{Movie Review} Quvenzhané Wallis Shines in New Annie Movie Sunday 14 December, 2014
It’s Christmas movie season and one of the most anticipated remakes of the year is approaching for Annie. Based on the 1982 original movie, Annie, this modern remake gives an updated flair to a Broadway musical classic of the famous rags to riches story. Starring Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz and rising childstar Quvenzhané Wallis give an all-star cast to this holiday theater upcoming hit.
Quvenzhané Wallis is the new “Annie”, sans the red hair but nonetheless curly hair cuteness. Quvenzhané is a very special young woman, as she first got attention for her 1st film, “Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), for which she became the youngest actress ever to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress for that movie. She didn’t win the nomination, but the buzz got her the starring role of this film. The original film is thirty-two years old (yes before I was born) but still a classic so it’s always interesting to see how the new will match the older version.
Synopsis Based on the popular comic strip, Annie tells the extraordinary story of a little orphan who ends up in the lap of luxury with billionaire Benjamin Stacks, a variation of Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. Unlike most of the other children at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage, spunky Annie (Quvenzhané Wallis “Beasts of the Southern Wild”) believes that her parents are still alive and will one day return to claim her. So when Mr. Stacks offers to adopt her, she asks the most powerful man in America to help find her real mom and dad instead, and he agrees. Stacks’ whopping reward for Annie’s parents attracts the attention of con artists Rooster, Lily and the wicked Miss Hannigan, who hatch a plot to kidnap Annie and take the reward. The film is based on the Broadway musical stage play “Annie,” book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip.
Trailer
My opinion: I was really excited to this new film! Not only am I a fan of the original musical classic, I couldn’t want to see Quvenzhané Wallis performance. I did see ‘Beast of the Southern Wild” and she did amazing at the tender age of five. Now 11- years old we get to see he again and the curly hair little orphan Annie. I crossed out the “little orphan” because in this filmed they stressed heavily that she wasnt that, but a foster kid. This movie is very modern so foster child would be the appropriate term. Speaking of updated, the film was based heavily around technology and social media (which basically makes up out world today). This film isn’t short of sing alongs which of course they played “Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow” along with some new soundtracks. Super adorable and fun. Annie is still the spunky little girl with high hopes and dreams to find her original parents, and steals everyone’s heart with her charm.
Jamie Foxx (Mr.Stacks aka New Daddy Warbucks) actually made a great pair with Quvenzhané Wallis and Cameron Diaz gave plenty of comic relief. I know many would rather not touch classics, but I promise you the storyline is worth the watch and did the original justice! There was even mini appearances by super couple Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher and megapopstar Rihanna! This is definitely a great holiday film that will definitely have you anticipating for tomorrow to go to the theaters to watch it! I couldn’t help but smile the entire film whether you grew up with the original or want you kids to see the new version, it’s definitely a family movie outing experience!
I saw the original and love it so much that I can’t bring myself to go see this new one 🙁
I can’t wait to watch this version of Annie. I have always loved the original and this one looks like it will be just as good.
I have not heard about this new movie but I would love to see it. I am a big fan of both Jamie Fox and Rose Byrne and I bet Quvenzhané Wallis is fabulous in the part.
Thanks for the great review. This looks like a cute movie. I will have to go see it with some of my girlfriends.
I loved the original Annie and I am definitely looking forward to the new Annie. It really looks like a good movie!!
I have been curious of this movie. Glad to see others have seen it and enjoy it. I think I need to take my girls to check it out!
I’ve watched the older versions of Annie and used to read the comic strip. Thanks for the great review and explanation of the objective of the new Annie. Several members of my family are going to see it, but I’m saving my movie money for Hobbit. I will definitely add this to my ‘see it later’ list.
Oh I LOVE Annie! I can;t wait to see Cameron Diaz in this, she seems perfect for the part!
I think she is amazing. I fell in love with her in Beast’s.
I didn’t see the original movie but I am excited to take my daughter to see this one. I am planning to take her on Christmas Eve. I think we will watch the original after if we are not able to squeeze it in before.
Annie was one of my favorites growing up. I am really excited for the new Annie and cant wait to see it. I really enjoy everyone in the movie so I think its going to be great.
What a fun new movie. I can’t wait to see it with my girls. They love watching the ANnie I grew up on, but it’s neat they get to have one of their own too.
It sounds like such a great movie love jamie and cameroon such great actors. I am yet to watch annie not even the original play so quite excited to see it in cinemas
i loved the original when i was a kid. though i love jamie foxx, i still don’t know how i feel about this new one.. just bc i’m not a fan of a lot of remakes. i think the nostalgia factor makes the original so much more better, but i think i’m waiting for the ratings to come out to see if we’ll watch it!
Before going to see Beasts of the Southern Wild, I wasn’t convinced that this tiny girl could basically carry an entire film–but after seeing it, I knew that little Ms. Wallis had a great career in front of her. She’s SO talented, and I bet that she’ll do just as well in Annie! I love when classic movies are reimagined: it breathes new life into the entire franchise. I’ll be checking this out!
I really need to see this movie! It looks so cute! I love annie and I am excited to see this new and updated version! xoxo
The previews for this made me laugh out loud. My husband isn’t a big movie goer but he saw the preview and laughed too!
When I first saw the commercial on TV, I was surprised but wow after seeing it over and over again, I have to go see it now! It looks like a new and “modernized” version of the original Annie. How fun is this! Great and thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing! I just recently saw that the trailers for this movie started popping up everywhere, and they got me interested. I love a good family movie!
I love the original Annie and you’ve just reminded me to watch it tonight! I have to say I really don’t like when they do ‘updates’ on classic films, they never seem to match up to the original. I will give this a watch though because the cast is great, maybe they can win me over!
It just is going to be a new classic for this generation. I can’t wait to see it.
You do look like an older Annie! We haven’t seen this movie but I am looking froward when they release this in DVD, I bet my kids would love this!