this time. Sadly, he died in 1992 in an Army plane crash.

Following the death of her husband, Carroll founded the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors to provide comfort and care to those who have been affected by the loss of a loved one who served in the armed forces.  As she spoke of her late husband, I found myself tearing up at the loss of such a great man and the pain that this inspirational woman endured.  Having undergone training to handle trauma and having served as a leader in the National Guard, she thought, “this horrible thing has happened but I’m going be okay, I’m going to help these other families, I’m going to help my family.”  That lasted 30 seconds, according to Carroll, and “life just stopped.”  And just like those three whales, struggling to survive, all she had “was this tiny little breathing hole, and it’s just all you can do every day to kind of take a breath and gasp for air.”  During her time of grieving and recovery, she found that no support program was in place for military families, thus was born TAPS.  This peer-based support program assists grieving military families with support and resources.  I’m still in awe of this woman who took something so tragic and turned it into something beneficial. As Shaw stated, “I’ve learned since meeting her [Carroll] how you can really take darkness and put it into something great.”

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures

As someone who is passionate about film, I always find it intriguing to get an inside look at the talent, the development of the story and characters, and all the intricate details involved in creating the masterpiece that appears on the big screen.  As we near opening day, I will be sharing exclusive interviews and information on Universal Pictures’ theatrical release of Big Miracle on February 3rd.

You can read my interview with Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski here.

No compensation was received for this post.  I was invited to the Big Miracle Press Junket, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

Two weeks ago, The Switch was released on DVD and Blu-ray.  This is one of those movies I had hoped to see in theaters, but never had an opportunity due to busy schedules and lack of childcare.  The film stars Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis and Patrick Wilson in a heartwarming story about friendship, family, and love.

Here is a quick synopsis from the site:

Kassie (Aniston) is a smart, fun-loving single woman who, despite her neurotic best friend Wally’s (Bateman) objections, decides it’s time to have a baby – even if it means doing it herself…with a little help from a charming sperm donor (Wilson). But, unbeknownst to her, Kassie’s plans go awry because of a last-minute switch that isn’t discovered until seven years later…when Wally gets acquainted with Kassie’s cute – though slightly neurotic – son.

I finally completed the film and liked it so much more than I expected.  The story itself negates your preconceived ideas about the origins of a family.  In today’s society, where women can become mothers without a spouse, comes a film that continues where most stories conclude.

Jennifer Aniston is humorous yet moving in her maternal role.  She’s beautiful and relatable and perfectly suited to portray Kassie.  Jason Bateman is strong yet vulnerable and you’ll likely find yourself “rooting” for him.  Their friendship evolves organically over time into a lasting relationship.

I found the relationship between Wally and his son to be poignant and a model for the father-son relationship.  The making of this family is in no way traditional but I like the emphasis and positive portrayal of family.

Based on the movie, here are some cute film-themed parenting tips:

TIP 1: Identify & Communicate Your Child’s Interests. Help friends and family get your kids the gifts they’ll really love by understanding their hobbies and collections—even if they’re as unusual as a collection of brand-new picture frames filled with stock photographs.

TIP 2: Keep a Watchful Eye on Internet Use. Specifically, limit your child’s exposure to WebMD. It’s unlikely he has Cyclothymic disorder or Parkinson’s disease, but he could come down with a nasty case of hypochondria.

TIP 3: Pick Your Battles. Especially when it comes to feeding a picky eater, there are times when the fight isn’t worth it. Sometimes rice with soy sauce is just fine, no matter how impressive (or expensive) the duck is.

TIP 4: Fewer Choices Yield Faster Results. Giving kids choices is fine, but you’ll get them to bed faster if you limit their options to just two: Cowboy or astronaut pajamas? Duck or unfortunate chicken stuffed animal?

TIP 5: Beware the Big Birthday Bash Temptation. Your idea of the best birthday party ever might not be your kid’s idea of a good time, even if it is something as fun and adventurous as a huge bash at the local rock climbing gym.

