The sci-fi 3-D animated film “Escape From Planet Earth” has an all-star cast in a story that has social messages about the dangers of greed, pride and the importance of loyalty and family. In the movie, two very different brothers on the planet Baab are at odds with each other. Macho astronaut Scorch Supernova (voiced by Brendan Fraser) is impetuous and reckless, while his nerdy and more cautious and intellectual brother Gary Supernova (voiced by Rob Corddry) is head of mission control at BASA, the planet’s space-travel center.
When Scorch lands on Earth after being warned not to go there, a team is assembled to rescue him. Among the other stars in the movie’s voice cast are Jessica Alba as Lena Thackleman as the head of BASA, George Lopez as a slug-like character named Thurman, and Sofia Vergara as a TV journalist named Gabby Babblerock. Here is what Alba, Corddry, Lopez and Vergara said in interviews at the Los Angeles press junket for “Escape From Planet Earth.”
Interview with Jessica Alba and Rob Corddry
What was it like doing an animated film like “Escape From Planet Earth”?
Corddry: This is both of our first experience doing one, so it was really, really interesting to do. I look forward to getting better at it.
Alba: Me too. I feel like I finally got the hang of it in my last session, and I was like, “Oh, I wish the whole thing was like this.
Jessica, how would you describe your Lena Thackleman character?
Alba: My character doesn’t really think too hard about things. She just goes for it, and I sometimes feel like I think myself into a tizzy, and then I’m just sort of paralyzed by my thoughts. Did I go to a dark place?
Corddry: That is the best thing about evil villains. They’re doers!
Alba: It’s black or it’s white.
Corddry: They get things done!
How does being parents affect your decision to do a movie like “Escape From Planet Earth”?
Alba: We both have young ladies in our lives.
Corddry: I like a simple, easily understood lesson, like that. It’s a sign of a good story.
Alba: And there are strong female characters in this film — good and bad.
Corddry: Very important as parents of little girls.
Who do you think will enjoy “Escape From Planet Earth” the most?
Alba: It’s something the whole family can enjoy. You can watch it on repeat. Grown-ups and their kiddos can all have a good time watching this movie.
Corddry: Yeah, it’s kind of a perfect family movie, in that it has a little bit of everything, but mostly it has a really neat, simple story that kids naturally respond to. Mine did.
Interview with George Lopez
What was it like doing an animated film like “Escape From Planet Earth”?
When you can create with other tremendous actors and be part of team. Everyone wants to be part of a team when growing up. You win together, and you lose together. And when you win championships, you get a feeling that people chase their whole lives. To see this poster, and to know kind of late in the movie that you’re already going to be part of something really big, it’s almost like you’re an older basketball player, and they train you to a team that’s really good, and you win the championship, and you’re like, “That was easy!” This was a nice thing to have really fall in my lap.
How would you describe your Thurman character?
Thurman is a slug, but somehow to bring a charm to that and the three eyes — [the Io character played by] Jane Lynch has one eye — to make all that work between the three of us when we’re recording separate, but then it moves really fast. And from the trailer they sent me from the beginning, I was in, because it is a lot of fun. It’s fun. It’s great.
What makes Thurman unique?
He can get out of any situation, it appears, with his slim superpower. So it is good to be able to, no matter where you go, either blend in, slide in, or be able to get in and out of any situation would be wonderful trick to have.
What can audiences relate to in the “Escape From Planet Earth” the most?
The father/son dynamic and the brother dynamic and the powerful, strong women — listen, if you did it in a live-action [film], it would be impressive, but then to pull it off in animation is even more impressive.
Who do you think will enjoy “Escape From Planet Earth” the most?
The thing about this movie is that it is about Earth, and it is a global movie, and no matter where you are on the Dark Planet, you’ll love it.
Interview with Sofia Vergara
What was it like doing an animated film like “Escape From Planet Earth”?
It’s always a lot of fun. It was very easy, this role, because it was a very tiny role. It was very easy for me to do. I went in and did it in two hours. I came straight from shooting “Modern Family.” And it’s fun. It’s always fun.
How can people most identify with the characters in this movie?
They really have many issues, like real families have, but then at the end of the day, they know they have to come together and support each other. And at the end of the day, their differences bring them even closer together.
How would you describe your Gabby Babblebrock character?
She was very cute. She was very real, in terms of that she’s on national TV or galaxy TV or wherever she is in space. And she’s not afraid let go and show them how the one of the heroes means so much to her.
What can audiences expect to get from watching “Escape From Planet Earth”?
I think it’s great. It leaves you with a very nice feeling after you’re done with the movie. It leaves a message to the kids. I think it’s lovely to watch with your whole family.
For more info: "Escape From Planet Earth" website
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