By Amanda Gilmore

Writer-Director Lauren Miller Rogen has created a delightful comedy about the decision every long-term couple faces: to parent or not to parent.

Happily married couple Annie (Anna Kendrick) and Aaron (Seth Rogen) have been together for 17 years. Surrounded by friends who have children, they are constantly asked, “When are you having kids?” They’ve danced with the idea but haven’t committed one way or the other. But when one of their friends moves into their place with her young daughter, they use it as a test.

Miller Rogen has pulled a lot from her own life and her long-term relationship with Rogen, resulting in a heartfelt comedy with emotional depth. We watch the deep love Annie and Aaron share. Kendrick and Rogen have a strong chemistry and their witty, authentic comedy riffs perfectly off each other. In many films consisting of similar narratives, the decision would often create a crux in the relationship. It’s refreshing that it never does in Babies. Instead, it brings the two closer together as they openly discuss all facets of one of life’s biggest decisions.

Babies is a fun crowd-pleaser that doesn’t try to hit you over the head with a moral. Regardless of what Annie and Aaron’s decision is at the end, Miller Rogen doesn’t want the audience to feel like there is a universal right or wrong. We see the many positives to being a parent, along with the struggles. Babies is more concerned with showing you how open communication can lead to a stronger bond but also deeper self-discovery.

Babies screens at TIFF ’26:

Sat. Sept 12 @ 5:30 PM at Roy Thompson Hall

Sun. Sept 13 @ 6:10 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Fri. Sept 18 @ 9:15 AM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Some sightings from Day Three to share with you!

•Cynthia Erivo at tiff for PRIMA FACIE
•Margaret Qualley, Aaron Pierre and Gabriel Basso at tiff for LOVE OF YOUR LIFE
•Anna Kendrick and Seth Rogen at tiff for BABIES
•Son Suk-ku and Moon Choi at tiff for Bedford Park
•Anthony Ippolito, Kiki Seto, Stephan James and Peter Farrelly at tiff for I PLAY ROCKY
•Lily-Rose Depp, Léa Seydoux and Kelvin Harrison Jr. at tiff for ALPHA GANG

…and several more!

Brought to you by @sohohoteltoronto, the preferred place to stay at tiff!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We finally get a new Trailer for ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR! This arrives May 1, 2025 on Prime Video Canada.

Directed by Paul Feig

Produced by Paul Feig, p.g.a., Laura Fischer, p.g.a.

Executive Producers Jennifer Booth, Jessica Sharzer, Marco Valerio Pugini

Written by Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis

Based Upon Characters Created By Darcey Bell

Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Elena Sofia Ricci, with Henry Golding, and Allison Janney

Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.

120 mins

Hot off the news it will.premiere opeming night at SXSW ’25, we get an official Teaser for ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR. The Sequel arrives May 1, 2025 on Prime Video Canada.

Directed by Paul Feig

Produced by Paul Feig, p.g.a., Laura Fischer, p.g.a.

Executive Producers Jennifer Booth, Jessica Sharzer, Marco Valerio Pugini

Written by Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis

Based Upon Characters Created By Darcey Bell

Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Elena Sofia Ricci, with Henry Golding, and Allison Janney

Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.

Run Time:

120 mins

Today, South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals announced this year’s Opening Night Film Premiere will be the Amazon MGM Studios feature, Another Simple Favor. The highly anticipated follow-up to director Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor, which launches globally on Prime Video May 1, will make its world premiere at the festival on March 7, 2025 at the Paramount Theatre.

Quote from Head of Amazon MGM Studios, Jennifer Salke: “Paul Feig has once again delivered the perfect blend of mystery, wit, and unexpected twists in the highly anticipated Another Simple Favor. The cast, led by the extraordinarily talented Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, brings life to a script that propels the sequel to new heights. We are beyond grateful for our collaborations with Paul, Blake, Anna, and the entire cast and filmmaking team. We could not be more excited to share the next chapter of this saga with the always enthusiastic SXSW audience and ultimately with our Prime Video customers around the world.”

