Editor’s note: Deadline presents the 25th episode of its video series take two (formerly known as two shots), in which Pete Hammond and Todd McCarthy approach the art of cinema. Each has reviewed and written about the craft for decades and gained remarkable insight into films past and present. What we were hoping for when we asked them to do this was a concise, mature, and thoughtful conversation comparable to what we’ve seen from Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel.
This week we look at the state of the so-called “family movie” and why the definition has clearly shifted over the decades from inspirational, comedic, thrilling live action and animated features to just what seems like JUST animated features. This summer we’ve seen a slew of them as usual from underachievers like Light year to this week Paws of fury, and then the gifted like the crashing hit, The Minions: The Rise of Gru which is tearing up the box office. Plus, there’s more to come as planned DC Super Pet League at the end of the month. Why does Hollywood consider toons the recipe for a family movie these days? We look at what happened and why it’s not necessarily a good thing.
To watch our conversation, just click the link above.
Hammond has been Deadline’s awards columnist for the past decade, covering what now appears to be Oscar and Emmy seasons year-round. He is also Deadline’s Chief Film Critic, having reviewed films for MovieLine, Box office magazine, In the wingsHollywood.com and Maximas good as Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide, for which he was editor-in-chief. In addition to writing, Hammond also hosts KCET Cinema Series and the station’s weekly series Must-see movies.
McCarthy is a veteran film critic, columnist and journalist who has also written several acclaimed books and documentary films. He served two stints on the staff of Variety and The Hollywood Reporter and widely covered film festivals internationally for both publications. His film Visions of light: the art of cinematography won best documentary awards from the New York Film Critics and National Society of Film Critics, and he won an Emmy for writing the documentary Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer. He also directed the documentaries Man of Cinema: Pierre Rissient and hollywood forever.
