‘Supercool’: Vertical Entertainment Acquires Rights To Comedy Starring Jake Short, Miles J. Harvey & Damon Wayans Jr.
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EXCLUSIVE: Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the comedy Supercool, starring Jake Short (This Is the Year), Miles J. Harvey (The Babysitter) and Damon Wayans Jr. (Let’s Be Cops, The Other Guys), with plans to release it in theaters and on digital and VOD on February 11.
The film from director Teppo Airaksinen (Juice) centers on Neil Tobbler (Short), who has gone through most of his life feeling invisible and fantasizing about his long-time crush, Summer (Madison Davenport). When Neil and his best friend Gilbert (Harvey) find out that Summer is throwing a birthday party, Gilbert pressures Neil to ask her for an invitation. The plan fails, and Neil embarrasses himself in front of the girl of his dreams.
Desperate and humiliated, Neil wishes upon the universe to be someone else—a supercool version of himself—the next day waking up and realizing that the universe has granted him his wish. Armed with new confidence, Neil gets an invitation to Summer’s party and asks his playboy neighbor Jimmy (Wayans) to help him attract Summer’s attention. As the night begins, things quickly spin out of control. Neil and Gilbert are unexpectedly swept into a series of car chases, robberies and wild parties, with the epic outing testing the boys’ friendship, and forcing Neil to learn a couple life lessons.
Ali Moussavi and Yellow Film and TV’s Olli Haikka penned the script for Supercool, from an original manuscript by Patricia Goren and Eric Goren. The film’s cast also includes Iliza Shlesinger (Good on Paper, Spenser Confidential), Odessa A’zion (Let’s Scare Julie, Conception), Peter Moses (Barely Famous) and Madison Bailey (Outer Banks). Haikka produced, with Peter Barkman, Scott Einbinder, Eric Goren, Patricia Goren, Heikki Herlin, Jorma Reinilä, Giancarlo J. Sini and Marko Talli exec producing. Pietari Vappula and Chris Debenedetto served as associate producers, with Cherelle George and Warren Ostergard as co-producers.
“It takes courage to show people who you truly are – even for adults, but especially for teens,” said Haikka. “Despite being saturated with self-doubt, teens often carry on like they have all the confidence in the world – that’s where so much of the comedy in Supercool comes from.
“Inspired by improvisation sessions that we had with young actors in various LA acting schools, some jokes and scenes in Supercool are based on real-life experiences,” added the writer-producer, “and that’s what I hope will resonate with audiences and make them laugh.”
“Supercool is a film that resonated with us because of its duality in managing to be both a raunchy and hilarious film but also a genuine story about friendship and individuality,” added Vertical Entertainment’s SVP of Acquisitions, Tony Piantedosi. “For those looking for a good laugh and amusement during these unpredictable times, Supercool is definitely a must-see.”
One of the most prolific directors in the Nordics, Airaksinen has helmed five features and more than 200 hours of televisions, with his short film The Ceiling winning the Cannes Film Festival’s Special Jury Distinction in 2017.
Yellow Film & TV, found in 1994, is the largest independent studio in the Nordics. Its best-known international productions include the crime drama Arctic Circle and sports drama Borg vs. McEnroe, which was a co-production with SF Studios.
Vertical Entertainment is a global independent distributor, which was founded in 2012. Other upcoming releases from the company include Delmar Washington’s sci-fi thriller No Running, starring Skylan Brooks; AJ Jones’ horror film La Patasola; the comedy Unplugging, starring Eva Longoria and Matt Walsh; John Michael McDonagh’s thriller The Forgiven, starring Jessica Chastain and Ralph Fiennes, which it co-acquired with Roadside Attractions in November; and Drew Mylrea’s thriller Last Survivors, starring Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Moyer, and Drew Van Acker.
Vertical Entertainment’s Piantedosi negotiated the deal to acquire Supercool with WME Independent on behalf of the filmmakers.
How to Watch Paris Jackson in ‘Sex Appeal’
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Paris Jackson is showing off her acting chops in the Hulu original film Sex Appeal. The teen comedy about a high schooler attempting to lose her virginity only to learn the complicated nuances of sex, love and relationships will begin streaming on the platform on Friday (Jan. 14).
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Newcomer Mika Abdalla stars in the film as Avery, a straight-A student whose long-distance boyfriend wants to get physical. Because Avery is used to excelling in school, she decides to apply the same study methods to mastering “sexual excellence” and creates an app designed to guide users to a “successful sexual experience.” She elicits advice from fellow classmates and her three moms, played by Margert Cho, Fortune Feimster and Rebecca Henderson, and commissions her childhood friend Larson (Jake Short) to help her prepare for first-time sex.
