Looking for some family movie night ideas for flicks you can watch at home with the tweens and teens in your life? Here are some new selections coming to Netflix as of June 1 that parents and children should equally enjoy watching for a fun night in together:
One of the most quoted movies of the 2000s races back into theaters in celebration of its 20th anniversary! TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY will have a three-night theatrical re-release at select locations across the United States on June 28, June 30 and July 1, 2026. Columbia Pictures invites audiences to revisit the world of stock car racing on the big screen in this action comedy starring Will Ferrell.
NASCAR stock car racing sensation Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is a national hero because of his "win at all costs" approach. He and his loyal racing partner, childhood friend Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo -- known as "Thunder" and "Lightning" by their fans for their ability to finish so many races in the #1 and #2 positions, with Cal always in second place. When flamboyant French Formula One driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) challenges "Thunder" and "Lightning" for the supremacy of NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight Girard for the right to be known as racing's top driver.
This 2006 film is rated PG-13. This limited engagement release will not include any additional or enhanced footage or bonus content, but it will provide a chance to see a flick that many people have probably only seen on television as it was originally filmed to be seen on the silver screen of a movie theater. Shake & Bake! I'm looking forward to a family movie night at a theater to see this!
A new original coming of age science fiction adventure movie, CRATER, will be debuting May 12 on the Disney+ streaming service. Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, the sci-fi flick playing exclusively on Disney Plus stars Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Mckenna Grace, Billy Barratt, Orson Hong, Thomas Boyce and Scott Mescudi.
CRATER is the story of Caleb Channing (Russell-Bailey), who was raised on a lunar mining colony and is about to be permanently relocated to an idyllic faraway planet following the death of his father (Mescudi). But before leaving, to fulfill his dad’s last wish, he and his three best friends, Dylan (Barratt), Borney (Hong) and Marcus (Boyce), and a new arrival from Earth, Addison (Grace), hijack a rover for one final adventure on a journey to explore a mysterious crater.
Does CRATER sound like a show you'd like to stream for a family movie night?
If the only limitation on creating amusement park thrill rides was your imagination, what would you dream up? That is the premise of the animated movie WONDER PARK which will be available to add to your home entertainment video library on June 4 via Digital and on June 18, 2019 for Blu-ray and DVD. A roller coaster of a fantasy adventure that is a nice family friendly option for a movie night at home.
Thanks to Paramount Movies for hooking us up with all the gear we need for a fun day at an amusement park (fanny packs, cooler, sun screen, and a portable electronics recharger) plus sending over a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack of WONDER PARK to inspire our next roadtrip. Which amusement park should we go visit? Well first it will be a family movie night watching WONDER PARK!
WONDER PARK is the story of a young girl named June with a lot of creativity who makes an incredible discovery -- the amusement park she dreamed up in her imagination has come to life. Filled with the world's wildest rides operated by adorable animals, Wonder Park is a place filled with what else but wonder. But when this wonderful place faces destruction, June must team up with a team of misfit furry friends in an effort to save the park as well as her own spirit of creativity and imagination.
WONDER PARK is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for mild thematic elements and action. That rating is based primarily on sequences featuring Chimpanzombies that are adorable but deadly critters who attempt to destroy the park and hurt June along with her friends. Spoiler → no one actually gets hurt but young children could be frightened by some scenes. Still in my opinion this movie is suitable for viewing by audiences of all ages making it a nice selection to entertain the family over the summer as it is being released for home video just as children are ending their school year.
Beyond the movie, WONDER PARK provides a number of other activities to entertain kids during summer break. The home entertainment release has bonus content that lets kids sing along with June and her friends, learn how to draw some of the animals from the movie, make crazy noises with the film's voiceover artists, and take a tour of Wonder Park. Extras included with the movie also include a deleted scene full of yodeling and a featurette titled The Wonder Chimp Channel.
For more information, go to wonderparkmovie.com. For more news about this and other upcoming home entertainment movie releases, follow @ParamountMovies on Twitter and Instagram.
Paramount Movies provided ageekdaddy.com with a free WONDER PARK Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack plus a gift bag of branded swag for promotional consideration. Opinions expressed are honest and my own.
While the film SGT. STUBBY: AN AMERICAN HERO may not have received a lot of buzz this year, I have to say it was one of my family's favorite animated movies of 2018. The movie depicts a little known true story about the unbreakable bond between a young doughboy soldier and the stray dog he adopts during World War I. For his contributions during the trench warfare that took place in France, received the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army and is the most decorated dog in American history. This Boston Terrier's actions on the battlefield inspired the creation of the Defense Department's Military Working Dog Program that has been in place from World War II through today.
