The 49th Toronto International Film Festival opened with the world premiere of “Nutcrackers,” a delightful fish-out-of-water comedy directed by David Gordon Green and starring Ben Stiller in his first film role in seven years. The movie follows Stiller’s character, a city slicker who becomes the caregiver for his four orphaned nephews living on an Ohio farm.
Stiller’s return to the big screen was not the only highlight of the festival. After a challenging year in 2023 when labor strikes prevented many A-list actors from attending, TIFF is back with a star-studded lineup, including Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong’o, Selena Gomez, Elton John, Ana de Armas, Dakota Johnson, and Mark Hamill.
The premiere was further energized by a surprise appearance from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who praised the country’s filmmaking efforts and thanked TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey for promoting Canadian cinema on the international stage.
Despite some empty seats, the audience at Roy Thomson Hall enthusiastically embraced the film’s family-friendly humor, which included fart jokes, a nativity scene mishap, and interactions with farm animals. The story takes an emotional turn as the boys stage a dance production in hopes of finding foster parents, showcasing their ballet skills in a unique rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker”.
Stiller and his four young costars, the Janson brothers, received a standing ovation at the Q&A session. Stiller explained his decision to take on the project, saying, “I made a choice a few years ago I was only going to do something if it really resonated with me. I wanted to meet these boys and be part of this.”
Director David Gordon Green, known for films like “Pineapple Express” and the “Halloween” reboot franchise, shared his inspiration for “Nutcrackers,” which came to him while editing “The Exorcist: Believer” in 2023. He challenged himself to create a movie without cynicism and viciousness, focusing on the heartwarming story of a family finding its way together.
Both Stiller and Green expressed their desire for “Nutcrackers” to be experienced in theaters, emphasizing the importance of supporting family-friendly films on the big screen.
The movie’s heartwarming message and the cast’s genuine performances are sure to leave audiences with a smile on their faces.
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