Hop | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Tim Hill |
Screenplay by | |
Story by |
|
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Peter Lyons Collister |
Edited by |
|
Music by | Christopher Lennertz |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures [2] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 95 minutes [3] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $63 million [4] |
Box office | $188 million [4] |
Hop is a 2011 American live-action/animated Easter fantasy comedy film produced by Relativity Media and Illumination Entertainment, and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film was directed by Tim Hill and produced by Chris Meledandri and Michele Imperato Stabile, from a screenplay written by Brian Lynch and the writing team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, the latter two of whom also conceived the film's story. It stars James Marsden, Russell Brand, Kaley Cuoco, Hank Azaria, Gary Cole, Elizabeth Perkins, David Hasselhoff, Chelsea Handler, and Hugh Laurie, with Tiffany Espensen, Dustin Ybarra, and Hugh Hefner in supporting roles. The film follows a young rabbit who would rather drum in a band than succeed his father as the Easter Bunny, and befriends a human slacker seeking a job.
Hop premiered at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 27, 2011, and was theatrically released in the United States on April 1. It received generally negative reviews from critics. During its theatrical run, the film earned $188 million at the box office, against a budget of $63 million. To date, it is the only Illumination film that combines live-action photography with animation.
On Easter Island, a young rabbit named E.B. is intended to succeed his father as the Easter Bunny. Ignoring his father's orders, E.B. runs away to Hollywood to pursue his dream of becoming a drummer. In Van Nuys, E.B. is hit by Fred O'Hare, an out-of-work, job-hopping slacker who was driving to his sister Sam's boss's house to house-sit after his parents forced him to move out. Feigning injury, E.B. persuades Fred to take him in as he recovers, but when E.B. causes trouble, Fred attempts to release him in the wilderness. However, E.B. persuades Fred to let him stay, claiming to be the Easter Bunny, whom Fred had witnessed delivering eggs as a child and became infatuated with Easter ever since.
Meanwhile, E.B.'s father sends his royal guards, the Pink Berets, to search for him and bring him back. In Hollywood, E.B. sees the Berets closing in on him and hides inside a business where Fred is having a job interview. E.B. enjoys a successful recording session with The Blind Boys of Alabama as their substitute drummer, but ruins Fred's job interview. In the process, E.B. gets a tip about a possible audition for David Hasselhoff, and after performing for him, he invites him to perform on his show.
Afterwards, Fred attends his adoptive younger sister Alex's school Easter pageant with E.B. hiding in a satchel. E.B., believing that the Pink Berets have found him due to the three bunny suit shadows on a wall and disgusted by Alex's awful rendition of "Peter Cottontail", dashes out and disrupts the show, forcing Fred to fake being a ventriloquist's act with E.B. as his dummy, and the two upstage the show singing, "I Want Candy". Both Fred's father Henry and Alex are angry about the upstaging, but Fred is inspired to be the Easter Bunny himself. Although skeptical, E.B. agrees to train him and finds that Fred has some genuine talent for it.
Meanwhile, the Easter Bunny's second-in-command Carlos the Chick plots a coup d'état against him to take over Easter. Carlos inspires the chicks to uprise the bunnies and begins training to become the "Easter Chick". The next morning, as E.B. is about to go to Hasselhoff's show, he notices the Pink Berets and prepares a decoy to fake his death, leaving Fred behind. The Berets see the decoy and, horrified that Fred has apparently killed E.B., capture him and take him to Easter Island. Fred is confronted by E.B.'s father and Carlos, who seizes control of the Easter factory, tying up E.B.'s father and placing him and Fred to be boiled alive. Meanwhile, E.B. starts to feel guilty for leaving Fred, and is convinced by Hasselhoff on his show to go back and help his friend.
E.B. races back to the factory, confronting Carlos, but is immobilized in gummy candy and tossed into the chocolate bunny carving line. E.B. survives by dodging the blades of the machine, while Fred eats through the black-licorice ropes, escaping with E.B's father. Carlos turns into a mutant chick-bunny hybrid due to the magic of the Egg of Destiny, and battles with E.B., defeating him easily due to his size. Carlos then tries to lead the Egg Sleigh out with his sidekick Phil directing, but E.B. improvises a drum session that drives Phil to uncontrollably dance to the beat and provide the wrong signals, causing the sleigh to crash and subdue Carlos. E.B. and his father reconcile, and he and Fred are crowned co-Easter bunnies. Back at home, Fred reconciles with his father and his family, and then takes off with E.B., with Carlos being forced to pull the Egg Sleigh.
