#FIRSTLOOK: “EASTER SUNDAY” NOW ON BLU-RAY™

Though EASTER SUNDAY takes elements we’ve seen before in Dysfunctional Family Comedies, it still does it in an impactful way speaking in a voice that is long overdue to be seen and heard.

Comedian Jo Koy is featured front and center here in this latest effort from fellow Funnyman/Director Jay Chandrasekhar.  Koy places a fictionalized version of himself, Joe Valencia, who is struggling to get that next big gig, auditioning for an upcoming TV Series. He must balance his artistic integrity and opportunity, being asked to read in a Filipino accent.  Which is fine if he had one, but he doesn’t and he isn’t about to be typecast. At once, his mother (Lydia Gaston) is hounding him to come home for Easter Sunday, and at once he’s trying to spend some quality time with his son Junior (Brandon Wardell).  He fronts his cousin Eugene (Eugene Cordero) a large sum of money, thinking he’s about to start a Taco Food Truck with it – which he doesn’t – and soon they find themselves on-the-run from gangster Dev Deluxe (Asif Ali) who’s out to collect from them.

There’s a lot going on in EASTER SUNDAY. On one level, it’s a Family Comedy that explores Filipino culture in America and its nuances, like petty family feuds, and also meeting parental expectations of us. It’s also about a father reconnecting with his son, who he rarely gets to see as he’s out hustling.  Then it’s a love story between son and a girl from the neighbourhood, Ruth (Eva Noblezada). Then it’s also a bit of an Action-Comedy as Dev Deluxe is in hot pursuit of Eugene and Joe. But then also, Joe is really trying to make it still and wonders if he ever will lang that gig that makes him a star. It’s as though they’ve tossed all the Pancit on the wall and were trying to see which noodles would stick, when reining-in some of the focus back to Joe and him finding himself in this journey, would’ve tightened this up as with all the concurring storylines all running at once, the tonal shifts reduce the Film’s cohesion.

This is not to say the Film isn’t lots of fun, because it is!  When it comes time for this family to confront their pain points, the Film says what it really wants to say. Koy is a charismatic and engaging presence on-screen and really gives it his all here and  we can’t believe Tita Theresa was Tia Carrere! And who knew Lou Diamond Phillips was part-Filipino? That cameo in itself is worth the price of admission.  Comedy Queen Tiffany Haddish steals the show as an old flame of Joe‘s, Vanessa, reuniting in the most unlikely and comical circumstances.

A proud moment for the Filipino community. But make no mistake, this is as much a Filipino story as it is an American story.

 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment release EASTER SUNDAY on BLU-RAY^TM AND DVD OCTOBER 18, 2022.

EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY^TM, DVD & DIGITAL:

• GAG REEL
• DELETED SCENES
• MAKING EASTER SUNDAY – This film has been a passion project for Jo Koy, and it’s been quite a journey to see it all the way from ideation to production.
• FAMILY MATTERS – If there’s one take-away from the film, it’s that family is the most important thing. In this fun piece meant to get to know our cast and some of our key crew, we talk to them about the roles they play, how similar they are to their real selves and their own family members, as well as ask them questions about their own family to try and get to know our cast a little better.
• A DAY IN THE LIFE… – What does a day in the life of our talent look like, told from their own POV? Using footage shot by our talent themselves on iPhones handed out to them during production, they give us personal, in-depth looks into their days and what it’s like to be on set filming a movie like Easter Sunday.
• TAGLISH – In this short piece, we have Jo and some of our Filipino talent give us a brief description of what Taglish (a hybrid between English and Tagalog) is and let us know some of their favorite words or phrases.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR JAY CHANDRASEKHAR AND ACTOR JO KOY

EASTER SUNDAY will be available on Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital.

• Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack includes Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital copy.
• Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can buy or rent instantly.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “EASTER SUNDAY”

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Screening Passes to see EASTER SUNDAY!

Advance screenings will be held Wednesday, August 3, 2022 in:

Toronto: Cineplex Yonge & Dundas at 7 PM
Vancouver: Cineplex International Village at 7 pm

Synopsis:

Stand-up comedy sensation Jo Koy (Jo Koy: In His Elements, Jo Koy: Comin’ in Hot) stars as a man returning home for an Easter celebration with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family, in this love letter to his Filipino-American community.

Easter Sunday features an all-star comedic cast that includes Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley series), Tia Carrere (True Lies, Wayne’s World films), Brandon Wardell (Curb Your Enthusiasm series), Tony nominee Eva Noblezada (Broadway’s Hadestown), Lydia Gaston (Broadway’s The King and I), Asif Ali (WandaVision), Rodney To (Parks and Recreation series), Eugene Cordero (The Good Place series), Jay Chandrasekhar (I Love You, Man), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip) and Lou Diamond Phillips (Courage Under Fire).

Easter Sunday, from DreamWorks Pictures, is directed by Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, The Dukes of Hazzard, I Love You, Man), from a script by Ken Cheng (Sin City Saints series) and Kate Angelo (Sex Tape) based on a story by Ken Cheng.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK.

Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance to win!

Rules and regulations here.

Universal Pictures Canada release EASTER SUNDAY August 5, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: “EASTER SUNDAY” TRAILER

JO KOY stars in EASTER SUNDAY! Here’s a first look at the Trailer.

Synopsis:

Stand-up comedy sensation Jo Koy (Jo Koy: In His Elements, Jo Koy: Comin’ in Hot) stars as a man returning home for an Easter celebration with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family, in this love letter to his Filipino-American community.

Easter Sunday features an all-star comedic cast that includes Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley series), Tia Carrere (True Lies, Wayne’s World films), Brandon Wardell (Curb Your Enthusiasm series), Tony nominee Eva Noblezada (Broadway’s Hadestown), Lydia Gaston (Broadway’s The King and I), Asif Ali (WandaVision), Rodney To (Parks and Recreation series), Eugene Cordero (The Good Place series), Jay Chandrasekhar (I Love You, Man), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip) and Lou Diamond Phillips (Courage Under Fire).

Easter Sunday, from DreamWorks Pictures, is directed by Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, The Dukes of Hazzard, I Love You, Man), from a script by Ken Cheng (Sin City Saints series) and Kate Angelo (Sex Tape) based on a story by Ken Cheng.

The film is produced by Rideback’s blockbuster producers Dan Lin (The Lego Movie franchise, It franchise) and Jonathan Eirich (Aladdin, The Two Popes), and is executive produced by Nick Reynolds, Joe Meloche, Jo Koy, Jessica Gao, Jimmy O. Yang, Ken Cheng and Seth William Meier.

EASTER SUNDAY arrives in theatres August 5, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)