Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation (Showing With Cars 2)

If you're going to see CARS 2 today (because it opens today!) or if you're going tomorrow or this weekend or next weekend, you will also get to see a fabulous Toy Story short which is ha-sterical.

Buzz, Woody and the whole Toy Story gang are all at  their new home (Bonnie's house) and she's getting ready to go on vacation. Barbie and Ken hitch a ride in the backpack they think she's taking with her on the trip to Hawaii, (I mean, Ken packed all his fabulous fashions and everything!) but unfortunately for them, Bonnie's bedroom is where the trip ends.  

It's a fantastic little story that keeps us up with what the Toy Story gang is doing, I mean, life is going on for them as we speak, right? It's not? Don't tell me that. OK, I know, it's not real, but I love these shorts because it makes me feel like somewhere out there, all of Andy's toys are playing and having adventures right now, as we speak and even if there is no Toy Story 4 (will there be?) we still get to keep in touch with them.

It's like a status update. Like if they were on Facebook.

So make sure you're not late for Cars 2 when you go, because Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation is showing with it and you can't miss it!

Also you can “Like” CARS 2 on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/PixarCars
And you can read my official Cars 2 Review here (there is a giveaway involved!)

My official CARS 2 Review!

Well it's up! My official review of CARS 2 is up over at 5 Minutes for Mom, so head on over there and check it out! (There is a giveaway too!)

Don't forget, Cars 2 hits theaters THIS FRIDAY! June 24th!

The Cars 2 Premiere: Pictures from the Red Carpet

Holy wow I can't believe I am back from LA already, what a whirlwind trip it was! I am so thankful to have been able to take this trip on behalf of 5 Minutes for Mom!

I have officially seen Cars 2 twice -- once for the press junket and then once again for the premiere. I am writing up my official Cars 2 review as we speak, but for now, I'll tell you about the red carpet experience.

We actually walked it!

Unfortunately, no one cared about who I was, no one shouted my name and asked me to stop and flash my shiny toothy smiley but the important thing to note here is that I did not fall. (Although I considered it briefly just to get someone to take my picture.)

I didn't get to stop and take too many pictures because we were being whirled on through but I did take a few:

 Owen Wilson!

All the people waiting for me to wave to them! Just kidding.

We saw the movie at the El Capitan theater with the cast and crew and that was really cool, we were sitting only a few rows away from Owen Wilson, Emily Mortimer, Bonnie Hunt, Joe Montegna and Larry the Cable Guy who coincidentally recognized us from our interview earlier and even called us out on having Tweeted about his chain-eating candy during the interview.

There was free popcorn and soda and so I got two buckets of popcorn because they came in really cool plastic Cars 2 buckets and it was sort of a pain to walk around the after-party with them (or after having eaten 2 buckets of popcorn, I'm not sure which was more difficult) but seeing the kids ogling at their Cars 2 buckets today makes it all worth it.

The Cars 2 premiere party was awesome! I felt a little funny taking pictures of the stars that were there so I didn't really (although one of us, I am not naming names, took a picture of the Beckam's butts and that was funny...)

But I did take a picture of these guys:

The star of the show!

Lightning McQueen!

I was panging for my kids all over the place because they had a really cool playground set up for the kids and a race track for them to pedal cars around and cotton candy and all sorts of kid-friendly stuff, it was hard to not miss them terribly!

So I consoled myself with this:


And that's the wrap!

Betcha wanna know how the movie was, huh?!

Stay tuned!!

Now THIS Movie Looks Good: The Help

Part of my Disney Dreamworks Trip for the premiere of Cars 2 for 5 Minutes for Mom also includes seeing the movie, The Help.

Which I'd never heard of.

But then I saw the featurette they sent me and I am really, really excited to see the movie.

Based on the New York Times Best Seller and starring Emma Stone and Academy Award Nominee Viola Davis, the film is set in the south in the 1960's and it's about a girl in who just graduated with a degree in Journalism (right up my alley, right?)

She wants to do a story from the point of view of "The Help" only it turns out to be much bigger than that, everyone wants to get involved, all the maids in Jackson, Mississippi.

I just love how when you set out with a story idea it grows into something you've never imagined. That's what happens to her. Telling stories is what makes me love (and miss) being a journalist. From Dreamworks:

"Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon, “The Help” is a provocative and inspiring look at what happens when a southern town’s unspoken code of rules and behavior is shattered by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship."

Change, sisterhood, womanhood, hope, storytelling and real journalism, this is a must-see for me.  Plus, Mary J. Blige is part of the soundtrack. I love her.

If you have a minute or two to find out what this movie is about, take a look at the featurette they sent me, I think it's a must-see for you too:


I'm hoping to finish the book before I get there. I can't wait to share the review!

At Last, It's Almost Here and I'm going!!

I told you I am a big animated film dork fanatic and for years now I've waited for Cars 2 to come out. YEARS! Well ever since after Cars 1, which was my 5 year old's first animated movie a couple years ago. But it's always been one of my favorites, no shooting, no violence, lessons about friendships and doing the right thing, it really is such a wonderful movie and I love it.

