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From Universal Pictures comes the new comedy HOP, which blends live action with a CGI talking animal cast. Now normally I’d be on record saying I loathe Russell Brand and just about everything he does, but even I can’t resist the cuteness of his CGI rabbit persona in this one. Check out the new poster above, and the trailer below, and tell us your thoughts in the comments. Granted, this is not necessarily a film targeted to my age group, but when was the last time we got a comedy about the Easter Bunny?
Release date: April 1, 2011
Genre: Live action/CG-animated comedy
Cast: James Marsden, Russell Brand, Kaley Cuoco, Hank Azaria, Gary Cole, Elizabeth Perkins, David Hasselhoff, Chelsea Handler and Hugh Laurie
Directed by: Tim Hill
Story by: Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio
Screenplay by: Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio and Brian Lynch
Produced by: Chris Meledandri, John Cohen
Executive Producer: Michele Imperato Stabile
Blending state of the art animation with live action, Hop is a comedy about E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), the teenage son of the Easter Bunny. On the eve of taking over the family business, E.B. leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream of becoming a drummer. He encounters Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own lofty goals, who accidentally hits E.B. with his car. Feigning injury, E.B. manipulates Fred into providing him shelter, and Fred finds himself with the world’s worst houseguest.
The film is helmed by Tim Hill, director of the blockbuster Alvin and the Chipmunks and produced by Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me).
More info at http://www.iwantcandy.com
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
