Well, this just looks odd! Michael Bay ventures into Comedy with Miami-set Pain and Gain, which centers around the True Story of a Trio of Bodybuilders get caught-up in an Extortion Ring and Kidnapping Scheme which goes horribly wrong.

Mark Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, Anthony Mackie, Rebel Wilson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson star, with this being the latter’s third Film out in three months. How can anyone resist Wilson being inappopriate and naughty?

Check-out this brand new Red Band Trailer, which shocks as much as it amuses (NSFW!):

Paramount Pictures releases Pain and Gain on April 26, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

This totally breaks my heart. Back in the late ’90s, my BFF Fran raved to me about an emerging  new Artist named Don Philip who was on the same label which brought us Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync. I did as told and was taken aback by how catchy his Tracks were –  his voice impeccable. I remember eagerly waiting for his Album to come out, but with delay upon delay, the Disc never saw the light of day domestically.  On a Student’s budget, I had to rely on a burned copy of the CD to get me by. The Album from the handsome young Crooner did see a release in Asia where he made a bit of a name for himself, but his deserved Fame never came in these parts. He fell off the Pop Radar and I forgot about him completely.

Here are a couple of Philip‘s amazingly catchy Promo Singles. Perfect Pop.

You Make Me Love You

Sugar

After reflecting upon ’90s Music this weekend, Fran brought-up Philip once again and amidst all the bustle during TIFF last September, I never did get around to watching the first few episodes of the U.S.’s The X Factor.  I learned that Philip had auditioned for the Show, but instead of his return being triumphant as hoped, everything went awry.  The Singer on-stage wasn’t the gleaming Star I remembered 14 years prior and certainly not the same Guy who partnered with The X-Factor Judge Britney Spears on her debut Disc …One More Time on their Track, I Will Still Love You.

Watching his Audition on YouTube is the most difficult thing as we see Spears‘ face turn from happily supportive to soberingly saddened after realizing the hardships Philip has gone through since they last saw one another and then watching his Audition.  Although edited out, he came-out as a Gay Man before the Audience and Judges that day and later made allegations against The X Factor Producers he felt “bullied” him into his admission.  Worst of all, Spears had to deliver a rejection to her old Friend and Tour Mate: “I have to say no”.  We all remember Spears‘ v. public Breakdown in 2007 and this hits a little too close to home as this could easily have been her today without the Intervention she got.

Watch Philips’ Audition below:

As the Cameras follow Philip off-stage, it becomes apparent that something is terribly wrong as he cries inconsolably, “I never meant to hurt Britney… I’m so sorry Britney“. A quick perusal of his Twitter Timeline  to this day reveals perhaps an Obsession of sorts with her, still defining himself primarily in his Bio as having once done a Duet with her.

Even more unsettling is this recent Interview with Philip, where he discusses his Career and new Music.  His erratic behaviour distracts from everything he is saying and some might say he exhibits the symptoms of someone who abuses substances.  He claims now to feel “free” since outing himself, however if his shaky behaviour is a result of “coming out”, then 10% of North Americans are in serious trouble.

Upon Googling further, an Image Search shows multiple sexually explicit Screen Captures of self-filmed Videos (NSFW) made by Philip. It pains me to see someone who had this much potential and talent, see his own world crumble, yet still fight so hard to keep his dream alive.  But like many other talented Artists before him who had false starts or were dropped unceremoniously from their Labels, this is a Reality and a side to Fame we often don’t see after the Spotlight dims and it’s tragic. Philip clearly is battling his own Demons.

Finding happiness sometimes involves recognizing your own shortcomings, recognizing failure and having the bravery to ask for help. Here’s to hoping sincerely that Philip is able to find his balance in life.

You know him from Ally McBeal, The Shawshank Redemption and last year’s Box Office Hit The House at the End of the Street and he’s definitely one Canada’s great Talents. Gil Bellows is in Toronto to promote the release of Mad Ship, jointly-filmed in Canada and Norway.  The Great Depression-era Drama is about a Man whom is driven to madness after the loss of his Wife, deciding to build a homemade Ship to sail away from the Prairies.  It also stars Rachel Blanchard, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Aidan Devine.

Vancouver-born Bellows has an action-packed day which included a stop at Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) Co-Hosted this week by Carson Kressley, where I spotted him leaving and looking dapper sporting a well-suited Mustache. Special thanks to his kind Publicist who took the time to snap our Photo!

 Bellows also appeared on CITY‘s Breakfast Television and is doing Press at a certain Canadian Fashion Giant including the likes of Entertainment Tonight Canada, before ending the day at CBC‘s George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.

See our Snap below!

D Films releases Mad Ship in Toronto on Friday, March 29, 2013.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

Every Airplane Passenger’s worst nightmare. Check-out this high-octane Trailer for World War Z starring Brad Pitt. I cannot handle the intensity! Based on the Novel of the same name by Max Brooks, the Film centers around Gerry Lane (Pitt), a United Nations Worker circling the globe for clues that could end a Zombie Outbreak that is destroying nations around the World.

A just-in-Toronto-Mireille Enos, Bryan Cranston, David Morse, James Badge Dale and Matthew Fox also star. Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) directs the $200 million Blockbuster.

Watch the brand new Trailer below:

Paramount Pictures releases World War Z on June 21, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Amazing! Backstreet Boys really are gearing-up for a proper Comeback and all five of them unite for a bit of fun with their take on Viral Craze Harlem Shake, incorporating a bit of Choreography from their Everybody Video. Fun!  April 20th marks their 20th Anniversary, to be followed by a World Tour and a brand new Disc later this year.