Quote from director and producer, Paul Feig: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back at my favorite festival in the world where we successfully launched Bridesmaids and Spy, and I cannot begin to say how honored I am to have our film opening it all. I’ve avoided making sequels to any of my films but these characters were just too much fun not to revisit. So, to be able to have Anna, Blake, Henry, Andrew, Michele, Elizabeth, Alex and myself watch our film with the great SXSW audience is a bucket list event I’ll be able to check off March 7th and move playing drums for Dwight Yoakum’s band up to the top slot.”

Details:

Directed By Paul Feig

Produced By Paul Feig, p.g.a., Laura Fischer, p.g.a.

Executive Producers Jennifer Booth, Jessica Sharzer, Marco Valerio Pugini

Written By Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis

Based Upon Characters Created By Darcey Bell

Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, with Henry Golding and Allison Janney

Runtime 120 mins

Synopsis:

Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.

We have been waiting forever for this! Today we get a new Teaser Trailer for Anna Kendrick‘s WOMAN OF THE HOUR.

VVS Films will release Woman of the Hour theatrically in Canada on October 11, 2024. It will arrive in the US on Netflix October 18, 2024, with Netflix Canada release date to come.

ABOUT WOMAN OF THE HOUR
Director: Anna Kendrick
Written By: Ian McDonald
Producers: Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules
Executive Producers: Stuart Ford, Zach Garrett, Miguel A. Palos, Jr., Anna Kendrick, Ian Mcdonald, Joe Penna, Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Paul Barbeau, Sean Patrick O’Reilly, Andrew Deane, Stephen Crawford
Co-Producers: Lorelle Lynch, Chris Abernathy, Tracy Rosenblum
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Tony Hale, Nicolette Robinson, Pete Holmes, Autumn Best, Kathryn Gallagher, Kelley Jakle
Logline: The stranger-than-fiction story of an aspiring actress in 1970s Los Angeles and a serial killer in the midst of a yearslong murder spree, whose lives intersect when they’re cast on an episode of The Dating Game.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

After a litany or raves at TIFF ’23, Anna Kendrick‘s directorial debut WOMAN OF THE HOUR is hitting theatres Friday, October 11, 2024!

Details:

Directed By: Anna Kendrick

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Tony Hals, Daniel Zovatto, Autumn Best and Nicolette Robinson

Synopsis: Rodney Alcala was a killer in the midst of a killing spree when he brazenly took part and won a date on the popular TV game show “The Dating Game”.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

This holiday season, get ready for an action-packed, all-star, rainbow-colored family reunion like no other as Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake return for the new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster musical franchise: Trolls Band Together. 

After two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are now officially, finally, a couple (#broppy)! As they grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favorite boyband phenomenon, BroZone, with his four brothers: Floyd (Golden Globe nominated electropop sensation Troye Sivan), John Dory (Eric André; Sing 2), Spruce (Grammy winner Daveed Diggs; Hamilton) and Clay (Grammy winner Kid Cudi; Don’t Look Up). BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and Branch hasn’t seen his brothers since.  

But when Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains—Velvet (Emmy winner Amy Schumer; Trainwreck) and Veneer (Grammy winner and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells; The Book of Mormon)—Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop-culture obscurity. 

Featuring Trolls’ signature psychedelic joy-bomb of new and classic pop hits, Trolls Band Together stars a dazzling cast of musical superstars and comedic powerhouses as new franchise characters, including four-time Grammy nominee and Latin Grammy winner Camila Cabello (Cinderella) as Viva; Zosia Mamet (The Flight Attendant) as Crimp; and 12-time Emmy winning drag icon RuPaul Charles as Miss Maxine. 

The returning cast includes Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Zooey Deschanel as Bridget; Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Gristle, the Icona Pop duo Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt as Satin and Chenille, Grammy winner Anderson .Paak as Prince D, comedian Ron Funches as Cooper, SAG nominee Kunal Nayyar as Guy Diamond and Emmy winning Saturday Night Live legend Kenan Thompson as Tiny Diamond. 

