What Do The Critics Say?

"Bunnies, banter and a bunch of cute chicks enhance 'Hop'. This hopped-up wackiness, augmented by clever pop-culture references, adds to gleefully deranged humor that will appeal to both adults and children. Hop will win audiences over with its goofy charm." Claudia Puig USA TODAY "Expect some pretty funny cameos from David Hasselhoff, Chelsea Handler and Jimmy Carter (of Blind Boys of Alabama). There is no doubt this is a kids' film but parents will laugh at the more (innocent) adult jokes. Very simple but very cute, this one's a sure hit with the littlies." Marie-Christine Sourris BRISBANE SUNDAY MAIL "I loved Marsden. He is so perfect for this role. Ever since he played Prince Edward in "Enchanted", I believe he is terrifically suited to portray the handsome, vacuous type. And how can you not get a huge kick out of Brand voicing a slacker, teenage bunny? He's absolutely darling." Jeanne Kaplan KAPLAN vs KAPLAN "It's colourful and bright with plenty of happy smiles for the target market and their families. HOP combines live action with the colourful animated world of the Easter bunny as it tells a happy story about families, expectations and dreams." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "Imaginatively combining live action with digital animation, Hop delivers a story that slyly borrows from Santa Claus mythology as well as Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A fun and funny mix of live action and animation that puts the hop back into Easter." Kirk Honeycutt HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"It will charm the training pants off of the audience for which it is intended: without leaving parents constantly checking their watches. A slick and sweet film all on its own, a harmless bit of fun that fills the Easter-movie void and that gives the fledgling Illumination Entertainment its second straight victory." Mike Scott TIMES-PICAYUNE "Hop comfortably fits into the category of movies that are entertaining enough, provide some decent laughs and don't leave you feeling like you got ripped off when you bought the ticket. Director Tim Hill and the three person writing team present plenty of entertainment for kids, but don't forget the adults. Yes, we have some silliness, goofiness, and slapstick comedy for the kids, but it's fun for everyone." WILLIE WAFFLE "Director Tim Hill is a veteran of animation/live-action hybrids), so he knows how to mine the humor in the genre. James Marsden and Russell Brand (voicing E.B.) make a good team. Brand, not surprisingly, is perfect for the naughty E.B. Hop" is stuffed with humorous moments and clever gags." MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL "Impressively animated, nicely written and gently amusing family comedy, enlivened by a terrific central performance from James Marsden and a weirdly note-perfect vocal effort from Russell Brand. Hop is an enjoyable family comedy that should appeal to kids and pleasantly surprise any dragged-along adults." Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON "Speedy and slick. That rarest of surprises, a movie for kids that transcends age barriers. "Hop" is hip. This bunny tale is sweet and funny. The jokes are wicked clever, the tone is buoyant good cheer, the pace is tight as a snare drum, the human cast is engaging, and the special effects are polished." Colin Covert MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

