A Heartwarming Adventure: Paddington in Peru

A Heartwarming Adventure: Paddington in Peru

Happy Valentine’s Day friends…

Paddington in Peru hits theaters TODAY!

There is something undeniably magical about Paddington Bear. Ever since he first graced the pages of Michael Bond’s books, his charming and optimistic nature has endeared him to generations. With Paddington in Peru, the beloved bear returns for another adventure—one that is as heartwarming as it is thrilling. This third installment is a delightful mix of humor, adventure, and emotion, making it a perfect film for audiences of all ages.

A Special Screening at The Grove

I had the incredible opportunity to attend an early screening of Paddington in Peru at The Grove in Los Angeles. The excitement was palpable as families, press, and fans of all ages gathered to witness the return of our favorite marmalade-loving bear. The energy in the theater was infectious, with children giggling in anticipation and adults reminiscing about their love for the previous films. There’s something special about experiencing a film like this on the big screen with an audience who shares the same joy and nostalgia.

Watch the official trailer here.

A Whimsical and Colorful Journey

From the very beginning, Paddington in Peru bursts onto the screen with vibrant colors and stunning CGI that bring the lush Peruvian jungle to life. The cinematography captures the breathtaking landscapes, from the bustling streets of London to the mystical depths of the Amazon. Every frame is infused with warmth, setting the stage for an adventure that feels both whimsical and grand.

The film finds Paddington embarking on a high-stakes quest to find his beloved Aunt Lucy, who has mysteriously disappeared from the Home for Retired Bears. Accompanied by the ever-loyal Brown family, Paddington follows a series of clues that lead them deep into the Peruvian rainforest. What unfolds is a mix of comedy, suspense, and unexpected surprises, all executed with the impeccable comedic timing that has become a signature of the Paddington films.

A Stellar Cast Brings Paddington’s World to Life

Ben Whishaw once again lends his voice to Paddington, delivering a performance brimming with warmth, innocence, and charm. His gentle yet expressive voice perfectly embodies Paddington’s unwavering optimism, making it impossible not to root for him. Hugh Bonneville returns as the steadfast Mr. Brown, and Emily Mortimer steps into the role of Mrs. Brown, bringing a delightful energy to the character. Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, and Imelda Staunton also reprise their roles, adding depth and humor to the film.

One of the standout performances comes from Olivia Colman, who brings an effortless wit and gravitas to her role. Antonio Banderas also makes a memorable appearance, adding a touch of intrigue and charisma. The chemistry among the cast is palpable, creating a familial warmth that underscores the film’s central theme—family is not just about blood, but about love, loyalty, and shared adventures.

Comedy, Surprises, and a Touch of Mystery

One of the strongest aspects of Paddington in Peru is its ability to balance humor with heart. The film is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, from Paddington’s well-meaning but often clumsy attempts at navigating the jungle to his interactions with the eccentric characters he meets along the way. The comedic timing is impeccable, ensuring that both children and adults will find plenty to enjoy.

Beyond the laughs, the film delivers a heartfelt message about perseverance and never giving up hope. Paddington’s determination to find Aunt Lucy serves as a reminder of the importance of kindness and resilience. The plot is full of twists and surprises, keeping audiences engaged as the mystery unfolds.

CGI

The CGI in Paddington in Peru is truly remarkable. Paddington himself looks more lifelike than ever, with every strand of his fur meticulously animated. The seamless integration of CGI with live-action performances makes the film visually stunning. The jungle sequences are particularly impressive, immersing viewers in a world teeming with beauty and danger.

The film’s soundtrack further enhances the storytelling, with a score that perfectly captures the emotional highs and lows of the adventure. From playful, upbeat melodies to more poignant orchestral pieces, the music adds an extra layer of magic to the film.

A Timeless Message About Family and Hope

At its core, Paddington in Peru is a story about family—the ones we are born into and the ones we choose. The Brown family’s unwavering support for Paddington is touching, reinforcing the idea that true family is built on love and loyalty. The film also explores themes of identity and belonging, making it a deeply relatable experience for audiences of all ages.

The message of never giving up hope is particularly poignant. Even in the face of uncertainty, Paddington remains steadfast in his belief that he will find Aunt Lucy. This optimism is a refreshing reminder of the power of hope, making the film not only entertaining but also uplifting.

Final Thoughts: A Must-Watch for All Ages

Paddington in Peru is a delightful addition to the Paddington franchise, offering a perfect blend of adventure, humor, and heartfelt storytelling. The incredible cast, stunning visuals, and charming narrative make it a must-watch for families, long-time fans, and newcomers alike.

