Fun Size

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Fun Size
Fun Size poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Josh Schwartz
Produced by Stephanie Savage
Josh Schwartz
Bard Dorros
David Kanter
Written by Max Werner
Starring Victoria Justice
Jane Levy
Thomas McDonell
Thomas Mann
Chelsea Handler
Cinematography Yaron Orbach
Editing by Michael L. Sale
Studio Nickelodeon Movies
Anonymous Content
Fake Empire Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)
  • October 26, 2012 (2012-10-26)
Running time 86 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $14 million
Box office $10,911,519[1]

Fun Size (known as Half Pint in some countries) is a 2012 American teen comedy film written by Max Werner and directed by Josh Schwartz.[2][3] It stars Victoria Justice, Jane Levy, Thomas McDonell, Thomas Mann, and Chelsea Handler. It was produced by Nickelodeon Movies, Anonymous Content, and Fake Empire Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

It was the second time a Nickelodeon film received a PG-13 rating, since Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, which was released straight-to-DVD in the US. However, it is the studio's first American and theatrically released film with that rating.[4]

Contents

Plot [edit]

In Cleveland, Ohio,[5] Wren DeSantis (Victoria Justice) and her friend April (Jane Levy) are invited to a Halloween party by her crush, Aaron Riley (Thomas McDonell), but her widowed mother, Joy (Chelsea Handler) says she must also take her oddball brother Albert with her when he goes out trick-or-treating on Halloween. When she loses him in a haunted house, she must find him before her mother finds out.

[icon] This section requires expansion. (April 2013)

Cast [edit]

  • Victoria Justice as Wren DeSantis, the main protagonist. Has a crush on Aaron Riley.
  • Jane Levy as April Martin-Danzinger-Ross, Wren's best friend; A persistent social climber, she would rather drag Wren to a cool kids' party over finding her brother.
  • Thomas McDonell as Aaron Riley, the most popular guy in school and Wren's crush.
  • Thomas Mann as Roosevelt Leroux, one of the nerds that helps Wren. He has strong feelings for Wren.
  • Chelsea Handler as Joy DeSantis, Wren and Albert's mom.
  • Jackson Nicoll[6] as Albert DeSantis, Wren's 8-year-old brother.
  • Osric Chau as Peng, Roosevelt's best friend and fellow nerd who helps Wren; he has a crush on April.
  • Josh Pence[6][7] as Keevin (pronounced Keeven), Joy's 26-year-old boyfriend.
  • Johnny Knoxville[6][7] (uncredited) as Jörgen, the main antagonist.
  • Thomas Middleditch[6] as Manuel/Fuzzy, a clerk who befriends Albert, and Lara's former boyfriend[8]
  • Ana Gasteyer[6] as Jackie Leroux, Roosevelt's mom
  • Kerri Kenney-Silver as Barb Leroux, Roosevelt's other mom
  • Holmes Osborne[6] as Mr. Brueder
  • Annie Fitzpatrick as Mrs. Brueder
  • James Pumphrey[6] as Nate Brueder, a friend of Keevin's who hosts a raging party in his parents' basement.
  • Peter Navy Tuiasosopo[6] as Mr. Mahani (Samoan man)
  • Abby Elliott as Lara, Jörgen's girlfriend[8]
  • Riki Lindhome as Denise, a young woman in a Galaxy Scout costume.

Production [edit]

In January 2011 it was announced that Josh Schwartz would direct the film as his feature film directorial debut.[3] By the spring of 2011, the lead role had been offered to Victoria Justice,[9] and Jane Levy had entered talks for her role in the film, with Paramount announcing initial plans for the project to be shot in Minnesota.[10][11] The location was changed to Michigan and later to Cleveland, Ohio.[12] In June 2011, Chelsea Handler entered negotiations.[6][13][14]

Inclement weather delayed the start of principal filming until early 2012.[2] The film was released on October 26, 2012.[2][7][15]

Director Josh Schwartz discounted Internet claims that he was playing a convenience-store clerk. "No," he said shortly before the movie opened. "I get asked about it a lot, but that's an IMDb mistake. There are convenience-store clerks in the movie — just none played by me!"[16]

Release [edit]

The trailer was released on June 28, 2012.[17] The movie is rated PG-13 for "crude and suggestive content, partying, and language" from the Motion Picture Association of America.

Home media [edit]

Fun Size was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 19, 2013.