The Inside Story Producer Chris Meledandri ("Robots") began building his family and animation film business, Illumination Entertainment, with Universal Pictures in 2007. At that time, his company was three years away from the stunning results that would come with its inaugural 3D CGI 2010 feature, "Despicable Me". The animated comedy became an unequivocal, global blockbuster. With a worldwide gross of more than five hundred and fourty million dollars U.S., "Despicable Me" grew to become second only to Disney's Oscar winning "Toy Story 3" in U.S. domestic gross among animated films last year, and it became the sixth most successful film that Universal has ever distributed worldwide. It is now the tenth biggest animated film in history. Prior to founding Illumination, Meledandri spent thirteen years at Fox Films where he oversaw the studio’s animation division and the launch of blockbusters such as the "Ice Age franchise". "We have this incredible opportunity, whether we’re working exclusively in animation, or we’re combining live action with animation, to write, design and animate rich, endearing and, hopefully, enduring characters." Meledandri commissioned Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio (with whom he had worked on "Horton Hears a Who!" and "Despicable Me") to develop the idea based on a concept by Illumination executive John Cohen. Together with Brian Lynch, Paul and Daurio created the fantastic story of E.B. (the teenage son of the legendary Easter Bunny), who has no interest in his birthright. In the tiny region of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), he's been raised with the expectation that he would one day inherit his dad’s job. But all he wants to do is drum in a band and see the world that exists outside of his tiny island. Halfway across the world, we meet Fred O’Hare, a thirty year old slacker who, though talented, has bounced from job to job, unable to find a career that is right for him. He's also still living at home with his mum, dad, sister and adopted sister. An unexpected meeting with E.B. will, ironically, prove to be just the catalyst he needs to jumpstart his life. To give these characters a rich world in which to play, the writers created an innovative, imaginative back-story for the Easter Bunny and his kind, in which everything we have ever assumed about the holiday period is colorfully explained. "The world of Easter has never before been brought to life on film. By answering questions like 'Where is all this candy made, who paints the eggs and how does the Easter Bunny travel from town to town?' our writers and design team created an entire world and new mythology located on Easter Island. It’s a charming and fantastical factory run by bunnies and chicks where candy is manufactured and put into baskets, around the clock, in preparation for Easter," Cohen says. When it came time to consider who would helm the project, Meledandri returned to a director he'd met during his time at Fox Animation: Tim Hill. Meledandri liked the fact that Hill would be joining an expanded team whose approach to making live-action movies is so influenced by their experience in animation. "We had a great experience with Tim, having developed "Alvin and the Chipmunks" with him and had been looking for an opportunity to work together again." "Tim showed such amazing abilities as a comedy director on the first Alvin film," Michelle Imperato Stabile ("Twilight") notes. "He is equally comfortable and skilled at directing human characters as he is at directing animal ones. His deep knowledge of the challenges and nuances: both technically and artistically; of blending live action with state of the art CG animation has provided a daily education to those of us who are lucky enough to work with him." Both the cast and the chance to work with Illumination were selling points for Marsden ("Superman Returns"). "I knew that Russell was onboard. He’s very smart and he lends a specific sharp, comic edge to the movie. I wanted to be included in that company. I also think the guys at Illumination are tremendously talented. Plus, Tim’s a terrific director who is definitely in his wheelhouse and excited about doing something special. He’s incredibly inventive and great with the actors." Hill agreed to come onboard, primarily because Illumination shared his vision of not "simply making a kids’ movie." "I never make movies for kids. I make them for me. To work, the sensibility and the tone have to be that of a comedy for any audience. On a comic level, the humor has to be more sophisticated than in most kid movies." In addition to the humor he found in Paul, Daurio and Lynch’s screenplay, Hill believed that audiences would appreciate that for the first time, filmmakers were creating a cinematic treatment of a huge holiday. "No one’s really done a big film about the Easter Bunny. I think that audiences will respond to this character who is so beautifully animated. He’s cute, and he’s got a lot of character." Hop takes place in two very different locations: Los Angeles, where Fred spends his time daydreaming, and the fantastical world of the Easter Island candy factory. To imagine Easter World, the filmmakers recruited a team headed-up by someone who had a rabbit experience dating back to 1988: production designer Richard Holland ("Who Framed Roger Rabbit"); with whom Hill had worked closely on "Alvin and the Chipmunks." This candy factory run by the Easter Bunny is a world unlike anything ever imagined. An enormous factory that cranks out gumballs of every color and where colorful cascades of jelly beans crash as waterfalls, the Easter Bunny’s warehouse creates treats for every person’s palette. You will find chickens and bunnies working together to monitor the production of marshmallow candies and conducting quality control on the vats of glistening milk chocolate in this wonder world of Easter. On the night before Easter, the Easter Bunny loads these decadent treats into a large egg-shaped sleigh that’s drawn by a team of flying chicks. Santa’s more widely known reindeer-led sleigh was actually inspired by the Easter chicks. So how did the team make this world look so incredibly detailed. "Tim and the animators have systematically and carefully created all the characters that live and work in this space, all digitally," Stabile ("Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel") explained. "They’ve painstakingly ensured that the clothing and the fur look real: but they’re a bit exaggerated. They made them just a little bit bigger than normal-sized rabbits and chicks so it’s easier to see their expressions as they play off one another." When it came time to cast "Hop", the production team knew it needed to bring characters to life that had rich comedic personalities, whether they be animated or live-action ones. In the buddy comedy, the two pals happen to be a rabbit and a human being whose lives intersect at a moment when both are experiencing big changes. The entertainment of this film centres on the comedic interaction of these newfound friends. James Marsden was cast as the 'still lives at home' slacker, Fred O’Hare. Not only has the performer been a staple of the 'X-Men' series in the past decade, his standout turns in "Enchanted" and "Hairspray" have familiarized audiences with his sharp comedic timing. "I was excited about casting James because he’s not only funny but he’s a grounded actor. He always wants to know where the truth is about the character and where it’s coming from. We talked about the bunny as being super real so that James's performance could be modulated to match that, and he could still react to E.B. in a very comic way," Hill ("Max Keeble's Big Move") offered. Meledandri was impressed with Marsden’s work opposite a co-star that had to be animated postproduction. "James is a wonderful actor. He has an incredibly expressive face, and it’s a perfect complement to an animated character. He is a great actor to partner with." Marsden ("Sex Drive") found a number of redeeming qualities to Fred. "I admire Fred because he’s not backing down from his dream, whatever that dream is. I don’t know that he’s able to define it at first, but he knows what it’s not. He’s also kept a pretty good sense of humor about it. He’s not, by any means, a loser. He feels that there’s something more special for him out there that he has to go and look for." 2006 British Comedy Award Best Male Newcomer Russell Brand ("Got Issues") voices E.B. Meledandri revealed: "This is our second time working with Russell Brand. He did a wonderful supporting voice in "Despicable Me" as Dr. Nefario. In "Hop", he is front and centre. The minute that Russell starts performing, he imbues the character with rich, comedic personality that gives the animators so much to work with. He has a level of energy that almost cannot be contained. It is explosive and comedic, but perhaps most importantly for this film is that his voice embodies sweetness." "Russell brings a lot of edge to the character, but he’s also very empathetic," Hill notes. "He has a great range and can play the impish part of E.B., which is the part that gets to Fred. E.B. is also a rock 'n' roll kid, and Russell can play it that way, which is a great advantage for us. He’s dry and funny and a little crazy, and that’s how I think a lot of teenagers can be." For his part, Brand looked forward to reuniting with the filmmakers at Illumination. "I was in "Despicable Me", in which I played the voice of an old person. When Dr Nefario said something, I’d step in and do it. thought the film was really funny and loved Steve Carell in it. The filmmakers asked me if I wanted to be in another film in which I was the Easter Rabbit. I thought that would be brilliant fun, and it’s been a thrilling experience. Providing the vocals for a character with big dreams also appealed to the kid within Brand ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall"). "I was attracted to the role of E.B. because I thought I would get to be a mischievous rabbit without having to move around. Turns out it was very difficult to provide the voice of an animated character; it takes ages." In the role of Fred’s much more successful younger sibling, Sam, is Kaley Cuoco ("The Big Bang Theory"). "Kaley is amazing because she’s very real," says Hill. "She’s naturally very funny so there’s not a lot you have to do with her; she just gets it very quickly." And what was it that attracted Cuoco to the role? "I’ve been doing television for so long, and I thought film would be a fun change. I also love that there is an animated component to Hop." Hank Azaria ("The Simpsons"), voices the films principal chicks: the duplicitous, oversized Carlos and the easygoing, somewhat simple Phil. "I was drawn to Carlos and Phil because it’s not every day you get to play a chick: especially a dominating, angry one; like Carlos. He’s a funny little villain." Gary Cole ("Pineapple Express") and Elizabeth Perkins ("Big" & TV'S "Weeds") were cast as Fred's parents. 2006 & '07 Golden Globe winning actor Hugh Laurie ("House") is the voice of E.B's father, the Easter Bunny. "I thought it was a charming tale of a young man deciding what he wants to do with his life and what’s important in the world. What people can do with rhythm and with the expressiveness of their voices are things that I’ve always found absolutely fascinating. I loved the challenge of it. It’s important to keep alive the spontaneity of things." And Hills hopes for "Hop"? "I believe "Hop" will play any time of the year and for any audience. We've created a piece of entertainment that’s based around that time of year, and around a character that’s associated with a myth: but it does play for all seasons. Hop is universal, because the story’s universal." What's It All About?