Paris plays Avery’s classmate Danica, an unapologetic, sexually experienced high schooler who “wears combat boots and listens to metal music,” the 23-year-old actress told Variety.
“That’s who I was when I was in high school,” she said. “And I love how unapologetically herself she is and that she’s not slut-shamed or shamed at all. I loved that she is respected and renowned for her knowledge, which is how it should be!”
Mason Versaw, Skai Jackson, Alex D. Jennings, Hayden Szeto, Paisley Herrera and Artemis Pebdani round out the cast.
Cho likened Sex Appeal to a modernized ’80s teen coming-of-age story told from a female perspective. “It reminded me of kind of a new version of Weird Science. Those kinds of films built my entire consciousness,” Cho told Syracuse.com. “[Those] stories are important, but we don’t have them from a female perspective and to a female perspective too, so I really appreciated that.”
Sex Appeal is streaming exclusively on Hulu at no extra charge to subscribers. If you’re not already subscribed, join today and enjoy a free 30-day trial to stream Sex Appeal and tons of other content in Hulu’s massive library. Plans start at $6.99 a month for ad-supported streaming, or $12.99 a month for the ad-free plan.
Hulu also offers a bundle deal with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $13.99 a month, and Hulu + Live TV, which is $69.99 a month for ad-free entertainment. The live TV subscription plan doesn’t come with a free trial, but it includes more than 75 channels with live TV along with access to Disney+ and ESPN+.
Directed by Talia Osteen, Sex Appeal was written and executive produced by Tate Hanyock who also plays a character in the film.
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Taylor Swift Fans Think Jake Gyllenhaal Just Acknowledged The “All Too Well” Rerelease Drama
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Bravo
“I never understood why everybody asked me about his scarf, what is this?” Maggie said in response to a question about whether Taylor’s infamous scarf is still at her house. “I am in the dark about the scarf. It’s totally possible. I don’t know, but I’ve been asked this before, and I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
Worth Watching: ‘Ray Donovan’ Last Stand, Denzel Is ‘Macbeth,’ ‘After Life’ Final Season, A Real ‘Scream’
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What matters most in this feature-length sequel is that it represents Ray Donovan: The Ending—something of which fans were deprived when the series was abruptly canceled after seven seasons. Picking up from 2020’s bloody cliffhanger, the movie depicts a final reckoning between the moody fixer Ray (star and co-writer Liev Schreiber) and his wayward father Mickey (Jon Voight). Flashbacks that are a lot more satisfying than in last year’s Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark feature their younger selves—Chris Gray as Ray and Bill Heck as a swaggering, charismatic Mickey—as they fatefully clash, setting up the schism that would fuel the series. (See the full review.)
What to watch: ‘Peacemaker’ is a superhero breath of fresh air
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While a new “Scream” aims to scare up some excitement at the anemic box office, there are numerous other worthwhile titles that are streaming or arriving in theaters.
Here’s what to see, and what to avoid.
“Peacemaker”: When it comes to the masterminds spearheading superhero series and movies, James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) is a standout, a fearless writer/director whose irreverent, rowdy ways puts him on a par with Taika Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok”). And “Peacemaker” is a high note in Gunn’s career. Fans of “Deadpool’s” rude/raunchy behavior will adore this addictive eight-part HBO Max series — a spinoff of the gonzo box-office flop “Suicide Squad.” It distances itself from anything Disney+ offers, and is stuffed with nudity and violence and unrestrained edginess.
Gunn wrote and directed the bulk of the episodes and his R-rated riffing injects spirit and exuberance into the run-of-the-mill superhero franchise. But he’s not the only one who makes “Peacemaker” a down-and-dirty treat. Gifted comedian John Cena brings some sexy swagger to the title role, while portraying the superhero as a meat-and-potatoes, lunkheaded, clueless, guy who manages to be a do-gooder even though he is anything but “woke.” In this loopy series, Peacemaker gets revived post- “Suicide Squad” and becomes a part of a special ops team tasked with ferreting out evil entities flitting about the globe. His new crew barely tolerates this crass oaf, yet can’t help but be somewhat charmed by him. Robert Patrick appears as Peacemaker’s racist dad (instrumental to the plot) while Danielle Brooks stands out as Peacemaker’s new crony, as does Freddie Stroma as Adrian Chase/Vigilante — who gets some of the best laughs. “Peacemaker” skewers the superhero genre — with respect — and serves up something different; an unconventional, laugh-out-loud romp that’s as rude as it is enjoyable. Details: 3 stars out of 4; available Jan. 13 on HBO Max.
