After taking a hiatus from acting, Ben Stiller returns to the big screen for Nutcrackers, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5. The comedy follows a "hotshot Chicago real estate developer" named Michael who continuously prioritizes work over family. However, when his sister and her husband are involved in a terrible accident, Michael finds himself responsible for four young boys and their Ohio farm.
The film is written by Leland Douglas, with David Gordon Green serving as the director. In addition to Stiller, first project and was shot at their home rather than on a sound stage. The family expresses their disbelief over being a part of the movie, itting that the opportunity to work with Stiller was a dream come true.
Ben Stiller Explains His Return To Acting As His First Movie With Leading Role In 7 Years Premieres
With Nutcrackers about to premiere, Ben Stiller breaks down the circumstances that led to his first leading movie role in seven years.
Screen Rant interviewed the Janson siblings and writer Leland Douglas at the Toronto International Film Festival about the inspiration behind Nutcrackers, filming on a real farm with live animals, and collaborating with Ben Stiller.
Arlo, Atlas, Homer, & Ulysses Janson Say Working With Ben Stiller Was A "Once In A Lifetime" Experience
"He was just the most amazing person. He was so nice. He was so kind to us."
Screen Rant: This was shot on your Ohio farm. How was working with your family and opening your home up to Hollywood?
Ulysses Janson: It was just an amazing experience, seeing everyone work, seeing everyone set up. It was just so amazing. It was so cool.
Homer Janson: It was crazy just to think that's even possible and just the fact that we're hearing this question right now is a dream come true.
Atlas Janson: It was so exciting just to see one camera. That was the most exciting part.
Screen Rant: What can you share about your scenes with Ben Stiller in the movie?
Ulysses Janson: He was just the most amazing person. He was so nice. He was so kind to us. He's so good acting. He was just the best person ever.
Arlo Janson: It's a once in a lifetime to meet him. He was the best.
Homer Janson: Whenever I acted with him, I felt like he was actually my uncle, and he was actually telling me and talking to me and I couldn't tell if he was acting or not. He was great.
Atlas Janson: He was really funny. He was really, really good at acting.
Source: Screen Rant Plus
Leland Douglas Reveals That Nutcrackers Was Inspired By The Janson Siblings
"I went to the farm and met the kids, and it looked like they were lifted right off the page."
Screen Rant: What can you share about the inspiration behind the story?
Leland Douglas: David Green, the director, went to visit an old school pal who is now living on a farm in Ohio, and he met our four children, and they're amazing, as you'll see—these four little Tarzans running around this amazing farm with all these animals. They're really good kids. They're homeschooled, but they're really present and polite and active. And David called me and said, "I think there's some sort of movie idea here."
I think the seed of the idea was maybe their parents leave for some reason and a city uncle has to come and watch them for a while. And so I just picked up the story from there without having met the kids or been to the farm or anything like that. I just crafted a story and Dave liked it, and we were off to the races. And after all that, I went to the farm and met the kids, and it looked like they were lifted right off the page, better than I could have expected.
When you were first writing the screenplay, did you have Ben Stiller in mind for the role?
Leland Douglas: No, that came a little bit later. That was David's inspiration, but as soon as he said it, I said, "Yeah, of course, of course." Ben's amazing in the movie. He hasn't been in a feature film in a while and he knows what he's doing. He knows how to be funny, knows how to be real, and knows how to sell the drama. He's just perfect. He made it a Ben Stiller movie and I'm delighted about that.
This is a comedy, but it seems like there's even more beneath the surface. What are you hoping people take away from Nutcrackers?
Leland Douglas: I know what they'll take away. They're going to take away warm hearts. Everyone's going to walk out of this movie being very glad that they took this journey with these characters. It'll get you in the feels in the end. It's funny throughout and then slowly sneaks up on you and you go, "I'm actually feeling something here." I've seen it a couple of times and I cried and I know what happens. I wrote the d*mn thing. So it works, I think.
Source: Screen Rant Plus
About David Gordon Green's Nutcrackers
Ben Stiller Returns To The Screen In Heartfelt Comedy
Hotshot Chicago real estate developer Michael (Stiller) never had time for family. His sister once said he was incapable of love. But when Michael’s sister and her husband have a terrible accident, their house, farm, and four boys become Michael’s responsibility. He drives out to his sister’s small Ohio town thinking all he needs to do is sign some papers and get back to the city, but it’s not nearly that simple.
Nutcrackers premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5.
Nutcrackers is a family drama film by director David Gordon Green and starring Ben Stiller. Stiller plays Mike, who, after his siblings away in a tragic car accident, heads to the heart of Ohio to care for his nephews in the aftermath. Though initially hesitant, Mike realizes they may be the family he's always needed.