This is a heart-warming story that makes for a great family movie night selection. My whole family was captivated by this movie. SGT. STUBBY: AN AMERICAN HERO is rated PG for war action and some thematic elements but frankly in my opinion it is suitable for all ages to view and is a very family-friendly movie.
SGT. STUBBY: AN AMERICAN HERO is full of exciting and suspenseful moments and has a compelling story that has you caring about the dog and the soldiers that adopted him. While it is a "war story" that includes battle scenes with poison gas and trench warfare as well as incidents involving animals and people being killed during World War I conflicts, there is never any violence or gore shown on screen. There is also no swearing or sexual content to be concerned about when it comes to this film.
ABOUT THE FILM
The movie begins with a young American soldier named Robert Conroy adopting a little stray dog with a stubby tail that wanders into his training camp in New Haven, Connecticut. Conroy teaches the dog he names Stubby to salute officers so that they allow it to become the regiment mascot and tag along with them to France as they fight in the "War to End all Wars."
Once the doughboys and Stubby arrived in France, our eyes were glued to the screen wondering if Stubby, Robert and the rest of their regiment would make it back alive once the war concludes as we weren't aware of the real life story this movie is based upon before watching it. A French solider, voiced by Gérard Depardieu (Cyrano De Bergerac, My Father the Hero), befriends Conroy and helps him and Stubby get a lay of the land thus becoming an important part of the storyline. Together they discover the value of friendship, loyalty and bravery as they try to survive the war depending on one another.
Directed by award-winning documentarian Richard Lanni, SGT. STUBBY: AN AMERICAN HERO also features the voices of Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & The Olympians) as Conroy and Helena Bonham Carter (Harry Potter) as his sister who reads correspondence from her brother depicting Stubby's exploits. Because this movie provided a wonderfully entertaining experience for a family movie night, it has earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval. I really enjoyed how the film was a combination of an exciting adventure story with an educational documentary about the real life Sergeant Stubby. Being able to balance a movie so that is entertaining and educational isn't an easy task, but Lanni successfully accomplishes this.
ABOUT THE REAL-LIFE SERGEANT STUBBY
Before he was a decorated war hero, Stubby was unwanted, unwashed and unloved until he was taken in by Private First Class Robert Conroy of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 26th "Yankee" Division. Taken along to France by the American doughboy, Stubby saw frontline action in four offensives and 17 battles. He found wounded soldiers, saved an entire company by alerting men to don gas masks and even caught a German spy.
After the recapture of the French town of Chateau-Thierry, local women made the dog an embroidered jacket to wear that served as Stubby's uniform and displayed the numerous awards he received. He returned to the United States after the war to a hero's welcome. Stubby and Conroy toured the country participating in victory parades and met numerous dignitaries including three Presidents.
SGT. STUBBY: AN AMERICAN HERO is available now on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital. I'd encourage you to bring it home and enjoy the activity sheets below for your own family movie night. Especially, if you have preschoolers, elementary school aged kids, and tweens at home. They'll love the adorable animated dog in this film. For more information about the movie, visit stubbymovie.com
After trick-or-treating on Halloween it was time to have some fun watching one of my kids' favorite summer movies which just came out on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital … Teen Titans GO! to the Movies. With a bunch of candy on hand to snack on the twins were hyped up to see this movie again which seemed only fitting as this animated feature film is a high energy adventure filled with tongue-in-cheek comedy and musical numbers that had my son and daughter laughing and singing throughout the show. While rated PG for action sequences (superhero fight scenes) and rude humor (fart jokes), Teen Titans GO! to the Movies' content really is kid-appropriate and parents will find it a great selection to watch for family movie nights along with their children.
It seems like all the superheroes are getting their own movies -- everyone but the Teen Titans that is! Determined to be a star, Robin (voiced by Scott Menville / TV's "Spider-Man") vows to change this. If only their team of supehero sidekicks could get Hollywood director Jade Wilson (Kristen Bell / "Frozen") to notice them. With a few madcap ideas along with some musical performances, the Teen Titans head to Tinsel Town. But when Supervillain Slade (Will Arnett / The LEGO Movie) messes with their plans, Robin along with teammates Beast Boy (Greg Cipes / TV's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"), Cyborg (Khary Payton / TV's "The Walking Dead"), Raven (Tara Strong / "My Little Pony" franchise) and Starfire (Hynden Walch / TV's "Adventue Time with Finn & Jake) will have to become true superheroes to save the world!