TIP 6: Don’t Bug Out Over Bugs. Kids can pick up lice from other kids at school, daycare, wherever. It happens. There are several steps you can take to eliminate the bugs, but most importantly, don’t make it a big deal. It’s lice, not leprosy.

The Switch is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray in stores nationwide.

No compensation was received for this post. A copy of the DVD was provided which helped to facilitate this review.

Photo Credit: Disney

Here is a brief synopsis:

Take out the trash, eat your broccoli—who needs moms, anyway?  Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out just how much he needshis mom (Joan Cusack) when she’s nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young.  “Mars Needs Moms” showcases Milo’s quest to save his mom—a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling). With the help of a tech-savvy, underground earthman named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a rebel Martian girl called Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), Milo just might find his way back to his mom—in more ways than one.

The film, which was produced by the team behind “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” is visually stunning and made for 3D.  Unlike traditional animation, the scenes are rich in depth and viewers are transported into the multi-level world under the surface of Mars created by the filmmakers.  The characters resemble their respective actors in many ways and the scenes have a surreal quality to them.

Photo Credit: Disney

The story itself is moving, although in my opinion, not suitable for younger, preschool-aged children like my son.  Specifically, the film touches on Gribble’s loss of his mother and there is a very emotional scene at the end.  The film elevates moms and reminds us of how important they are to both children and adults.  The love and relationship between a mother and her child is depicted beautifully, particularly towards the end of the film which left me in tears.  Friendship, family, and love are all explored in the movie, which ends positively.

Photo Credit: Disney

My favorite character is Ki, played by Elisabeth Harnois. She is the young, hip tagger who teaches herself to speak English and is striving to infuse a little color into an otherwise dark and dismal world. She’s instrumental in helping Milo find his mother and transforms an otherwise grumpy Gribble.

Photo Credit: El Capitan Theatre

Mars Needs Moms is playing in theaters nationwide.  If you’re SoCal centric, you can see the film during it’s limited engagement at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood through April 21st.  To celebrate the film’s opening, the theater will host a special NASA and JPL Space Exploration Exhibit where guests can learn about NASA’s exploration of Mars before and after each showing.  The display from NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology features authentic models of the Phoenix Lander, Curiosity Rover, Mars Odyssey Orbiter, and more.  And, be sure to sign up for TIPPR because they currently have a deal where you can get one adult and one child admission to Mars Needs Moms for just $22!  You can also get this deal when you order tickets via phone (818) 845-3110 or at the box office through the run of the film at the theater with the code “broccoli.”

Lastly, if you’d like to enter to win a brand new Nissan Quest, just visit the microsite here.

No compensation was received for this post. I attended a preview screening of the film, courtesy of Disney.

About the film:  

The world is in danger of being overrun by vampires, and the only person who can prevent it from happening is Flynn Carsen in the third installment of TNT’s hugely successful Librarian franchise, starring Noah Wyle (ER). THE LIBRARIAN: CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE, co-starring Bob Newhart (Elf, The Bob Newhart Show) and Jane Curtin (Our Town, 3rd Rock from the Sun), sends the bookish hero Flynn to New Orleans, where he tries to undo a nefarious vampire plot and rescue a kidnapped professor (Bruce Davison – X-Men, Knight Rider) with the help of a beautiful chanteuse (Stana Katic – Feast of Love). 

This action-filled adventure follows Noah Wyle as Flynn, the increasingly reluctant treasure hunter, on his quest in locating the Library’s latest relic. His journey this time is even more important: understanding his important role and calling as the Library’s chosen one; it’s key to finding the world’s most important artifacts and in turn saving the world from certain doom and disaster. 

This is a great movie for the treasure hunter in all of us. If you’re a fan of the National Treasure movies (Nicholas Cage), then this is definitely a film for you. The plot has a few great twists and turns that leave you wondering what will happen next. 

You can catch The Librarian: Curse of The Judas Chalice, Sunday, December 7, at 8pm (ET/PT) on TNT.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUt_7sI7Tx0&hl=en&fs=1]