On the eve of taking over the family business, E.B. leaves home for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream of becoming a drummer. Meanwhile, in L.A., Fred: an unemployed slacker with his own lofty goals; has been given the heave-ho by his family, who think it's high time he got out and experienced the real world. Fred is thrown a lifeline by his sister: babysitting a swank house. On the way there, Fred runs down E.B. Feigning injury, E.B. persuades Fred to take him in, and Fred finds himself living with the world's worst houseguest. Back on Easter Island, a power-hungry chick who has lived in the shadows for far too long has been plotting a coup to take over one of the biggest jobs in the world. Now that E.B.'s gone, he's got his chance. As E.B. discovers who he really wants to be and who he's meant to become, everything will lead him and Fred to an epic showdown to try and save Easter.

The Verdict "There's a saying in the industry that many critics ignore when it comes to reviewing 'kids' flicks'. If you don't have kids of your own, borrow a friends and take them with you. Or, make sure you sit in with an audience at a peak session so you can hear and at times observe the reaction from kids in the audience. I chose the latter on this occassion. I must say, the kids stayed in their seats and it sounded like (judging from their laughter and some out-loud exclamations) they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. The good news is, parents will find "Hop" good fun too. Let's face it: in this day and age, there's plenty of slacker kids still living at home, dodging the 'get a job bullet' and bludging off their parents. Like "Despicable Me", the tale of Fred and the young E.B. is handled extremely well. It's an engaging story, loaded with humour and a kaleidoscope of colour. I agree with director Tim Hill, who pointed out "Hop" does play for all seasons. Obviously it would be ideal to see it at Easter time but I'm just as sure that "Hop" will, when released on DVD and BLURAY, keep kids and families entertained all year round. 4 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

James Marsden Russell Brand Hugh Laurie Kaley Cuoco Hank Azaria Gary Cole Elizabeth Perkins Tiffany Espensen David Hasselhoff Chelsea Handler Dustin Ybarra Carlease Burke Veronica Alicino Django Marsh

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Fred O'Hare E.B. E.B.'s Dad - The Easter Bunny Sam O'Hare Carlos/Phil Henry O'Hare Bonnie O'Hare Alex O'Hare Himself Mrs Beck Cody Receptionist Waitress Young E.B.

The Production Team Directed by Tim Hill Screenplay Cinco Paul/Ken Daurio/Brian Lynch From a story by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio Produced by Michele Imperato & Christopher Meledandri Original Music by Christopher Lennertz Cinematography by Peter Lyons Collister Film Editing by Peter S. Elliot & Gregory Perler Production Design by Richard Holland Art Direction by Charles Daboub Jr Set Decoration by Don Diers Costume Design by Alexandra Welker Run Time 95 minutes Rated G [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Universal Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.