Based upon the Cartoon Network's Teen Titans GO!this upbeat, energetic movie filled with exciting action scenes and humorous follies involving a group of teenagers with super powers is the first-ever big screen adaption of the hit animated television series known for taking a sarcastic approach to telling tales about DC Entertainment's cast of characters. Of course, the home video releases always contain bonus features and Teen Titans GO! to the Movies wasn't going to let you down! The Blu-ray Combo Pack, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment sent ageekdaddy.com to review in addition to containing the movie on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital also included the following extras:
Lil Yachty Music Video: "Teen Titans GO! Rap"
"DC Super Hero Girls: The Late Batsby" Mini-Movie
Sing-a-long to the Songs of Teen Titans GO! to the Movies
Red Carpet Mayhem featurette
Teen Titans GO! to the Movies: WB Lot Shenanigans Spoof Video
"Everything is Fake" exclusive song movie deleted scene
Storyboard Animatics: Time Cycles + Final Battle
Teen Titans GO! to the Movies will make a great addition to your home entertainment video library that children will want to watch over and over again. In addition to being able to buy the movie now at most major retailers where new release Blu-rays and DVDs are sold, Teen Titans GO! to the Movies is available to purchase in high definition and standard definition from digital retailers including Amazon, FandangoNow, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, and Xbox. Plus purchasing the movie from any of these digital outlets will allow you to watch it from the Movies Anywhere cloud service on a variety of devices including Amazon Fire, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iPhone and iPad, and Roku as well as on PCs through a number of popular browsers. You aren't handcuffed on having to watch the films you purchase through certain platforms (Amazon, iTunes, Google, etc.) or on specific devices (like being Android or Apple exclusive based upon where you bought the movie) when utilizing Movies Anywhere.
A Geek Daddy received a free copy of Teen Titans GO! to the Movies from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.
A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for promotional consideration.
Enjoy a spook-tacular movie night watching HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION. The newest chapter in the adventures of Drac and his family of monsters has arrived on home video just in time for Halloween. You can watch it now on Blu-ray, Digital HD and DVD!
This humorous animated movie series featuring Count Dracula ( aka Drac ), his daughter Mavis, human son-in-law Jonathan, half-vampire grandson Dennis, and a gaggle of monster friends has been a family favorite of ours. All of these movies are great to watch with kids during the Halloween season because they aren't scary but yet still have a spooky fun vibe to them. Carve a few drac-o-lanterns, cook up some heated pumpkin seeds, and turn on HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 for a terror-ific night of Halloween themed family fun.
In this movie, we leave the hotel in Transylvania behind for a summer vacation. Drac has been a sour mood lately and no one around him understands it is because he is lonely and looking for a special someone to love. To boast her dad's spirits, Mavis surprises him with a summer vacation on a cruise ship that caters to monsters....a floating Hotel Transylvania! Of course the Drac Pack (Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, Murray the Mummy, and Wayne the Werewolf) joins in on the trip so you know high jinx are sure to come as they travel across the sea.
The monsters are having a great time on their summer vacation indulging in the cruise's monstrous games, gigantic buffets and exotic excursions. Then the unexpected happens! Drac gets zinged! He falls for the ship's mysterious human captain Ericka. Is Drac going to find love or is he just finding trouble? You'll have to watch HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 for yourself to find out!
The all-star voice cast from the previous Hotel Transylvania movies returns for this sequel including Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Keegan Michael Key, Molly Shannon, Fran Drescher and Mel Brooks. This Sony Pictures Animation film is also directed by three-time Emmy-winning director Genndy Tartakovsky. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 has a run time of 97 minutes and is rated PG for some action and rude humor.
Of course home video editions of movies always come with bonus material included. So what is included with HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3? There is more than an hour of engaging bonus segments included with the movie. These include:
Three All New Scary-Oke Sing Alongs: It is karaoke time with some of your favorite characters from the movie to three Hotel Transylvania 3 inspired songs
"Dennis Had a Giant Dog" -- sung by Dennis & Winnie
"Monsters Like to Party Down" -- sung by Jonathan
"Oh These Wolf Pups" -- Sung by Wanda the Werewolf
Plan Your Own Spook-tacular Sleepover: this feature will give you all the details on how to make your own sleepover spook-tacular! From snacks to crafts to games, follow these steps to create a Hotel T sleep-over, the perfect setting to binge watch all 3 Hotel Transylvania movies.
