Thank you to AFFIRM Films and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for the opportunity to review THE STAR!
The Star is the story of the first Christmas but seen through the eyes or perspective of the non-human characters, namely: Bo the donkey (Steven Yeun) , Ruth the sheep (Aidy Bryant), Dave the dove (Keegan-Michael Key). Being an animated feature, it is definitely friendly if you have younger children. The movie hit theaters in December around the time that the movie’s theme is set to inspire. A new star is seen in the sky by King Herod (Christopher Plummer) and also by a mouse (Kristin Chenoweth), who witnesses the Annunciation.
The main parts of the story are somewhat familiar, Mary (Gina Rodriguez) is chosen by God to bear his Son. She then has to explain to the man she’s about to marry, Joseph (Zachary Levi) the circumstances of what is going on and that he will be helping raise God’s Son. Almost tongue-in-cheek here is the fact that Mary is played by the Gina Rodriguez, who also plays “Jane The Virgin” on TV. The way that The Star differs from any other telling: the animals. The animals come into play when Bo, the donkey, escapes from his job at the mill, which requires him to be chained to a grindstone and Dave, the dove find comfort in companionship with Mary and Joseph. Bo has dreams of joining the Royal Caravan.
The bad guy if you will, is a sword-carrying soldier, dispatched by local tyrant Herod (Christopher Plummer), who feels threatened by the unborn child. The soldier is following close behind Mary and Joseph, who have no clue they are being “hunted,” while being protected by the animals. The three kings make an appearance as well, riding on top of donkeys on their way to see Herod. Here’s where characters voiced by Tyler Perry, Tracy Morgan and Oprah Winfrey show up along with Joel Olsteen. Perry is bossy, Morgan plays the goof and Winfrey is the one with her head on straight. The wise men inadvertently made the tyrant aware of the unborn child.
The visuals/animation is solid. The storyline is solid. The voice cast is top notch.
Another good thing about this movie is the soundtrack itself. Mariah Carey’s title track is pretty amazing, along with new music from Kelsea Ballerini, Kirk Franklin, Fifth Harmony, Zara Larsson, Yolanda Adams, Jessie James Decker, Castring Crowns, The Pentatonix and more!
RATING: B+
Voice Cast:
Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelly Clarkson, Anthony Anderson, Aidy Bryant, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Christopher Plummer, Tracy Morgan, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey
Synopsis:
In Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.
Bonus Materials Include:
- Star-aoke: Sing-Along with Bo & Friends: In this all new song, sing along with your favorite characters including Bo, Dave, Ruth and the unforgettable camels
- “Life Is Good” Dance-Along: Shake your tail feathers and move your hooves in this fun dance along
- Lyric Sing-Along Videos: Enjoy the eclectic and inspiring music of THE STAR with these colorful lyric videos that allow you to sing along with your favorite recording artists
- “The Star” by Mariah Carey
- “Can You See” by Fifth Harmony
- “Children Go Where I Send You” by Kelsea Ballerini
- “We Three Kings” by Kirk Franklin
- “Life Is Good” by A Great Big World
- Sweet and Sparkly Stars: Create star-themed cookies to be enjoyed year round
- Star Mason Jar Votives: Let the light of THE STAR shine with this simple yet stunning craft
- Faith All Year Round with DeVon Franklin: A children’s sermon discussing the themes of the film and how to keep the spirit of this inspiring story alive in us every day
- An All-Star Cast: Meet the stars of the film and explore the exciting voice cast who bring these amazing characters to life
The Star is available on Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital HD TODAY! For more information, visit the website HERE
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