In a post credits scene, Fred is seen delivering an Easter basket to a Chinese lady who appeared in a previous scene that used to chase E.B.'s father off in past years. When E.B. asked what the lady said, Fred explained in Mandarin that the reason why it is difficult to deliver Easter baskets in China is because of talking rabbits being intimidating to Chinese guests. E.B. is surprised that Fred can speak Chinese.
The cast in order of production notes listing: [5]
The animated characters were designed by Peter de Sève. [16] The CGI animation of the film was made by Los Angeles-based Rhythm & Hues Studios. [17]
Hop (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
---|---|
Soundtrack album by | |
Released | March 29, 2011 |
Recorded | 2010 |
Studio | Eastwood Scoring Stage, Warner Bros. Studios |
Genre | Film score |
Length | 54:40 |
Label | |
Producer |
|
Hop (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the complete soundtrack album for the film. The entire score was composed by award-winning composer Christopher Lennertz, who had previously composed the score for Alvin and the Chipmunks , another film directed by Tim Hill. The album was released on March 29, 2011, by Back Lot Music and Varèse Sarabande Records.
A 35th track, titled "The Pink Berets", is included in the soundtrack. Christopher Lennertz wrote the song with Ali Theodore, Bryan Spitzer, Jordan Yaeger, and Julian Michael Davis. The Deekompressors performed the song.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Prologue / Easter Island" | 2:07 |
2. | "Candy Factory" | 3:07 |
3. | "Young Fred Gets A Visit" | 2:53 |
4. | "O'Hare's Intervention" | 1:04 |
5. | "Don't Want To Be The Easter Bunny" | 1:34 |
6. | "The Accident" | 1:47 |
7. | "Lament" | 0:33 |
8. | "In The Garage" | 1:19 |
9. | "Carlos Reports" | 1:50 |
10. | "Summon The Pink Berets" | 1:12 |
11. | "Pooping Jellybeans" | 0:52 |
12. | "Fred Remembers" | 0:29 |
13. | "Late For Interview" | 1:20 |
14. | "EB Escapes" | 1:17 |
15. | "Fred's Tour" | 1:11 |
16. | "Got The Blues" | 0:43 |
17. | "Dad Misses His Son" | 1:48 |
18. | "Back To The Mansion" | 0:42 |
19. | "Sam's Visit" | 2:40 |
20. | "The Hoff" | 0:27 |
21. | "Fathers Just Don't Get It" | 0:42 |
22. | "Fred's Realization" | 0:37 |
23. | "Be The Bunny" | 3:24 |
24. | "Pink Berets Take Fred" | 1:04 |
25. | "Back To Easter Island" | 2:40 |
26. | ""Coup De Tat"" | 0:52 |
27. | "Oh, The Guilt" | 0:45 |
28. | "Easter Moon Rises" | 1:52 |
29. | "Carlos Takes Control" | 2:23 |
30. | "Transformation" | 2:04 |
31. | "Air Traffic Control" | 1:24 |
32. | "Reunion / Proclamation" | 2:27 |
33. | "Brunch" | 0:56 |
34. | "The Big Finale" | 1:56 |
35. | "The Pink Berets" | 2:23 |
Total length: | 54:40 |
Universal teamed up with 92 major companies to promote Hop, including Holiday Inn, Krispy Kreme, Lindt, Kraft Foods, The Hershey Company, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Comcast, Kodak, Hallmark, HMV, and Burger King. A large range of licensed merchandise was released in connection with the film, including toys, stuffed animals, many sorts of candy, T-shirts, cookie decorating kits, baked goods and other products from Kraft Foods. Some items were available exclusively at Walmart stores. [18] The premiere of Hop took place at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 27, 2011. [19]
A Hop video game was released only for the Nintendo DS alongside the film. [20] [21] On March 29, 2011, a crossover game featuring Hop and Doodle Jump was released on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. All 25 levels being available after the film's release. [22] [23] As part of Doodle Jump's in-app purchases with downloads, a new level can be selected through naming at Hop's game over screen. [24]
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released Hop on DVD and Blu-ray on March 23, 2012. [25] Physical copies include featurettes and games, [26] with a short film Phil's Dance Party. [27]
Hop earned $108.5 million in the United States and Canada and $80.4 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $188.4 million. [4] It was the 39th-highest-grossing film of 2011. [28] To date, Hop is the lowest-grossing film released by Illumination. [29]
In the United States and Canada, Hop was released on April 1, 2011. [4] It earned $11.5 million on its first day. The film debuted earning $38 million across 3,579 theaters. [30] Its second weekend earnings dropped by 42 percent [31] to $21.7 million, [32] and followed by another $11.1 million the third weekend. [33] Hop left theaters by August 19, 2011, making it the year's 25th-highest-grossing film. [34]