Experiencing the film at The Grove made it even more special—it was a night filled with laughter, nostalgia, and appreciation for Paddington’s enduring charm. Whether you’re drawn in by his irresistible personality, the breathtaking visuals, or the film’s underlying message of love and perseverance, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. This Valentine’s Day, Paddington in Peru is the perfect film to watch with loved ones—a reminder that kindness, adventure, and a little bit of marmalade can make the world a better place.

GO SEE PADDINGTON IN PERU WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY TODAY!

Father Stu: Exclusive Interview With Director Rosalind Ross  

Father Stu: Exclusive Interview With Director Rosalind Ross  

Earlier this month, we got a sneak peak of the the new Sony Pictures film, Father Stu and we interviewed Director and Writer Rosalind Ross. This movie came just in time for Easter as it is a film about faith, mercy, hope, and resilience.

This compelling movie is for everyone and all walks of life. It’s for believers, non-believers alike. It is based on a true story. It is honest, raw and about overcoming obstacles. Watch it in theaters today!

Rated R

Watch our exclusive interview below!

Thank you Sony Pictures for inviting Queen Bee Latina to interview Rosalind Ross.

SYNOPSIS

Based on a true story, Father Stu is an unflinchingly honest, funny and ultimately uplifting drama about a lost soul who finds his purpose in a most unexpected place. When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg) moves to L.A. dreaming of stardom. While scraping by as a supermarket clerk, he meets Carmen (Teresa Ruiz), a Catholic Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm. Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her. But surviving a terrible motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others find their way, leading to the surprising realization that he is meant to be a Catholic priest. Despite a devastating health crisis and the skepticism of Church officials and his estranged parents (Mel Gibson and Jacki Weaver), Stu pursues his vocation with courage and compassion, inspiring not only those closest to him but countless others along the way.

Written for the screen and directed by Rosalind Ross, and starring Academy Award Nominee® Mark Wahlberg (Best Supporting Actor, The Departed, 2006) as Father Stu, along with Academy Award Winner® Mel Gibson (Best Director, Braveheart, 1995), Academy Award Nominee® Jacki Weaver (Best Supporting Actor, Silver Linings Playbook, 2012) and Teresa Ruiz (Narcos). The film is produced by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Jordon Foss and executive produced by Miky Lee, Colleen Camp, Rosalind Ross, Patrick Peach and Tony Grazia.  

Check out our full interview here.

Movie Review: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Written By: Claudia V. Saldaña

Picture with Susan Kelechi Watson stars as Andrea Vogel

Last weekend, Sony Pictures Entertainment invited a group of social influencers to screen the new Tom Hanks movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood in which Hanks plays the role of Fred Rogers, the beloved children’s television icon.  Prior to viewing the movie, I did have some trepidation on whether Hanks would be able to pull off the role.  Would I be able to sit through the entirety of the movie engrossed in the belief that it really was Mr. Rogers up on screen?  The doubts dissipated within minutes of the movie starting.  Hanks was able to capture Mr. Rogers in every sense of the way. 

Thank you Sony Pictures for inviting us to screen, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” All opinions are my own.

Synopsis

Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.

This movie is not a bio pic about the life of Mr. Rogers which is what I was hoping to see, but even so, this movie did not disappoint.

 It’s a different take on the life of Mr. Rogers and through it we still managed to gain some insight into how he came to hold the views which made him so memorable and yet often times viewed with much cynicism. 

Could a human being truly be as compassionate and genuinely nice as Mr. Rogers made himself out to be?  Was there perhaps a hidden agenda that Mr. Rogers possessed or maybe some sleazy secret he was hiding from the rest of the world?  I mean, Bill Cosby certainly fooled the world for years.  And to helps answer these questions, in comes Lloyd Vogel, the protagonist of the movie played by Matthew Rhys.

Vogel is the magazine journalist tasked with having to interview Mr. Rogers for a small piece on heroes. 

He is skeptical of Mr. Rogers and sneers at the idea of him being considered a hero.  In the process, Vogel finds himself in a constant push/pull battle with Mr. Rogers’ optimistic views on humanity.  His negative outlook stems from the childhood trauma of having a mother who died while he was still a teenager and an absentee father who abandoned the family to deal with the loss on their own. 

It is with the help of Mr. Rogers that Vogel is finally able to deal with anger he’s been holding onto and mend his relationship with his father.  And to answer the question I raised above, yes,  it seems Mr. Rogers truly was a genuinely nice human being. 

Sony Picture’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood hits theaters Thanksgiving November 22, 2019.

Spider-Man Far From Home Field Trip

Where are all my Spidey fans?

Last month, in celebration of the Spider-Man Far From Home release, I went on a EPIC field trip without the kids! It was nice to just drop them off at school, and get in a little me time. Here is a photo recap of our INCREDIBLE day with the creators of Spider-Man Far From Home film…

You can now watch it at home on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital!

Thank you Sony Studios for inviting me to the Spider-Man Far From Home field trip.

