Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe
| Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Robert McCallum |
| Written by | Robert McCallum Jordan Christopher Morris |
| Produced by | Mark Bishop Aeschylus Poulos |
| Starring | Ernie Coombs |
| Cinematography | John Minh Tran |
| Edited by | Nathan Shields David New |
| Music by | John H. McCarthy |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Amazon Prime Video |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe is a 2023 Canadian documentary film, directed by Robert McCallum.[1] The film profiles Ernie Coombs, the children's entertainer who created and starred in the long-running Canadian television series Mr. Dressup, documenting his career and its impact on Canadian culture and entertainment.[2]
The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People's Choice Award for Documentaries.[3] It was also screened at the 2023 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival,[4] the 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival, and the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival,[5] and was released to Amazon Prime Video on October 10, 2023.[6] It is the first documentary film to be released through Amazon MGM Studios, a new distributor formed by Amazon Studios following their acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2022.[7]
Critical response[edit]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 9 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10.[8]
Rachel Ho of Exclaim! write that "one of the highlights of the film is the focus on Judith Lawrence, the puppeteer responsible for bringing Mr. Dressup's dependable pals, Casey and Finnegan, to life. Lawrence's contributions to Mr. Dressup have long gone unacknowledged (not for lack of trying on Coombs's part), making her inclusion in the film incredibly valuable as she finally gives voice to her experiences on the show." She concluded that "Millions of us watched Mr. Dressup as children, and I'd reckon the majority of us never truly appreciated what he meant to us during those impressionable years — I sure didn't. The Magic of Make-Believe not only serves as a reminder of the joy Coombs brought to our young lives, but it also emphasizes the need for Mr. Dressup's patience and kindness today more than ever."[9]
Victor Stiff of That Shelf also had praise for the film's inclusion of Lawrence, and concluded that "McCallum just delivered the feel-good film I didn’t realize I needed in my life. Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe is a charming, insightful, and heartwarming doc about a gentle spirit who dedicated his life to filling the world with joy."[10]
Awards[edit]
| Award / Film Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto International Film Festival | September 17, 2023 | People's Choice Award for Documentaries | Robert McCallum | Won | [11] |
| Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival | September 28, 2023 | Audience Choice for Best Documentary Film | Won | [12] | |
| Canadian Screen Awards | 2024 | Best Direction in a Documentary Program | Pending | [13] | |
| Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series | Pending | ||||
| Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research | Max Berger, Liz Hysen, Catherine Machado, Judy Ruzylo | Pending | |||
| Barbara Sears Award for Best Visual Research | Pending | ||||
| Best Production Design or Art Direction, Non-Fiction | Rudin Causi, Javed Ali | Pending |
References[edit]
- ^ Megan LaPierre, "'Mr. Dressup' Documentary Greenlit by Prime Video Canada". Exclaim!, September 29, 2022.
- ^ Pat Mullen, "Mr. Dressup Set to Receive Documentary Treatment". Point of View, September 29, 2022.
- ^ Leonard Pearce, "TIFF 2023 Adds Documentaries by Frederick Wiseman, Errol Morris, Raoul Peck, Roger Ross Williams & More". The Film Stage, July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Sudbury-shot 'traumedy' to be a Cinefest special presentation". Sudbury Star, July 27, 2023.
- ^ Aleesha Harris, "'Star-studded' films among highlights of upcoming Vancouver International Film Festival". Vancouver Sun, August 10, 2023.
- ^ Amy Chabot, "A Mr. Dressup Documentary Is coming To Amazon Prime". CKHY-FM, September 11, 2023.
- ^ https://deadline.com/2023/05/amazon-mgm-studios-distribution-la-screenings-1235356076/
- ^ "Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Rachel Ho, "TIFF 2023: 'The Magic of Make-Believe' Is a Warm Reminder of the Importance of 'Mr. Dressup'". Exclaim!, September 8, 2023.
- ^ Victor Stiff, "TIFF 2023: Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe Review". That Shelf, September 11, 2023.
- ^ Christian Zilko, "American Fiction’ Wins People’s Choice Award at 2023 TIFF (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire, September 17, 2023.
- ^ "Cinéfest reveals 2023 award winners". Sudbury.com, September 28, 2023.
- ^ Pat Mullen, "Canadian Screen Award Nominees in Documentary and Factual Categories". Point of View, March 6, 2024.