Reviews for Hop were mostly negative upon release. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 24% of 140 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.3/10.The website's consensus reads: "It's impressively animated, but Hop's script is so uninspired that not even James Marsden's frantic mugging can give it any bounce." [35] To date, it is Illumination's lowest-reviewed film on Rotten Tomatoes. Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 41 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [36] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale. [31]
The subplot involving Carlos the Easter Chick was considered to be insensitive to Mexican Americans by one reviewer. [37] [38] Peter Debruge of Variety called it "hilariously un-PC". [7] Philip French of The Guardian wrote: "It's a combination of the worst movies about trouble in Santa Claus's north pole toy factory and a version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory lethally laced with sugar." [39] Also writing for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw gave it one star out of four and called it a "soulless and depressing film, with plasticky production design." [40]
Hop was nominated in two categories at the 2011 Golden Trailer Awards: "Battle For Easter" (Cimarron Entertainment) for Best Animation/Family and "Carrot Quiz" (Mojo) for Best Animation/Family TV Spot. [41] Character animator Andrew Arnett was nominated for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production at the 39th Annie Awards. [42] At the Golden Reel Awards 2011, the film received a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore. [43] [44]
Bugs Bunny is a cartoon character created in the late 1930s at Warner Bros. Cartoons and voiced originally by Mel Blanc. Bugs is best known for his featured roles in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of animated short films, produced by Warner Bros. Earlier iterations of the character first appeared in Ben Hardaway's Porky's Hare Hunt (1938) and subsequent shorts before Bugs's definitive characterization debuted in Tex Avery's A Wild Hare (1940). Bob Givens, Chuck Jones, and Robert McKimson are credited for defining Bugs's design.
Peeps are a marshmallow confection marketed since 1953 in the United States and Canada in the shape of chicks, bunnies, and other animals as well as holiday shapes produced by Pennsylvania-headquartered Just Born Quality Confections.
David Michael Hasselhoff, nicknamed "The Hoff", is an American actor, singer, and television personality. He has set a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV. Hasselhoff first gained recognition on The Young and the Restless (1975–1982), playing the role of Dr. Snapper Foster. His career continued with his leading role as Michael Knight on Knight Rider (1982–1986) and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch (1989–2000). He also produced Baywatch from the 1990s until 2001 when the series ended with Baywatch Hawaii.
James Paul Marsden is an American actor. He began his acting career guest starring in the television shows Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993), Touched by an Angel (1995), and Party of Five (1995). Marsden gained fame for his portrayal of Cyclops in the X-Men film series (2000–2014) and for his roles in the films The Notebook (2004), Superman Returns (2006), Hairspray (2007), Enchanted (2007), and 27 Dresses (2008). He portrayed John F. Kennedy in the drama film The Butler (2013) and starred in the comedy films Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022).
Michael Hazen James McIntyre is an English comedian, writer, and television presenter. In 2012, he was the highest-grossing stand-up comedian in the world. As of 2023, he presents his own Saturday night series, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, and the game show, The Wheel, on BBC One. He also hosted the American version of The Wheel on NBC.
Rise of the Guardians is a 2012 American animated fantasy action-adventure film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by Peter Ramsey from a screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the book series The Guardians of Childhood and the short film The Man in the Moon by William Joyce. It stars the voices of Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Isla Fisher, and Hugh Jackman. The film tells a story about Guardians Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman, who enlist Jack Frost to stop the evil Pitch Black from engulfing the world in darkness in a fight of dreams.
