Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
SPIN's Sarina Bellissimo caught up with the cast of Netflix's Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey this week.
She spoke to Ricky Martin, Keegan-Michael, Phylicia Rashad, Madalen Mills and Anika Noni Rose.
The movie plot
Jingle Jangle is a musical adventure and a visual spectacle for the ages.
Set in the gloriously vibrant town of Cobbleton, the movie follows legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker).
His fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder.
His trusted apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key) steals one of his creations, a robot named Buddy.
In the trailer, Jangle's equally bright and inventive granddaughter sets off on a mission to save Buddy.
She tells her grandfather, "This is the only place I've ever been where I finally felt like I belong."
"We have to get Buddy back!" She announces.
Adventure sequences flash across the screen as they embark on a mission to save the creation.
Watch the full trailer here:
Ricky Martin & Keegan-Michael Key
Sarina chats to stars of the movie Keegan-Michael Key and Ricky Martin.
She asks Keegan-Michael how it feels to play a singing and dancing villain.
He responds, "It was the most positive kind of overload!"
The actor said he had so much to do.
He had to learn his lines, go to dance rehearsals, get fitted for costumes, sing and act.
"I loved going to dance rehearsal in your sweats and you meet all the dancers."
Keegan-Michael added, "It was a delightful environment to be in!"
"And I like being busy that way, and running back and forth and having to embrace all these disciplines."
"It was really just so much fun."
Ricky on the other hand, plays a villainous toy called Don Juan Diego.
Sarina asked if he wishes they brought his character to life so he could have as much fun on set as his co-star.
The singer admitted, "Yeah. Why lie? It's true."
"I wanted to be in England because they were shooting in England and I was here in L.A."
"My set was a two by two with a microphone and a screen."
"It was different," Ricky added.
Phylicia Rashad, Madalen Mills & Anika Noni Rose
Sarina told Madalen that the film's director David E. Talbert likened her to a young Judy Garland.
The 11-year-old admitted, "I'm going to be honest, I don't really know who Ms. Judy Garland is."
"Because I've only been alive for one decade and a year but you know, it's okay!" She laughs.
Sarina told her Judy Garland is Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.
Madalen exclaimed, "Oh yeah!! Wow. Okay, I guess that's a compliment."
"I mean Dorothy is a great character and of course I love Mr. Talbert to death, he's my twinsie."
Sarina later asked the young actress what message she hopes people take from the film.
She responded, "One message that I feel like my character really delivers throughout the whole film is to be yourself."
Watch the full interview here:
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is out on Netflix November 13th.