I was just watching their old Videos the other day too! Miss them.

Watch below:

Over the past 10 years, some friends have come and gone. I had a job and lost a job. I got slim and got fat. I made Music and decided I no longer wanted to make Music. I had my heart broken twice and even battled Cancer. The one constant thing in my life always was Billy, the most loyal and trustworthy Companion. Happy 10th Birthday, Billy. You mean everything to me and I am so remarkably lucky to be your Caregiver. I hope I’ve been as good to you as you have been to me.

Love, Dad

p.s. Thank you to everyone for their kind and love-filled messages! We had the most amazing celebration today with some of our closest friends.  A day filled with happy faces, wagging tails, food, drink and cake.  Billy will remember this as his favourite day ever when he wakes up tomorrow morning.  He’s out cold!

Here’s a look back at Billy over the years.  If I might say, he’s just as excitable as he was when he was a Pup back in 2003!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Debuting atop the Box Office this weekend is The Croods from Dreamworks/20th Century Fox, earning $44 million from 4,046 theatres in North America. Earning positive reviews from Critics, tallying 64% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes and even strong reviews from audiences with an A CinemaScore, the Animated Feature starring Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone was made for $135 million,  still yet to be released overseas.

In second and certainly not disgraced is Antoine Fuqua‘s Olympus Has Fallen opening with $30.8 million for FilmDistrict/VVS Films, from 3,098 theatres.  Overall, reviews have been mixed with it earning 55% over at Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences responded v. well, giving an A- CinemaScore. After multiple Box Office Misfires of late, Gerard Butler re-asserts his standing as a bankable Leading Man. The Film however was made for $70 million, which by Indie standards is astronomically high, but with positive buzz, this should translate into a bit of staying power in coming weeks and possibly its second run on Home Video.

Oz The Great and Powerful continues to be a major force, slipping to third but still garnering $20.8 million in its third week and should shortly surpass the $200 million mark domestically.

Meanwhile The Call, last weekend’s Runner-Up, earns $9.1 million in its second week of release, just ahead of Tina Fey and Paul Rudd-headlining Rom-Com Admission in fifth with $6.6 million for Focus Features/eOne Films.

Amazingly, Spring Breakers in Limited Release finds itself in sixth with $5 million from only 1,104 theatres and next weekend will see a release in select Canadian cities including Toronto.  Reviews are solid for the Harmony Korine Flick starring James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson.

Former Champion Identity Thief still is hanging tough for Universal Pictures with $2.6 million from 2,166 theatres, while Snitch rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.9 million.  Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who stars in the latter, also will be making his presence felt with G.I. Joe: Retaliation, out next week.

Toronto and North Bay-filmed The Colony soon will see its release and our City has the honour of hosting the World Premiere for the Sci-Fi-Action-Thriller. Starring Bill Paxton, Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Zegers, the Film directed and written by Jeff Renfroe (Being Human) takes place in a post-Apocalyptic World, amidst the next Ice Age. Members of Colony 7 must fight desperately to save themselves after realizing they may be facing a far worse threat than imagined originally.

eOne Films and Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers a chance to win a Double Pass to attend the Red Carpet World Premiere of The Colony where Renfroe, Fishburne and Zegers will be in attendance!  The Premiere takes place in Toronto on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 7:30 PM.

To enter, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before Thursday, March 28, 2013. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://mrwillwong.com/thecolony @MRWILLW wants me at the World Premiere of #THECOLONY w/ #KevinZegers and #LaurenceFishburne. In theatres 4/12! #win

Good luck.

Watch the Trailer below:

eOne Films releases The Colony on April 12, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Not only will she be inundating our airwaves, the Multimedia domination of Beyoncé  this Summer will be heightened with a forthcoming Campaign for affordable Fashion Giant H&M!  Clues were leaked earlier this year when she was spotted in Bahamas shooting a Campaign for the Collection, but at long last we now get a formal confirmation. The Campaign will be timed with her forthcoming World Tour and feature her has Beyoncé as Mrs. Carter in H&M.

True – Queen B will be the new face of H&M, but make no mistake – she’s not just a pretty face.  The Megastar  had a hand in designing the new Summer Collection which includes Sun Dresses, Bikinis and a buzzed Bodycon Dress.  25% of proceeds from a Tie-Dye Bikini   will be going to the Water Aid Fund.

In a  Press Release  today, Beyoncé says “I’ve always liked H&M’s focus on fun and affordable fashion. I really loved the concept we collaborated on to explore the different emotions of Women represented by the four elements – fire, water, earth and wind. It was a beautiful shoot on a Tropical Island. It felt more like making a Video than a Commercial.”.

Photos were shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and the Commercial which will be accompanies by a new Track Standing on the Sun, was directed by Jonas Åkerlund.

Pieces from the Collection will be in-stores and online May 2013.

(Photo credit: H&M/Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin)

I don’t care what anyone says, but I’ve always been a Fan of Avril Lavigne and nothing anyone says will change this.   A Snippet of her new Track, Never Growing Up was just unveiled today and the Canadian Princess of Punk-Pop is inviting Fans to be a part of the Lyric Video for the Track by uploading clips of themselves “never growing up”.

Upon initial listen, the Track is making me have a major Taylor Swift moment.  The parallels to We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together are apparent, but that Track in itself sounds like signature Avril Lavigne.

You too can be a part of the fun and hear a clip of Never Growing Up right here.

Sony Music  Canada releases Never Growing Up on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)