
Disney's
"The Princess and the Frog" was number one at the box office last weekend, taking in
$24.2 million. It's Disney's first animated fairy tale starring a black princess and after you ask yourself, what the heck took them so long, the big question, black princess aside is, how's the movie?
Well, the movie's quite good.
Time Magazine in fact calls it the Best Film of 2009.
While I'm not quite ready to say that, I will say all the Disney magic and beautiful, hand drawn animation are enchanting in this story set in New Orleans during the Jazz Age. Tiana (Anika Noni Rose, pictured left), the aforementioned princess, is a lovely character full of hopes and dreams. As a child, she shares her Dad's (Terrence Howard) love of cooking and as an adult, she dreams of opening the restaurant he never could.
Her prince, Naveen (Bruno Campos) loves jazz music and wants to live the high life even though he's been cut off without a cent by his parents. That lust for money is what gets him in trouble with Dr. Facilier (Keith David), an evil voodoo priest who tempts people with their heart's desire but demands a terrible price.
Also in the cast is Tiana's friend Charlotte (Jennifer Cody). Charlotte's kind of a parody of other Disney princesses. She's blond, her daddy's rich and she's quite spoiled, but--and here's where those racial images are important--because she's white, I was thrilled to see that she never became Tiana's savior or her enemy.
Anika Noni Rose of "Dreamgirls" and "The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency"shows her marvelous versatility as Tiana. Bruno Campos, aka The Carver from "Nip/Tuck"--from one extreme to the other!--does Prince Naveen proud. The rest of the cast including Jenifer Lewis, John Goodman, Michael-Leon Wooley, Oprah Winfrey and Jim Cummings give solid and entertaining support.
NBC's Leno/O'Brien Debacle: Audiences Chuckle, Letterman Laughs
This NBC Leno/O'Brien late night brouhaha is better than "All My Children" in its heyday. It's got everything:
First, a little background. Five years ago, NBC told Jay Leno, "In five years we're replacing you with Conan O'Brien, 'cause if we don't seal him up now, he's going to the competition. Your audience is old and replaceable and we want Conan's following of 15-29-year-old frat boys who love guys with tilted red hair."
Jay was like, "But I'm number one!"
NBC was like, "But that won't last so you're out!"
Jay was like, "Okay, I'll go home to work on my 500 classic cars, see ya later, peacock."
David Letterman watched from afar.
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