Sooooo.. now that it's here, it is almost time, I just found out I'm going to the LA premiere of Cars 2 for 5 Minutes for Mom! Red carpet, premiere party, interviews with Owen Wilson and everything! (Lightning McQueen! I'm going to talk to Lightning McQueen! I want to shout it from the top of a-someplace a-very high!)

The coolest part is that we're not just seeing Cars 2, we're seeing Winnie the Pooh, and The Help, which I'm told I should read the book of and soon! (Did you read it?)  And we're touring the animation studios. This is going to be an awesome.trip. AWESOME! (Thank you Disney!)

I have a lot of cool trailers and whatnots I'll share up until the premiere and I'll be tweeting all about it and sending back posts during the trip as well, which is in 2 weeks. So follow me on twitter @christieo and also follow the hashtag #disneydreamworksevent for updates from the 19 awesome bloggers who are going with me! I also plan to videotape everything I can and without the shakiness of my Rio videos. (I'm practicing RIGHTNOW. Hold camera closer to me, steady... steady....)

So when I first heard about Cars 2, I had read somewhere that Lightning McQueen was going back to Radiator Springs to run a racetrack and train other race cars. Obviously (from the following clip) that is not the case and I don't even know where I heard it now, I even tried looking it up to no avail! But now the cars are off to an international speedway in Tokyo and there are spy cars involved, a bidet, and well, things get pretty interesting. Here's the Cars 2 trailer if you wanna check it out (I have not seen this one myself on tv yet!)

Stay tuned for more!

The Rio Premiere: Part II

OK here's the good stuff -- the real dish on the Los Angeles premiere of Rio!

After I ran around like a madperson trying on every outfit and put on red nail polish 10 minutes before walking out the door and plucked my unibrow, we headed down to the lobby to make our way to the "blue" carpet which was only a short walk away.

We had our own little "mommy blogger" corner of the blue carpet, (blue because the star of the movie is a sweet and loveable blue Macaw named, "Blu.") I had my good camera, my phone, my JVC home-movie video camera where I learned I am TERRIBLE at keeping a steady camera as you will see here, shortly, and a backup camera in my purse (just in case.)

The stars made their way one by one onto the carpet, first will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, who wrote some of the music for the movie (by the way, the soundtrack is amazing with all the cool drums and rhythms and whatnots, it's totally in circulation in the minivan).

will.i.am plays "Pedro"

And then there was this cutie! None of us had seen him before but this was a pleasant surprise! I mean, he must be really nice!

Francisco Ramos, who plays the "lead Marmoset," one of the bad guys

And then there was Tracy Morgan and I went through all my photos and didn't get any where he didn't look like he was smelling something stinky at the time. But oh, how I love Tracy Morgan and his hilarious voice and his character in the movie, who really does seem to take on some of Tracy's facial expressions, stopping just short I am sure of putting a good, "Liz Lemon!" in there at some point.


Tracy Morgan in his best varsity sweater

 Then there was Jamie Foxx, who plays Nico.

Jamie Foxx

George Lopez, who plays a toucan named Rafael (married to another toucan and you might recognize her voice -- it's Wanda Sykes! Though she wasn't there.)

George put on a pink silly band for a little girl reporter standing next to us. Cute!

Anne Hathaway didn't talk to us, but she did talk to Extra, which was right next to us!

Anne plays the female blue Macaw, "Jewel." She makes her singing debute and she has a lovely voice actually!

The only picture I could come up with for Jesse Eisenberg was terrible! And he was one of the people I wanted to see the most!

Jesse Eisenberg plays, "Blu," the last remaining male blue Macaw -- who coincidentally can't fly. His deadpan voice cracks me up throughout the film.

Hooray! My farmer tan picked the best possible moment to show its stuff!!

Me and Leslie Mann, who plays, "Linda," Blu's human friend. She was awesome. We talked to her later in a roundtable interview. *LOVE* her.

Outside Grauman's Chinese Theater where we saw the premiere

After we did the blue carpet which was a whirlwind, we headed inside to watch the movie and then had our interviews with Leslie Mann!

Finally, the much awaited video (right?) Here's us on the blue carpet with a cameo by me!

I know, it's shaky, I promise to get better at this!

Other posts related to Rio:

• The Official Review of Rio: The Transcontinental Journey of Bird Self-Discovery ($50 Fandango Giveaway included!) at 5 Minutes for Mom
• The Rio Premiere: Part I (my blog)
• The Leslie Mann Interview at 5 Minutes for Mom (Will post as link goes live!)

The Rio Premiere Part I

What a whirlwind it was last weekend!

I flew out on Saturday afternoon for the Los Angeles premiere of the family movie "Rio", for 5 Minutes for Mom (my official review of the movie is right here! It opens up everywhere on Friday! Ps. there is a giveaway involved in that post -- you can take the whole family if you win! So go comment on it, mkay?)