Vampire Make Over: Mavis and Drac Tutorial: Learn how to turn yourself into your favorite Hotel Transylvania 3 characters.
Johnny's Home Movies (Franchise Recap): Jonathan (Mavis' husband) brings viewers up to speed on what has happened in the Hotel Transylvania franchise so far.
"I See Love" Monster Dance Party Dance Along: Get up and get moving to this haunting monster mash.
Drac's Zing-tastic Read Along: It is storytime with your favorite Hotel T characters telling a silly tale about Drac's search for Zing! Read along or sit back and enjoy having the story read to you.
Two Mini Movies (Rated G): These two mini-movies Puppy and Goodnight Mr. Foot will have you howling!
Between the feature film and its bonus content, there is enough stuff contained on the Blu-ray, Digital, and DVD editions of HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 to keep your family entertained for hours. Pick it up for a howling good time! Have yourself a fun movie night with Drac's pack enjoying this family friendly comedy. For more information about the movie, visit hotelt3.com
Wow! Summer really does fly by fast! My kids will be back to school in just a couple of weeks. It seems as if you just snap your fingers summer will be gone. So to make the most of the time we have left, I cooked up a fun AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR family movie night. Setting theatrical box office records on its way to becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of all time, this film that ties together the last ten years of movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and DigitalHD so you can watch it at home.
The kids had a marvelous time playing with some Avengers themed Swimways pool toys while I grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for the family to eat. They floated around in the water aboard a super sized Captain America shield floatie pretending they were part of an Avengers adventure. It was big enough with a 55 inch diameter that both of them actually could ride on top of it across the pool at the same time while they played together.
Then my son and daughter teamed up to search for dive rings that featured Avengers characters displayed on them including Black Panther, Captain America and Iron Man. They would turn away from the pool and I would toss them into the water to be searched for. These have a nice feature in that the dive rings generate bubbles as they sink to the bottom of the pool. That combined with them being decorated in bright colors didn't make them too challenging to find. My kids love diving to retrieve rings like these and had a blast playing around with these ones from Swimways.
After swimming in the pool and eating dinner out on our backyard patio, the kids continued to dry off before going inside to watch the movie by spending some time outside playing the Marvel Avengers edition of MUNCHKIN from USAopoly. This card game lets players imagine they are a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent taking part in a comic book style superhero adventure. Characters draw cards they can use while playing the game which enlist them with the help of allies (like Black Widow, Captain America, She-Hulk or Thor), use of equipment (ranging from Nick Fury's eye patch to Spider-Man's web slingers), or provide special attributes and powers (such as enhanced agility, heightened senses or elemental manipulation).
Then upon each player's turn he or she draws a card from a second deck that either pits them against a villain to fight (which could be an easy to tackle Level 1 Hydra Soldier up to the hard to defeat Loki ranked at Level 20), ensnares their character in a damaging trap, or bestows a useful bonus that is helpful. Utilizing the cards you draw and the roll of a die, this game lets you play out an Avengers mission. Games can involve 3 to 6 players and take about an hour to play. You are sure to have a super time playing the Marvel Avengers edition of MUNCHIKIN.
Now it was time to watch the movie! We gathered on the living room couch with snacks in hand. I popped the AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Blu-ray into the disc player. It was showtime!
In this movie, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet -- the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.
Of course in addition to the movie, you have to watch the bonus features included within the home video releases. There is more than 2 hours of material provided in addition to the movie itself. Featurettes provide behind-the-scenes access to memorable moments when characters first meet, the rationale behind some unexpected on-screen pair-ups, explores the frighteningly powerful Thanos, the struggle on Titan and the massive battle in Wakanda. Deleted scenes and filmmaker commentary reveal even more on-set secrets from Marvel Studios’ monumental undertaking. And the gag real showcases a lighthearted collection of on-set antics from all your favorite Avengers.
We had an incredible time during our AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR family movie night! Pick up the movie for yourself now on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital or DVD wherever movies are sold. For more information about the film, go to www.marvel.com/avengers
The animated movie adaption of the hit graphic novel THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ was released today on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. Look for a family movie night idea? Check out this animated feature available on Blu-ray and DVD at retail locations across the United States, download the digital version from Amazon, iTunes or Vudu, or purchase it through cable TV video on demand. Featuring the voices of Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy, Hellboy), William Shatner (Star Trek) and Julianna Hough (Dancing with the Stars, Footloose), this movie takes viewers on a new adventure through the Land of OZ with a steampunk vibe that takes a look into the past and future of the lives of Dorothy's beloved comrades from the original L. Frank Baum story.
