Disney’s Jungle Cruise + Jungle Cupcakes

Jungle Cruise

By Erin
Jungle Cruise Movie Poster

Jungle Cruise is a wild ride you won’t want to miss. Join Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for the adventure of a lifetime on Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance.

Jaume Collet-Serra directs the film, which stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramírez and Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti. John Davis, John Fox, Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia and Beau Flynn are the producers, with Scott Sheldon and Doug Merrifield serving as executive producers. The story is by John Norville & Josh Goldstein and Glenn Ficarra & John Requa, and the screenplay is by Michael Green and Glenn Ficarra & John Requa.

Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” releases in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 30, 2021.

Minnie Mouse Jungle Cruise Cupcakes

In Celebration of Jungle Cruise, I made these adorable Jungle Cruise Cupcakes! I hope you enjoy them.

Jungle Cruise Minnie Mouse Cupcakes

Makes 18 cupcakes

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Disney & Pixar’s “Luca”

Disney & Pixar’s Luca

By Erin

*Photos courtesy of Disney. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.*
Disney and Pixar’s “Luca” will debut exclusively on Disney+ on June 18, 2021. This is an adorable family movie for summer

Disney and Pixar have done it again and created some pure magic! Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s original feature film “Luca” is a coming- of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca (voice of Jacob Tremblay) shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, Alberto (voice of Jack Dylan Grazer), but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.

Directed by Academy Award® nominee Enrico Casarosa (“La Luna”) and produced by Andrea Warren (“Lava,” “Cars 3”).

Disney and Pixar’s “Luca” will debut exclusively on Disney+ on June 18, 2021. This is an adorable family movie for summer the whole family will love. It will also leave you itching to travel with all the beautiful scenery.

There are some great messages in Luca as well; such as conquering and getting over your fears. As Alberto likes to say, “Silenzio Bruno!” Remember to silence your inner critic that’s always telling you, you can’t do that, so you can achieve your goals! Any fin is possible. Overcoming obstacles and following your dreams are two other themes we find often in Luca. While most of us don’t have scales, we all have things in our life that seem a hindrance and weigh us down to prevent us from being able to do something we really want to. Luca can inspire all of us to follow our dreams deep inside of us.

Disney and Pixar’s “Luca” will debut exclusively on Disney+ on June 18, 2021. This is an adorable family movie for summer

FUN FACTS

Here are some fun facts to get you excited about the film!

CHARACTERS

BEST FRIENDS – The character of Alberto is inspired by director Enrico Casarosa’s own childhood best friend, also named Alberto.

SCALE IT BACK – Sea monster Luca has 3,436 scales on his body.

SOUND EFFECTS – When Luca gobbles up his first plate of pasta, Jacob Tremblay, who lends his voice to the character, was happy to provide the burp that followed. It turns out that burping on command is a special skillnof the actor.

QUICK COMMUTE – Jack Dylan Grazer (voice of Alberto) recorded every single line of dialogue inside his mother’s closet.

MANGIA, MANGIA – Emma Berman (voice of Giulia) speaks fluent Russian and has an extreme love for spaghetti. She loves to go to her favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant in San Francisco, where she practices ordering food in Italian for her family.

GETTING IN SHAPE – Artists gave Giulia a distinct look, embracing triangle shape language—particularly in her hair and pants.

Luca and Alberto

CAMEO – Director Enrico Casarosa provides the voice of the winning card player in Portorosso who shouts “Scopa!” He is also the fisherman in the boat who yells to a speeding boat, “What’s wrong with you, Stupido!”

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Disney’s Flora & Ulysses

Disney’s Flora & Ulysses

By Erin

Disney's Flora & Ulysses

Ready to meet the cutest squirrel EVER!!? Disney’s Flora & Ulysses is a comedy-adventure based on the Newbery Award-winning book about 10-year old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, whose parents have recently separated. After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses, Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora’s life–and her outlook–forever. Disney’s Flora & Ulysses is available exclusively on Disney+ (where Disney+ is available) now!

Matilda Lawler as Flora and Ulysses the squirrel in FLORA & ULYSSES, exclusively on Disney+.

Flora and Ulysses stars Matilda Lawler, who appeared on Broadway in “The Ferryman,” makes her film debut as Flora, with Alyson Hannigan (“How I Met Your Mother,” “American Pie”) as Flora’s romance-novelist mother, Phyllis, and Ben Schwartz (“Parks and Recreation,” “Modern Family”) as her struggling comic-book-artist father, George. Also in the cast are Anna Deavere Smith, Danny Pudi, newcomer Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Janeane Garofalo and Kate Micucci.

Directed by Lena Khan (“The Tiger Hunter”) and produced by Academy Award®–nominated film producer Gil Netter (“Life of Pi,” “The Blind Side,” “Marley & Me”), with James Powers (“The Maze Runner” series) and Katterli Frauenfelder (“Dumbo,” “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”) serving as executive producers. The novel “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,” by Kate DiCamillo, was adapted as a screenplay by Brad Copeland (“Ferdinand,” “Arrested Development”).

Matilda Lawler as Flora in FLORA & ULYSSES, exclusively on Disney+.

First published in 2013, “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures” is an illustrated novel by Kate DiCamillo. The story follows Flora Buckman and a squirrel named Ulysses, who develops unusual intellectual and physical capabilities after being sucked into a vacuum cleaner. In bonding with Ulysses, the guarded Flora learns to discard her cynicism and be more open to the world. “Flora & Ulysses” features a tough female protagonist and an eclectic, eccentric and diverse cast of characters, as well as an adorable anthropomorphic animal central to the plot.

This is one of those movies that kids will love, but adults—whether or not they’re parents—will also enjoy watching. The script is incredibly witty. It’s original, fresh type of humor, and is genuine. If you (and your kids) haven’t read this Newberry Medal award-winning book “Flora & Ulysses” yet by author Kate DiCamillo, I highly recommend doing so!

Ulysses and Matilda Lawler as Flora in FLORA & ULYSSES, exclusively on Disney+. © 2020 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Following the life of Flora and the super-powered squirrel Ulysses, this unlikely duo teams up to save the world! With Flora’s creative mind and Ulysses’ animal hijinks, it’s a coming of age story that is full of love, hope and unlikely heroes. Be on the look out for lots of fun comic book Easter Eggs: think Marvel superhero references as well as Easter Eggs for the author, Kate DiCamillo, and even some Duck Tales eggs are in the mix!

Ben Schwartz as George and Matilda Lawler as Flora in FLORA & ULYSSES, exclusively on Disney+.

I am a huge animal lover and I think everyone will have a new appreciation for squirrels after seeing this. Be sure to watch until the end as there is one pre-credit end scene that will have young and old alike giggling. Sweet, simple, and creatively daring this modern day family film is one you will want to watch multiple times, because, SQUIRREL!!!

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Let me know what you think about the film!