Box office [edit]

Fun Size opened at #10, earning $4.1 million over the first weekend at 3,014 theaters and averaging about $1,361 per venue. The film was a failure at the box office, only earning $10,911,519 and also is the lowest wide released grossing film from Nickelodeon Movies.[18]

Critical reception [edit]

Fun Size has received negative reviews from critics, with several criticizing the adult humor and sexual content[19] despite the film's Nickelodeon pedigree.[20][21][22] Rotten Tomatoes gives a score of 27% based on 64 reviews with the site's consensus stating: "It occasionally shows surprising flashes of wit, but Fun Size is too safe and formulaic -- not to mention unfunny -- to survive comparisons to the 80s teen movies it eagerly imitates."

Adam Graham of Detroit News gave this film a score of C and said that "it feels like a project that was pitched for the CW but watered down for Nickelodeon audiences. In the end, everyone loses."[23]

Jen Chaney of Washington Post gave this film a score of 1/4, calling it "a 90-minute theatrical release from Nickelodeon Productions that, if anything, should have aired as a half-hour Nickelodeon special."[citation needed]

David Martindale of Dallas Morning News gave this film a C+, saying "like a 'fun size' chocolate bar, it's just empty calories. It's a momentary pleasure, instantly forgotten."[24]

On the positive side, Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter enjoyed this film and wrote, "Though it doesn't always hit the hilarity target, this tween-targeted romp strikes a sweet-but-not-sappy balance."[citation needed]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Fun Size". boxoffice.com. November 26, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2013. 
  2. ^ a b c Barnes, Brooks (February 1, 2012). "Pied Pipers of Teenage Angst". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  3. ^ a b Barr, Jason (January 19, 2011). "Josh Schwartz to Helm FUN SIZE". Collider. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  4. ^ "Nickelodeon Set To Release Its First American R Feature". 24 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  5. ^ O'Connor, Clint (October 21, 2012). " 'Fun Size': Cleveland gets its close-up in new comedy starring Victoria Justice". Cleveland.com (Cleveland Live LLC). Retrieved October 21, 2012. "... we see downtown, the skyline, the majesty of the lake, the beauty and character of neighborhoods in Lakewood, Cleveland Heights and Beachwood and the rumpled urban charm of Collinwood, among other locales." 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Johnny Knoxville, Unique Blend of Cast Join ‘Fun Size’ Comedy". BloodyDisgusting.com. May 31, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2012. 
  7. ^ a b c Weinstein, Joshua L. (July 26, 2011). "Paramount Sets 'Fun Size' Release for Oct. 12, 2012". The Wrap. Retrieved February 10, 2012. 
  8. ^ a b "Not so Fun Size comedy". The Irish News. November 2, 2012. 
  9. ^ Kroll, Justin (Mardh 25, 2011). "Victoria Justice tapped to star in 'Fun Size'". Variety. Retrieved February 10, 2012. 
  10. ^ Uncle Creepy. "Jane Levy - Now Available in Fun Size?". April 29, 2011. Dread Central. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  11. ^ Kilday, Gregg (February 9, 2012). "Jane Levy in Talks to Join Josh Schwartz's 'Fun Size'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 28, 2011. 
  12. ^ "Josh Schwartz’ ‘Fun Size’ will be shot in Cleveland". On Locations. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  13. ^ staff (February 10, 2012). "Chelsea Handler In 'Fun Size': Actress In Talks For Nickelodeon Comedy". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2011. 
  14. ^ Kit, Borys (February 9, 2012). "Paramount Pictures is in negotiations with the "Chelsea Lately" host to join the teen comedy". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 15, 2011. 
  15. ^ Dee, Jake (July 26, 2011). "Paramount sets Josh Schwartz's Halloween comedy Fun Size for October 2012". JoBlo. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  16. ^ Lovece, Frank (October 17, 2012). "Victoria Justice remembers Halloween". Newsday. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2012. 
  17. ^ "'Fun Size' Trailer HD - YouTube". Retrieved 28 December 2012. 
  18. ^ "Why Nickelodeon is releasing its first PG-13 film". 24 October 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012. 
  19. ^ "BOXOFFICE.COM (Fun Size review)". 25 October 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. 
  20. ^ "Fun Size review". 1 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. 
  21. ^ "Review – Fun Size". 26 October 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. 
  22. ^ "The trick here: There's no treat (Fun Size review)". 26 October 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. 
  23. ^ "Review: Laughs are mini in Halloween comedy 'Fun Size' From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121026/ENT02/210260326#ixzz2GNjWGajU". 26 October 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012. 
  24. ^ "'Fun Size' is a momentary pleasure, instantly forgotten". 25 October 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012. 

External links [edit]
Feature films
1990s
2000s
2010s
Upcoming
Other
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fun_Size&oldid=555939865"