But this is the story of before the event.

Flying out

On the way out, I got bumped up to First Class I am sure by accident which was nothing less than paradise in the sky mind you (I have more on that topic for another post) and eventually made it out to Hollywood where I checked in and promptly ordered room service. Short ribs and sticky rice to be specific. Yum.

And then I slept in to the wee hours of 6 a.m. Pacific (that's 9 a.m. Eastern -- hurrah!!), had breakfast, ran on the treadmill, and went in search of a CVS and tweezers for my unfortunate unibrow.

I had no idea where I was or where I was going when I left the hotel but quickly found myself on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, following my phone's GPS (what would we do without these things?! I swear!) So I played tourist for a little while.

I saw Tom Cruise.

And who knew P. Diddy had a star? I wonder if he changes it every time he changes his name?

And did you know Donald Trump has a star? (Why?)

I had heard that people who get one need enough people to nominate them for a star and then have enough to pay for it, and I thought "Hooray! I can try and get nominated!" (Not that I could pay for it or anything). Also except for the minor detail that you actually have to be in the field of entertainment for a while and as entertaining as I think I am to myself, I don't think that's what they mean. I looked up how to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I don't fit the criteria. No star for me. Anyway.
I made my way back to the hotel and promptly began panicking over what to wear. My phone and its picture sending feature would not work in the hotel (!!!!) so despite the millions of tries sending my various outfits to friends, I found myself on my own with my decision. It was fashion roulette.

I eventually chose this:

I think it worked out and in hindsight any of the outfits would have been fine, but I was panicking! Also, sunscreen would have been a great accessory because now that farmer tan that appears in the picture is sunburned. I also learned (relearned) another valuable lesson: never ever paint your fingernails red 10 minutes before you walk out the door. I have traces of red everywhere and my fingers look like they were painted by a 6 year old with two left hands. Lesson learned.

I made my way with the other bloggers to the blue carpet with my bag of electronics, my dinosaur video camera, my precious Nikon and my phone (you know I had to Tweet!)

The rest of that story is for part TWO, complete with video, YES VIDEO!! The story of the blue carpet tomorrow!

Hollywood

I was searching and searching for this last night on my way from the airport; scanning the dark hills on the car ride over, feeling that magic that LA makes you feel, the possibilities, the imagination, the place where people come to make their dreams come true.


I woke up this morning and looked out my hotel room and there she was!

I've been to LA before but I don't remember being this starstruck, especially by a sign!

The premiere is later on this afternoon, I will be tweeting as I go! @christieo

For now it's time for sprints on the treadmill then breakfast!

No Yoga Pants on the Red Carpet!

Today I'm headed to RIO!

Not that Rio...the movie Rio! Today I am off to LA where I get to parade myself around like a real adult in real clothes! Because there are NO yoga pants on the red carpet!

Yes, where I'm going there's a red carpet!

Um. What am I going to wear then?? That's my uniform!

I was at Disney this week, so unless I was buying Mickey ears for the red carpet, shopping was out of the question. And I can only do carry on so that means I can't pack my whole closet and decide later.

Anyhoo. Oh yea, red carpet.

I'm excited to be representing 5 Minutes for Mom and seeing the premiere of Rio, an animated family film with lots of cool people in it and I am a big sucker for animated films, I love them! All of them!

I'll also get to hobnob and rub elbows with some of the stars on the red carpet! And then interview one of them! And then come back and write about it!

My to-do list before my flight is still a mile long and it includes a swim, kid tee-ball and soccer, and packing (still. I know.) Will I get it all done?

Also, yes, I already called ahead and the gym opens early and closes late. Yes I have my workout planned, I have saved up my treadmill sprints for the hotel gym. Don't know what I'm going to do about calorie counting yet. I'll tell you what I decide after a chocolate martini or two.
I'm also hoping to see some of my friends while I'm out there but I'm sure the entire weekend will be a whirlwind because I'm only going for the weekend and it will be Monday before I know it.

But if you're interested at all about reading some of the details of my trip, I will be tweeting from LA and you can follow me (www.twitter.com/@christieo) and then watch out for the review and write-up on the trip here and at 5 Minutes for Mom next week!

Mobile posting on Sunday! That is, after I sleep in....BECAUSE I CAN!

Ahhhh. Sleeping in and free wi-fi... it's like paradise!

Speaking of 5 Minutes for Mom, have you partied in the UBP11??? We've had a blast for the past week bloghopping and meeting new friends and it is time to announce the winners of my giveaways!

The winners of my Ultimate Blog Party '11 giveaways (as chosen by random.org) are:
The Bondi Band: LaVonne at Long Wait for Isabella and
A necklace from my etsy shop: Science Fiction Mommy

 Congrats!! I have already sent you an email, so go check it!!

It was so nice meeting everyone from UBP '11, thank you for all the kind comments in my party post! I'm still making my way through blogs even though the party is technically over!

Have a great weekend everyone!