Synopsis:

Peter Parker’s relaxing European vacation takes an unexpected turn when Nick Fury shows up in his hotel room to recruit him for a mission. The world is in danger as four massive elemental creatures — each representing Earth, air, water and fire — emerge from a hole torn in the universe. Parker soon finds himself donning the Spider-Man suit to help Fury and fellow superhero Mysterio stop the evil entities from wreaking havoc across the continent.

My family thinks it is absolutely hilarious that they call him Night Monkey in the film. This film is great for the entire family!

We lined up like good little students, and boarded the bus.

Our tour guides were none other than Martin Star and J.B. Smoove! (Mr. Harrington and Mr. Dell in the film) How cool is that?

These guys kept us entertained from the minute we boarded the bus. I can’t remember when I laughed this hard.

Martin Starr is an actor and comedian. He is known for the television roles of Bill Haverchuck on the short-lived comedy-drama Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), Roman DeBeers on the comedy series Party Down (2009–2010), and Bertram Gilfoyle in the HBO series Silicon Valley (2014–present), as well as for his film roles in Knocked Up (2007), Adventureland (2009), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).

J. B. Smoove is an actor, writer, comedian and voice actor. Smoove started his career off with the television series Def Comedy Jam in 1995. He plays Leon on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. J.B. also starred on the CBS sitcom The Millers from 2013 to 2015. Smoove portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on the BET improv-comedy reality television parody Real Husbands of Hollywood and performed in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).

Our first stop …. The Third Floor Studio in Los Angeles.

Here the Spidey team talked about there collaborations, and the behind the scenes work to make this this phenomenal movie come to life. The Third Floor is responsible for several movies we see today including: Several Marvel films, Game of Thrones, Detective Pikachu, and much more!

About The Third Floor

A European excursion goes south as Peter Parker finds himself up against the elements in Spider-Man: Far From Home (Sony Pictures Entertainment).  In a repeat collaboration with Director Jon Watts, THE THIRD FLOOR mapped out Spider-Man’s adventure across multiple action and story beats in a transcendent journey that leads us far back home into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Next stop… Ironhead Studios

For me this was one of my personal highlights of the trip. I was totally geeking out when Jose Fernandez, talked about how he and his team create costumes for several studios. He is the driving force at Ironhead Studio, and has been the lead creative artist behind some of the most memorable work of the last two decades!

The details an artistry in these costumes were absolutely incredible. Some of them can take several months to create.

Our last stop… was The Magic Castle!

Last but not least we stopped at the Magic Cast for an incredible magic show by illusionist, Jason Latimer.

I have alway dreamt about going here, and this was another pinch me moment. The show was sensational. There were many jaw dropping and surprising moments.

Jason Latimer is a world champion magician, curator of the iconic Fleet Science Center, and co-host of the Science Channel series SciJinks. Latimer unites magic and science to inspire curiosity and demonstrate how the right question changes everything.

From bending light to shaping water, his illusions are featured globally on Television Specials, Series, Live Shows, STEM Labs, & science festivals. Latimer’s works has sparked millions of minds to embrace their ability to wonder.

The Spider-Man Far From Home themed treats we perfect for the occasion.

Thank you Sony Studios for the incredible day trip. This will go down in my memory book as of my most favorite press trips!

2018 Tech Holiday Gift Guide

I am always looking for the latest trending tech products that will save me time and money.  I strive to be more organized and efficient in my home, and I am totally geeking out on these new tech products that were recently introduced to me by CTAMomsLA, and Techlicious Media.

CTA-Techlicious

Here is a list of the handy gadgets I know you will love as much as I do. The holidays are around the corner, and these products will make perfect gifts!

Thank you CTA, MomsLA, and Techlicious Media for introducing me to these incredible products. All opinions are my own.

CTA-Techlicious

JBL LinkView

JBL Original pro sound, now taking requests. The amazing combination of JBL Audio horsepower, HD display and the Google Assistant built-in make JBL LINK VIEW a must have for your home or office. The integrated display included on the LINK VIEW allows you to get things done easily, it also has the Google Assistant built in, you can ask questions and tell it to do things. Just start with “Hey Google” to quickly enjoy your entertainment, stay connected with loved ones, view glanceable answers, manage daily tasks, and control your smart home. Your Assistant can help free up your hands and time, so you can focus on the things that matter most. Like watching videos of your favorite YouTube creators, reliving memories of your latest family vacation, making a video call to your best friend, receiving step-by-step baking instructions for delicious chocolate chip cookies, or dimming the lights for movie night. All this is delivered through a proprietary JBL transducer array, driven by a digital amplifier tuned to deliver full rich bass and crystal clear highs.