Despicable Me is a 2010 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, and the SPA Studios, and distributed by Universal. The first installment of the franchise of the same name, it was the first feature film from Illumination. It was directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin and produced by Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy, and John Cohen, from a screenplay by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, based on a story by Sergio Pablos. Despicable Me stars the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Will Arnett, and Julie Andrews. The film follows Felonious Gru, a longtime supervillain who adopts three orphan girls to use as pawns in a villainous scheme but reluctantly develops an emotional attachment to them.
Christopher Meledandri is an American film producer and founder and CEO of Illumination. He previously served as President of 20th Century Fox Animation, and has worked as the producer for the film series of Ice Age, Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets and Sing. In 2021, he joined Nintendo's board of directors after working with the video game company on The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Meledandri also collaborates with Illumination's corporate sibling DreamWorks Animation on reviving the Shrek franchise.
The Lorax is a 2012 American animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, and distributed by Universal. The film is the second screen adaptation of Dr. Seuss' 1971 children's book of the same name following the 1972 animated television special. Directed by Chris Renaud, co-directed by Kyle Balda, produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy and written by the writing team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, it stars the voices of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate and Betty White.
Despicable Me 2 is a 2013 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, and distributed by Universal. It is the sequel to Despicable Me (2010) and the second installment in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and written by the writing team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, and Ken Jeong. The film follows retired supervillain Gru as he is recruited by secret agent Lucy Wilde to investigate the theft of a powerful mutagen by El Macho, a supervillain who seeks to achieve world domination.
Universal's Superstar Parade was a parade at Universal Studios Florida. It was first announced at a live webcast on January 25, 2012. The parade included characters, floats, and themed-vehicles based on Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me and Hop films, as well as Paramount and Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Go, Diego, Go! television series. Each section of the parade had a unique mix of performers, from aerialists to drummers to acrobatics. The parade was notable for having “show stops” in the New York and Hollywood sections of the park where an elaborate choreographed dance routine would take place. Leading up to the parade, each individual unit would make appearances throughout the day for smaller shows and meet-n-greets. The parade debuted on May 8, 2012, as part of Universal Orlando's "Year To Be Here".
Despicable Me is an American media franchise created by Sergio Pablos, Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It centers on a former supervillain turned secret agent named Gru, his adoptive daughters, Margo, Edith, and Agnes, and his yellow-colored Minions. The franchise is produced by Illumination and distributed by its parent company Universal Pictures.
Sing is a 2016 American animated jukebox musical comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, and distributed by Universal. It was written and directed by Garth Jennings, co-directed by Christophe Lourdelet, and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy. Set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, the film focuses on a struggling theater owner who stages a singing competition in an effort to prevent his theater from entering foreclosure, as well as how the competition interferes with the personal lives of its contestants.
The Grinch, also known as Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, is a 2018 American animated Christmas comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. The third screen adaptation of Dr. Seuss' 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, following the 1966 television special and the 2000 live-action feature-length film, it is Illumination's second Dr. Seuss film adaptation, after The Lorax in 2012. The plot follows the Grinch and his pet dog Max who plan to stop Whoville's Christmas celebration by stealing all the town's decorations and gifts.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is a 2021 adventure comedy film directed and produced by Will Gluck, who co-wrote the screenplay with Patrick Burleigh. The film is a sequel to Peter Rabbit (2018). Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, and is based on the stories of Peter Rabbit created by Beatrix Potter. James Corden reprises his role as the title character, alongside Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, and David Oyelowo in live-action roles, and the voices of Elizabeth Debicki, Lennie James, and Margot Robbie.
Sing 2 is a 2021 American animated jukebox musical comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal. The sequel to Sing (2016), it was written and directed by Garth Jennings, co-directed by Christophe Lourdelet, and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy. The story follows Buster Moon and his group putting on a show in Redshore City while working to impress an entertainment mogul and enlist a reclusive rock star to perform with the group.
Looney Tunes Cartoons is an American animated television series developed by Pete Browngardt and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, based on the characters from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. The series made its worldwide debut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 10, 2019, and premiered on HBO Max on May 27, 2020.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a 2023 American animated adventure comedy film based on Nintendo's Mario video game franchise. Produced by Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo, and distributed by Universal, it was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and written by Matthew Fogel. The ensemble voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen. The film features an origin story for the brothers Mario and Luigi, Italian-American plumbers who are separated after being transported to a fantasy world and become entangled in a battle between the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach, and the Koopas, led by Bowser.