We had a family movie night watching THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ over the weekend and A Geek Daddy has a Blu-ray + DVD movie combo pack to giveaway so one of you can enjoy the movie for free too. Follow my Twitter account (@Geekdad248) + RETWEET the original Twitter message embedded below for a chance to win. A Geek Daddy will be selecting one lucky winner from all eligible entries.
Follow @Geekdad248 + RETWEET before June 11, 2018 for chance to win a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack of the animated movie THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ featuring the voices of Ron Perlman, William Shatner & Julianne Hough @SteamEnginesOz#Giveawaypic.twitter.com/nzJ19EVuxb
Set a century after Dorothy first clicked her ruby slippers together, the Emerald City is no longer a magical land but a toxic, heavily industrialized wasteland ruled by the iron fist of the once beloved hero, the Tin Man, who has seemingly lost all heart. Oz's only hope rests with a young engineer named Victoria Wright, who assembles a motley crew of ill-mannered munchkins, mischievous flying monkeys and, of course, the not-so-Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow for a quest to find the tin man's heart. Along their journey, they ultimately learn that friendship and determination can overcome any obstacle, and together end, up teaching everyone in Oz that a heart should not be judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.
Disclaimer & Rules: A Geek Daddy has not been financially compensated for this endorsement or hosting the giveaway but was provided the same items being provided as a prize for personal use. The prize is provided by CINEDIGM and A Geek Daddy is hosting the promotion as a benefit to my readers and social media followers. Must be a US resident over the age of 18 to participate. One entry per mailing address and winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. If you have already won this prize through another blog participating in this promotion, your entry will be disqualified. By participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind against the publisher of this blog. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes allowed for delivery of the prize. CINEDIGM will be responsible for shipping the prize to the selected winner. A Geek Daddy is not responsible for delivery of the prize.
Last fall my daughter fractured the growth plate in her ankle playing soccer and was laid up in a cast for a few months. Unfortunately a freak accident while riding a Razor scooter at our neighborhood park the other day hurt her leg in the same spot which was still weakened from the previous injury. So here we are with her in a cast for a few more months again.
It really wasn't really practical or fun for us to go anywhere this holiday with my daughter having to stay off her feet so we just stayed around the house this year. Disney kindly sent us the movie A WRINKLE IN TIME before its official release on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD to entertain her over the Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday night we had a movie night with the kids having some fun with the activity sheets below (go ahead and print them out for your family to use as well), eating popcorn and watching A WRINKLE IN TIME.
Disney's A WRINKLE IN TIME will be available to add to your home entertainment video library beginning May 29th via Digital HD and on June 5, 2018 on Blu-ray and DVD. This movie directed by Ava DuVernay is based upon Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love. It is a family-friendly film with a PG rating for thematic elements and some characters placed in peril but is essentially an all ages movie suitable for almost everyone except for young children who very easily get nightmares. Thus the parental guidance recommendation so you can determine if your child easily spooks or not. There isn't anything grotesque or gruesome in the movie to be wary of but the villain is a shapeless dark force that can control people to behave badly and reshape reality to imprison or hurt people.
Meg Murry is the main character the movie's plot revolves around. She is a typical middle school student struggling with issues of self-worth who just wants to fit in. The daughter of two world-renowned physicists, she is intelligent and uniquely gifted, as is Meg’s younger brother, Charles Wallace, but she has yet to realize it for herself. Complicating matters is the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Murry, which has left Meg devastated and her mother broken-hearted.
Charles Wallace introduces Meg and her fellow classmate Calvin to three celestial beings (Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit and Mrs. Who) who have journeyed to Earth to help search for their father. This trio of mysterious guides are played by two-time Academy Award® nominee Oprah Winfrey as Mrs. Which, Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit, and Emmy® nominee Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who. Together Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallace embark with these mysterious women on a formidable quest to not just save Mr. Murry (played by Emmy nominee Chris Pine) but also reality as we know it.
Travelling via a wrinkling of time and space known as tessering, they are transported to worlds beyond their imagination where they must confront a powerful evil force. To make it back home to Earth, Meg must face the darkness within herself in order to harness the strength necessary to defeat the darkness rapidly enveloping the Universe. Through this journey we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.