Suggested retail price: $249.99

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JBL BAR 5.1

The JBL Bar 5.1 transforms from a soundbar into a true wireless 5.1 home theater system for an epic movie and music-listening experience. The soundbar features two detachable battery-powered wireless surround speakers with 10-hours of playtime, 510W of total system power, a 10” wireless subwoofer, three HDMI™inputs to connect 4K devices and Bluetooth™. With Dolby® Digital, Dolby Pro LogicII and DTS, your movies, music and video games will never sound more incredible. The soundbar features JBL SoundShift®, which allows you to instantly switch between the sound from your TV and the Bluetooth sound from your mobile phone or tablet. The soundbar is programmed to respond to your TV remote, so you can control everything with your existing TV remote control. The JBL Bar 5.1 re-defines the soundbar experience.

Suggested retail price: $699.99

CTA-Techlicious

LG SIGNATURE OLED TV AI ThinQ W8

TheLG W8 series ultra-thin wallpaper design allows the television to mount virtually flush with the wall so it seems to blend in, a feat only possible with uniquely sophisticated LG OLED TV technology. It features comprehensive support of major high dynamic range formats including Dolby Vision™ HDR from the cinema, as well as HDR10 and HLG, both with LG’s advanced tone-mapping technology that provides scene-by-scene optimization. LG—the industry leaders of OLED TVs—made the Best TV Ever even better by developing the α9 Intelligent Processor. LG’s most powerful processor ever provides true-to-life images with incredibly rich colors, sharpness and depth to deliver the ultimate picture quality. LG also brings big-screen surround sound to the living room: crickets chirping all around, a monster roaring from behind, or a plane soaring overhead. Dolby Atmos® content creates a more detailed sound experience that appears to come from everywhere for a wonderfully realistic, immersive experience.

Suggested retail price: $6,999.99

CTA-Techlicious -sony

Sony WH1000XM3 Noise-canceling headphones

Lose yourself in silence with industry-leading noise cancellation. The noise-canceling technology in the WH-1000XM3 headphones is our most advanced ever with close-fitting ear pads and our HD Noise-Canceling Processor QN1.

Suggested retail price: $349.99

 CTA-Techlicious-Sony

Sony Master Series 4K A9F OLED TV

The A9F is an industry-leading addition to Sony’s long line of high-end televisions, newly equipped with Netflix Calibrated Mode, which was specially developed to preserve the artist’s creative vision and intent. Additionally, the A9F MASTER Series model comes with a next-generation Picture Processor X1™ Ultimate. This processor plays a vital role in delivering the MASTER Series’ high-quality picture. For consumers looking for the best in visual, audio and streaming performance, the A9F is hard to beat with industry-leading features and attention to detail.

Suggested retail price:$349.99

Sony Master Series 4K Z9F LED TV

Consumers who are looking for a LED TV that doesn’t sacrifice screen quality andbrightness, regardless of the viewing angle or on-screen motion, should seriously consider the Z9F. The Z9F is equipped with Netflix Calibrated Mode, specially developed to preserve the artist’s creative vision and intent. Additionally, the Z9F MASTER Series model is powered by the newly developed, next-generationPicture Processor X1™ Ultimate.The Z9F is perfect for consumers looking for the best in LED TV on the market.

Suggested retail price: $3,499.99 (65” model)

CTA-Techlicious

Channel Master SMARTenna+ Amplified Indoor TV Antenna

SMARTenna+ is an amplified, maximum-range indoor TV antenna with noise filtering and Active Steering Technology. Internally, it includes sevendifferent “virtual” TV antennas inside a single housing. A built-in processor analyzes TV signals and automatically selects the best reception pattern to deliver the maximum number of channels and the best signal quality possible. It’s the world’s smartest indoor TV antenna and a breakthrough in quality and convenience for consumers!

Suggested retail price: $89.00

CTA-Techlicious -Sansung

Samsung The Frame 2018

With enhanced features, new customization options and more than 800 available works of art, The Frame for 2018 transforms the living room into a dynamic gallery space. Whether they prefer to change the look of their room each season or want to bring a fresh vibe to their décor for a dinner party, consumers can customize The Frame to create their preferred aesthetic in any room. The Samsung Art Store, the world’s largest art platform for TV, houses an ever-growing and diverse library of artwork from some of the most prominent museums, galleries and artists around the world.

Suggested retail price: $1,199.99

Samsung 2018 QLED

With groundbreaking design elements, enhanced picture quality, and intuit ive smart capabilities, Samsung’s 2018 QLED line empowers consumers to enjoy content without distractionseven when viewers arenot actively watching. Ambient mode provides useful information throughout the dayeven when consumers aren’t actively watchingmovies and TV. It can play music as well as display news headlines, traffic reports, and weather updates. For wallmounted TVs, Ambient Mode can mimic the pattern on the wall behind the TV to create an astonishing visual effect in which the TV blends seamlessly into the wall.

Suggested retail price: $1,099.99