Family movies have the unique ability to touch the hearts of viewers while addressing real-life issues. In a recent conversation with actor and director Ben Stiller, he shared his insights on a holiday comedy that does just that.

Uncover the Magic of Family Movies

Ben Stiller's Insights on Family Movies

Ben Stiller told me over Zoom that family movies are about people. You can watch a movie that is accessible to everyone and still handle real issues. He added that it's a throwback to movies from the 1980s and 1990s, where there were real issues and the idea of loss for kids formed the basis of the story, even if it was a lighthearted movie.In Hulu's latest holiday comedy "Nutcrackers" directed by David Gordon Green, Ben Stiller plays Michael, a real estate agent from Chicago. After his sister and her husband died in a car accident, he had to travel to Ohio to take care of his four nephews. At first, he had no intention of adopting them and only planned to stay until a foster family was found.However, Michael grew attached to his nephews and realized they had real artistic abilities. The kids were excellent dancers, and Michael even encouraged them to put their own twist on the Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker" to perform in front of a real audience.

Actors' Memories of Performing Arts

When I asked the two actors what their first memories of performing arts in front of an audience were, Cardellini shared her story. She said when she was a kid, she wasn't picked often. But then a new teacher made them all sing on tape. After class, the teacher called her and asked her to be in a play. She felt like she had finally found her place and went on to play a little old lady in "The Music Man" and got laughs.For the "Dead to Me" star, the continuous support from her parents was crucial. She said her parents were always excited about her career but were scared at first. Even after all these years, she still waits for her father to call and tell her she did a good job.Stiller recalled his own experience as a parent, watching his daughter on stage. His daughter played a horse in "The Headless Horseman" in third grade, and he was amazed by her performance.He also mentioned that he developed his skills and passion for filmmaking as a kid by making little Super 8 movies, and his dad was very supportive. In high school, he was cast as the Emcee in "Cabaret" and it gave him the confidence to keep going.

Working on the Movie Set

In the movie, the kids are played by real-life brothers, the Janson brothers. Filmed just outside Cincinnati at the farmhouse they live in, it felt very real and organic. Stiller said it was like a small movie, and there was a unique feeling when they were on set. Cardellini added that the kids completely opened their world to them and everyone felt like family.Michael didn't know how to handle kids at first, but he came up with a bedtime story version of Rambo. Stiller said it reminded him of when his kids were younger and he had to come up with stories. They also discussed what bedtime story version of a movie they would like to tell each other. Stiller thought Jaws would be a good one, while Cardellini suggested "The Princess Bride" to work on characters and perfect voices.This holiday comedy "Nutcrackers" not only showcases the talent of the young actors but also reminds us of the power of family movies in dealing with real issues and bringing out the best in people.