Among the many perks of being a UCLA student is being within the vicinity of Hollywood, at the hub of one of the largest entertainment industries on the planet. A wide breadth of motion picture landmarks can be found in the district just east of Westwood, from the Walk of Fame and world-renowned theater locations to major film studios.
On occasion, however, Hollywood decides to come to Westwood, bringing the stars and splendor of movie and television world premieres straight to the college community. Multiple times a quarter at the Regency Theaters on Broxton Ave., the red carpet is laid out, the cast and crew begin to arrive and the fans line up outside to catch a glimpse at their favorite celebrities.
The Daily Bruin’s Sebastian Torrelio went to Sunday’s morning premiere of “Free Birds” at the Westwood Village Theater to talk to arriving celebrities and experience the sights and sounds of the motion picture event.
About the Movie: “Free Birds”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhxSOkTFGvo
As tradition goes, the President of the United States pardons a turkey every year on Thanksgiving, this time choosing Reggie (Owen Wilson), an outcast turkey from his farm who has always been concerned about the fattening up of his friends for human dinner. He’s taken to Camp David to enjoy a luxury turkey vacation when Jake (Woody Harrelson), the sole member of the Turkey Liberation Front, kidnaps him for a history-altering mission.
Inside a government research facility is a time machine that Jake plans to use to travel back to the first Thanksgiving, and stop turkey from ever being on the holiday menu. Initially rivals, Reggie and Jake must team up to change the staple seasonal course to something a little less plump.
Critic’s Preview:
With a cast filled out with the likes of Amy Poehler, George Takei, Keith David and Colm Meaney, “Free Birds,” originally titled a somewhat more straightforward “Turkeys,” has the usual animated star power to gain some audience traction. Director Jimmy Hayward had last worked on 2010’s critically panned “Jonah Hex.” However, he also directed 2008’s “Horton Hears a Who!,” one of the more entertaining of recent years’ silly animal-based CGI films, so he clearly has some potential with the genre.
Unfortunately, the animators and production company of an animated film are usually a better indicator of the film’s quality than the director is, and as “Free Birds” is the first animated feature from Reel FX Creative Studios, there is little to judge upon. The story seems rightfully absurd though, a variation of 2000 hit “Chicken Run,” the highest grossing stop-motion animated movie of all time. “Free Birds” will likely carry the same messages throughout, with animals responding to threats of harm by using teamwork, but with a bit of time travel thrown into the mix, which at the very least will make things more interesting.
Little early reception makes “Free Birds” a bit of an unknown on the quality chart. General early opinions have been less than positive, though the elements all seem to have enough potential to work in the turkeys’ favor.
Read the Daily Bruin’s review when “Free Birds” comes to theaters Nov. 1.