So do Calvin, Charles Wallace, and Meg along with their celestial guides find Mr. Murry and save the day? Of course I'm not going to tell you … you're going to have to watch the movie to find out. Watch Disney's A WRINKLE IN TIME whenever and wherever you like on Digital HD via the Movies Anywhere service or pick it up on Blu-ray and DVD at retail stores across the United States and Canada. For more information about the movie, head over to movies.disney.com/a-wrinkle-in-time
I was a bit shocked during a trip to Universal Orlando Resort that my kids had no clue who Woody Woodpecker was. I'd watched more cartoons featuring that mischievous little bird than I can count as a kid myself but the character hasn't received much attention for the last couple of decades. So I was excited to find out that Woody Woodpecker was making a comeback in an all-new movie being released straight to Cable On Demand, Digital Download, and DVD on February 6, 2018.
Woody Woodpecker was created in 1940 by Walter Lantz as a cartoon short that was shown in movie theaters until it became a television show in 1957. "The Woody Woodpecker Show" has been broadcast in over 150 territories across the globe and in 105 languages in the more than 75 years since the cartoons first began airing on television. Generations of kids have known the unforgettable laugh of the little red-headed bird who is forever pecking his way out of trouble. Now a new film that blends live action and CGI animation is bringing back the wild adventures of this wacky woodpecker.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment kindly sent us the movie in advance of its official release date to enjoy for a family movie night. Both my son and daughter were intrigued to learn more about this character that I had hyped up to them since we ran across him while wandering around Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort. There were plenty of giggles filling our living room while viewing Woody Woodpecker's antics in this film about a crazy turf war between the prankster bird and a big city lawyer who wants to tear down Woody's home to build a mansion with a lake view.
Directed by Alex Zamm (Inspector Gadget 2, The Little Rascals Save the Day), WOODY WOODPECKER is rated PG for action scenes, rude humor and language. Though it has a PG rating, from our experience viewing it there really didn't seem to be anything as a parent I'd find concerning or objectionable about letting a child of any age watch the film. WOODY WOODPECKER is a nice movie that preschoolers, grade school kids and tweens will enjoy watching along with mom and dad for a fun family movie night.
The movie stars Timothy Omundson (Galavant, Supernatural, Psych), Thaila Ayala (Rio Heat), Graham Verchere (Fargo), Jordana Largy (Monster Trucks) and Eric Bauza (The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water) as the voice of Woody Woodpecker. In his first ever live action / animated film, Woody Woodpecker must protect his forest home from Lance Walters (Omundson) who starts building a dream home in the forest with his son Tommy (Verchere) and fiancée Vanessa (Ayala). While engaging in this turf war, Woody must also avoid the clutches of two grizzly poachers. Will Woody's crazy hijnks sabotage Lance's mansion and foil the poachers? You'll be laughing along with Woody's trademark laugh as you find out!
Thanks to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Illumination Entertainment we enjoyed a fun family movie night watching DESPICABLE ME 3 which is now available on 4k Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital, Digital 3D and On Demand. My kids always go BANANAS about a chance to enjoy the zany antic of Gru and his Minions and this newest installment of the Despicable Me franchise didn't disappoint. Just as Gru is embarking on a career as a good guy his life begins to spin him back to his evil ways in this movie that expands on the elements that have made the past films so popular as well as introduces new high jinks and hilarity that from my family's experience seeing it are sure to make you laugh.
When Gru (Steve Carell, The Office) is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker, South Park), the latest evil mastermind to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother -- a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin's despicable footsteps -- the former super villain rediscovers just how good it feels to be bad. In addition to Carell and Parker, contributing their vocal talents to the movie are Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Miranda Cosgrove (School of Rock), Steve Coogan (Secret Life of Pets), Jenny Slate (Zootopia), Dana Gaier (Despicable Me 1 & 2), and legendary singer and actress Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins).
Of course home video releases always have extras in addition to the movie included with them and Despicable Me 3 packs a bunch of them for you to enjoy. Bonus features on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and digital include:
All-New Mini Movie — The Secret Life of Kyle
Minion Moments — Watch the Minions cause more hilarious mayhem with Gru
Deleted Scene — With intro by Dana Gaier, the voice of Edith
Character Profiles — The inside scoop on the most popular characters, from the actors who play them
The Making of Despicable Me 3 — A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie
Developing Dru — Behind the scenes character development of Dru
The AVL Files — Through the lens of the Anti-Villain League’s hi-tech database, this ultra secret, interactive surveillance briefing showcases all of the agency’s amazing creations and top agents
Freedonia Visitors Guide — Welcome to Freedonia! See all that the town has to offer with this interactive map. From its world class cheese, to its beautiful coastline, Freedonia has it all!