“Hotel Transylvania: Transformania”: Amazon Prime supposedly drives the final nail in the coffin of this animated franchise following Count Drac and his monster chums. The animation won’t win any awards on this fourth outing, which slips from memory before the credits are done rolling, but it all works thanks to an A-list voice cast (including Andy Samberg, Kathryn Hahn and Selena Gomez, who is also an executive producer.) The story follows these classic monsters getting zapped back into human form while Drac’s hyperactive son-in-law (Samberg) transforms into a monster. All of it is amiable and chuckle-worthy, but nothing more. Details: 2½ stars; available Jan. 14 on Amazon Prime.
“Shattered”: Whatever happened to the sleazy erotic thriller — those addictive B movies overwrought with numbskull plot twists and stupid lusty human behavior? Once dominant on cable TV, these guilty pleasures have all but lost their bawdy heat. Director Luis Prieto and screenwriter David Loughery try to throw gas on the dying briquets with this effort, but deliver 92 minutes of vigorous, highly unfulfilling sex, an asinine neo-noir plot and lame dialogue uttered with unrelenting woodiness. “Shameless” star Cameron Monaghan is the patsy here, a rich stooge going through a divorce and falling for a femme fatale (Lilly Krug) who dabbles in lesbianism and has so many red flags around her she could land a Boeing 737. She catches the creepy eye of a peeping Tom motel owner (John Malkovich, so outrageously good at being a sleaze) but that subplot hits a dead end. Frank Grillo pops in late in the game but doesn’t add much, while the twists — both in the script and in the sheets — are so nondescript you might nod off. Details: 1½ stars; available to stream Jan. 14 on multiple platforms.
“Sex Appeal”: Whatever happened to the teen sex comedy? Once embraced by young and old alike, the genre finds its prospects dimmed by a more politically correct culture. Enter Hulu’s entirely unsexy but casually entertaining offering, a mildly raunchy coming-of-age sex comedy about brainy high school senior Avery (Mika Abdalla) experimenting with sex for the first time so she can concoct a prize-winning app on canoodling. Clueless Avery enlists the aid of her bestie (Jake Short) to show her how to do sex right. He, though, has been crushing on her for years. The setup has potential, but the screenplay mostly goes through the motions, offering just a few colorful and clever sex bits. While “Sex Appeal” can’t compare to Neftlix’s “Sex Education,” which is edgier and sexier, it does have a sex-positive message along with a terrific ending and three jovial supporting performances from comedians Fortune Feimster, Margaret Cho and Rebecca Henderson. Details: 2½ stars; available Jan. 14 on Hulu.
“Belle”: Japanese animator Mamoru Hosoda’s majestically animated fable tackles Instagramming culture and how we hide from reality by creating alternate, often too-perfect images of ourselves. Such is the metaphysical quandary of Suzu, a shy, insecure and isolated high school student being raised by her father. When she steps into a popular virtual world, she transforms into Belle, a singer adored by all. But even the virtual world crawls with monsters and soon one rages through this global internet community. Who is the person behind this beast? Hosoda’s answer hits you in the gut, steering “Belle” into a more complicated narrative territory. It’s terrific. Details: 3½ stars; opens Jan. 14 in select theaters.
“The Velvet Queen”: Nature documentaries don’t get much better than Marie Amiguet and Vincent Munier’s captivating journey to the Tibetan mountains, where we follow two men on a quest to find and photograph the elusive, reclusive snow leopard. Besides the stunning, stirring camerawork, “Queen” one-ups other adventure docs with its meditative quality, an approach that captures the essence of why nature photographer Munier and writer Sylvain Tesson embarked on the trip in the first place. Details: 4 stars; opens Jan. 14 in select theaters.
“Delicious”: It might throw too many ingredients on the table, but director Eric Besnard’s creation is a special meal, an epicurean and cinematic delight. Rooted in the emergence of the first restaurant ever, it’s set in 1789 France, a culinary era when all the rich and royal ate the very best, and the common people, not so much. Subject to the rote whims of the fussy and privileged Duke of Chamfort (Benjamin Lavernhe, given too little screen time), chef Pierre Manceron (Gregory Gadebois) loses his gig after trying to nudge the duke to eat outside his comfort zone. So Pierre returns to the country and reluctantly takes on middle-aged trainee Louise (Isabelle Carre). The two shoulder raw wounds from their past, but make a strong team. So do the two actors in this mouthwatering foodie drama that is as appetizing as the dishes whipped up in it. Details: 3 stars; available to stream Jan. 14.
Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.