Trolls Band Together is steered by returning director Walt Dohrn and producer Gina Shay, and is co-directed by Tim Heitz (head of story, Trolls World Tour). DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls films—2016’s Trolls and 2020’s Trolls World Tour—have sung and danced their way to record-breaking success, earning an Oscar^® nomination for Best Original Song and fuelingone of the largest and most beloved entertainment brands in the world.

Genre: Animated Action-Comedy

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Camila Cabello, Eric André, Amy Schumer, Andrew Rannells, Troye Sivan, Daveed Diggs, Kid Cudi, Zosia Mamet, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, RuPaul Charles, Aino Jawo, Caroline Hjelt, Kenan Thompson, Anderson .Paak, Kunal Nayyar, Ron Funches

Director: Walt Dohrn

Co-Director: Tim Heitz

Producer: Gina Shay

By George Kozera

To be perfectly frank, I had some trepidations and resisted seeing Anna Kendrick’s feature film directorial debut with WOMAN OF THE HOUR. When the subject matter deals with rape, a serial killer and is based on a true story, I would assume that even the most seasoned filmmakers would think twice about tackling such sensitive topics and I questioned whether Kendrick had the gravitas and skill to undertake such a project. I need not have worried. Not only has this Oscar-nominated Actress fashioned a formidable and accomplished thriller, she skillfully blends in flashback sequences as well as addressing women having to deal with misogynistic, toxic males, all the while she laces the Movie with some much-needed humour and thrills.

Kendrick plays Cheryl, a struggling actress whose agent books her work as a contestant on the popular television game show “The Dating Game” where she will have to question three gentlemen then choose one to go on a date, depending on how they answer her queries. Contestant Number Three is Rodney Alcala, a Photographer (a star-making role and performance from Daniel Zovatto). We have already seen him at his worst as WOMAN OF THE HOUR opens with Alcala brutally pushing his victim to the ground, strangle her before resuscitating then raping her (Kendrick shows amazing restraint filming this intense sequence). We also know that Alcala has extraordinary b.s. skills as we saw him tell one victim that he studied at NYU Film School with Roman Polanski and a group of men in an office environment that he partied with Warren Beatty.

After a technical mishap during the filming of the game show, Cheryl rewrites all the insipid questions and makes all three males squirm uncomfortably with their answers, except for Alcala who is quite proficient with saying just the right things. Cheryl chooses Rodney and they win a trip to Carmel. After the taping, we see Alcala wait in the parking lot of the TV studio, see Cheryl leave and charmingly suggests they go nearby for a cocktail to which she accepts the invitation.

That is when the Film brims with tension.

It’s best to see WOMAN OF THE HOUR without knowing the particulars of this true story. Ignorance of the facts will be bliss. Kendrick’s mastery in the Director’s chair is in full force as I did have all the information beforehand and still sat in my seat, shaking with anxiety and dread. KUDOS.

WOMAN OF THE HOUR screens st TIFF ’23:

Saturday, September 9, 9:00PM, Scotiabank

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a free digital download of TIFF ’22 selection ALICE, DARLING for which Anna Kendrick has won many accolades with her lead performance.

Synopsis:

In the taut thriller ALICE, DARLING, Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick  stars as a woman pushed to the breaking point by her psychologically abusive boyfriend, Simon. While on vacation with two close girlfriends, Alice rediscovers the essence of herself and gains some much-needed perspective. Slowly, she starts to fray the cords of codependency that bind her. But Simon’s vengeance is as inevitable as it is shattering – and, once unleashed, it tests Alice’s strength, her courage, and the bonds of her deep-rooted friendships.

Starring Anna Kendrick, Kaniehtiio Horn, Charlie Carrick, and Wunmi Mosaku. Directed by Mary Nighy. Written by Alanna Francis.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release ALICE, DARLING February 3, 2023 on-demand and in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)