Despicable Me TV — Tune in for some fabulous fun with these Despicable Me 3 infomercials. Includes “Balthazar Bratt Action Figure,” “Bad Boy Bod by Balthazar Bratt” and “Agnes’ Super Cute, Incredibly Amazing Toy Sale.”
“Doowit” Sing-Along — Sing along with Pharrell Williams as the Minions plot their escape from prison
“Yellow Light” Music Video — Official music video by Pharrell Williams
Minion Mugshots — The Minions add to the long list of celebrity mugshots in their very own “rogues gallery.”
Wanted Posters — Have you seen these Minions wanted for various crimes?
Don't miss out on a great sweepstakes opportunity revolving around the promotion of Despicable Me 3's release being sponsored by Hilton Hotels. Enter to win a Grand Prize trip to Los Angeles, hotel stay and tickets for four to Universal Studios Hollywood! To learn more about the contest's details, rules and how to enter please visit www.HiltonHonors.com/DM3
If you are staying at Hilton Hotels in Southern California, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco or Washington D.C. keep an eye out for some Minion fun. Select Hilton Hotels will be displaying a special photo op backdrop in lobbies where people can take a selfie with some Minions through December 31, 2017. These locations will also provide guests with Minion sticker sheets, luggage tags, and holiday bags while supplies last.
Disclaimer: A Geek Daddy received a Despicable Me 3 Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD movie bundle from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for free.
Thanks CostumeSuperCenter.com for providing my Gru costume for our family movie night. They always
have a great selection of movie themed costumes in sizes for both kids and adults to choose from. Find a number of Minions inspired outfits for your own family movie night party on their website.
We had a fun family movie night courtesy of Movies Anywhere watching Minions over the Halloween weekend. It is always enjoyable to pop up some popcorn, relax on the couch with my minions and watch a move that the whole family appreciates viewing. Minions, the prequel film that leads up to the Despicable Me series of movies, is a delight to see because of the zany antics of those wacky yellow creatures that star in it who mean well but have a tendency to be really unlucky. Of course the minions' bad luck leads to lots of humorous situations that have my family smiling and laughing throughout the movie.
Movies Anywhere provided us a digital download code for Minions and we streamed the movie in high definition to our big screen television. Using this digital service is very easy and it makes accessing and storing your home video library very convenient. Originally known as Disney Movies Anywhere, the service has a new name and now provides a one stop spot for people to view digital movies from Fox, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, as well as Disney. With the Movies Anywhere app and website you can download or stream movies to watch virtually anywhere. Stream a movie to your television like we did for our family movie night or download a film to watch on your mobile device while you are on the go.
Movies Anywhere simplifies your digital video collection by providing access in one place to movies from multiple studios purchased or redeemed through a variety of retailers. Redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere whenever and wherever you want. Link your account with Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes or Vudu and when you make a movie purchase it will instantly be available to view through Movies Anywhere. No more having to worry about a device being compatible with the retailer you purchased a digital movie from.
It was despicable to me that you used to be locked into watching movies on certain devices based on where you bought them. Movies Anywhere bridges the gaps between retailers and hardware manufacturers giving consumers control of how they watch the movies they purchase. Buy a participating studio's movie from retailers including Amazon Video, iTunes, or Google Play and through Movies Anywhere it can be viewed as you desire on your choice of Amazon Fire, Android devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, iPhones, iPads, Roku and popular Internet browsers no matter where you bought it from. If you want digital movies can even be purchased straight from Movies Anywhere. There are more than 7,300 films available through Movies Anywhere and that count will continue to grow as new releases come out.
Another nice feature about Movies Anywhere is when mom or dad want to watch a movie that is too scary for the kids or isn't age appropriate for them it can be streamed or downloaded to a device so it can be watched in private. In fact, Movies Anywhere accounts are designed knowing families have multiple members with differing preferences. So you can stream multiple movies simultaneously to different devices using one account. So on a night when we weren't watching something together, I was able to download and watch Kong: Skull Island to watch on my iPad in our home office while the kids streamed The Emoji Movie on the living room television from the same Movies Anywhere account.
Movies Anywhere gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval for being an accessible and convenient option for storing and viewing your library of digital movies. In addition to watching movies around the house, we've used the service quite a bit while traveling too. We kept the kids amused watching movies on the app while we drove from Michigan to Florida and back on a family vacation. On another instance, I passed the time while stuck at the airport after a flight was cancelled watching stuff from my Movies Anywhere catalog of films. Our family really is bananas about Movies Anywhere! For more information about this great service, please visit moviesanywhere.com
One of the ways we like to make a family movie night fun is by getting into character ourselves. We had a blast dressing up as Gru and his minions with outfits from Costume Super Center. Costumesupercenter.com always has a great selection based upon movie costumes in sizes for both kids and adults to choose from. Looking for a Santa suit for a Christmas party, a Jedi robe to go see Star Wars Episode VII in, or some Minions inspired outfits for your own family movie night party, Costume Super Center has a great selection to choose from that will add some extra fun to any occasion. A Geek Daddy's minions give Costume Super Center a thumbs up!
Enjoy a family movie night watching Sony Pictures Animation's THE EMOJI MOVIE now available via Digital Download, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The move is rated PG for rude humor, primarily because the poop emoji is a primary character. Of course what kid doesn't love potty humor? I know my own kids think anything involving burps, farts, or poop is hilarious.
What would it be like if the inner workings of your smart phone were alive? This animated comedy transports you to the secret world that lies within apps people use everyday. You'll discover hidden within the messaging app for example is Textopolis, a bustling city where all your favorite emojis live.
In Textopolis, each emoji has only one facial expression, except for Gene. He is an exuberant emoji who is bursting with multiple expressions. Determined to become "normal" like other emojis, Gene attempts to break free of the phone to the "cloud" where he can try to be reprogrammed. He is joined on his journey by a notorious code breaker emoji named Jailbreak and his handy best friend Hi-5.
The trio set off on an app-venture to defeat the phone's firewall so they can enter the cloud to find the code that will fix Gene. But in trying to fix his problem, Gene's actions cause the phone to malfunction placing all its emojis in grave danger. Can these three friends save their world before it is deleted forever?!
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, A Geek Daddy has a fun activity pack to share with you. Let the kid in your life express themselves with the included coloring pages. Then have some fun carving a pumpkin for Halloween with the included stencils. Cut out the emoji designs, tape them to your pumpkin, and carve out the shapes to create your favorite emoji's face. Decorate your home for Halloween with jack-o-lanterns of Gene, Jailbreak, Hi-5 or Poop.
With its Halloween season release, THE EMOJI MOVIE also has a spook-tacular short film included with it, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: PUPPY. When Dennis asks for a puppy, Grandpa Drac can't say no. But the puppy Count Dracula brings home to Hotel Transylvania is monstrous!
In addition to HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: PUPPY, the home video edition of THE EMOJI MOVIE includes a number of extra bonus features to enjoy. Its "Good Vibrations Dance Along & Lyrics Video" lets you join in a dance party. Learn about the dance moves the characters do in the movie from the film's celebrity choreographer in "Choreographing Emoji with Matt Steffanina." Get creative with step-by-step tutorials on how to draw your favorite emoji with two "how to" videos. Go behind-the-scenes of a real-life coding school with the "Girls Who Code" featurette. Plus learn more about the mysterious history of one of the film's main characters by watching "Jailbreak Decoded: The Untold Story."
Blu-ray editions also include two extra bonus segments. Gimme a Hand! Guess the Emoji Game and Sweet App-etite! Making Your Own Candy Crush Inspired Saga Cake. Pick up a Blu-ray + Digital combo pack from Target to also receive an exclusive THE EMOJI MOVIE PopSocket for your mobile device. This PopSocket featuring Hi-5 can be used as a texting or photo grip, media stand for hands free viewing or can prop up your device for a video chat. Just stick it to the back of a mobile device and pop it up when needed.
THE EMOJI MOVIE, directed by Tony Leondis, has an all-star voice cast including T.J. Miller (How To Train Your Dragon) as Gene, James Corden (Late Late Show with James Corden) as Hi-5, Anna Faris (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) as Jailbreak, Maya Rudolph (Big Hero 6) as Smiler, Steven Wright (Louie) as Mel, Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie) as Meh, Jake T. Austin (Wizards of Waverly Place) as phone owner Alex, Grammy Award Winner Christina Aguilera as Akiko Glitter, Emmy Award Nominee Sofia Vergara (Modern Family) as Flamenca, Rachael Ray (Rachael Ray) as Spam, Emmy Award Winner Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) as Devil, and Emmy Award Nominee Sir Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek: The Next Generation) as Poop. Print up the emoji coloring pages and pop on the movie for a night of family fun. For more information, head over to theemoji-movie.com
