Kate & Chris (film)

Kate And Chris (2007) is a 2007 American 3D computer animated science fantasy comedy film produced by 20 Century Fox Animation and Scholastic Entertainment. Based on Eric Stern books of Same Name, film was directed by Rob Letterman and Mike Mitchell, written by Letterman, David Reynolds, Dan Fogelman, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow from a story by Gary Trousdale and Stern, and stars an ensemble voice cast consisting of Mandy Moore, Elijah Wood, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Danny Devito, Jon Lovitz, Zooey Deschanel, Maya Rudolph, Justin Long, with Steve Buscemi, and Michael Clarke Duncan. In film, when an human like space creature lands on Earth 2 teenagers who are outcasts at an local school are willing to return him to his natural home while an mad scientist and an alien chief threatens to capture him and use him to take over world.

Film was released in US on September 28, 2007, by 20 Century Fox, and was produced to commemorate 10 anniversary of 1 original book. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised it animation, humor and it vocal performances, but criticized predictable story and writing. Film earn a total of $541.4 million worldwide against a budget of $80 million, and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film and later gaining a cult following through TV syndication and it home video release. Film was re released in 3D on February 26, 2016. An animated series that continues events of film, titled Kate And Chris Adventures, premiered on Fox Family on July 5, 2013. A sequel, set to be directed by Kevin Lima, was planned but was sadly cancelled.

Plot
In outer space, Doctor Menabba (Devito), a mad scientist, is arrested and put on trial by Federation for illegal genetic creation, evidenced by his creation EDDIE, a sentient creature that looks very similar to a regular human being with intelligence, speaking abilities, and strength, but also a propensity to wreak havoc. Menabba is imprisoned while is sentenced to be executed. EDDIE manages to escape on an escape pod, and activates it hyperdrive, causing it guidance systems to malfunction and randomly set a course for Earth. Eddie (Black) crash lands on a farm in Eastview, Oregon. Queen Nelly (Saunders) dispatches Menabba and Officer Coobot (Lovitz), queen expert on Earth, to planet to have alien captured discreetly while galaxy oversized militant chief, Chief Rogerator (Duncan) actually wants alien to conquer world.

In Eastview, an redheaded young girl name Kate Anderson (Moore) was run late for school and was in a hurry to get ready. After Kate got finish get ready, she managed to arrive on time. While at school, she meets a blue haired boy named Chris Mccallister (Wood), who acts jealous to Kate, for being smart and her pass class. However, Chris devises a plan to get Kate in trouble by having his best friend Joey Greenwood (Scott) disguised as her. They tamper with a new invention, Mega Machine 9000, made by school local snitch, intellectual Chuck Stevens (Long), who was able to catch them thanks to another invention which Mr Watson (Buscemi) asked him to make, Snitch Cam 1000. Mr Watson believed disguise and became very shocked that Kate actually participated in prank, getting Kate sent to Watson office and getting detention for 3 weeks.

As Kate tries to sneak back to her room without her mother, Mary Anderson (Rudolph), know that she got in trouble, Mary suddenly appears from the kitchen door and punishes Kate and sends to her room. That same night, Mary apologizes to Kate for getting angry at her and tells her about her teen life to Kate, explaining to her of how she raised her to be a neat and smart teen. Next day, after crash land in the farm, Eddie explores around Eastview City, and later finds Eastview high school and hides in a closet. Chris finds Eddie and devises an another plan to get Mr Watson back by using Eddie hypnotizing gun. Kate heads to office of Watson just as office literally starts to spin when Watson is put in a trance. After that, Chris commands Watson to be a goofy looking superhero, and Chris soon learns severity of his doings when Watson begins causing some problems such as punch a mime in face and wreaking chaos around Eastview. Kate, Eddie, and Chris takes Watson away to his house before cops got to him.

Next day at school, Kate and Chris need to have Eddie to pretend and dress up as exactly like Mr Watson in order to keep up appearances. Eddie sudden new personality change even manages to attract attention and affection of high school lunch lady, Jenny (Cusack). is visit by an odd scientist name Dum Dum (Ferrell), or as he calls himself Professor DD. Eddie disguised as Watson hires him to be a new teacher, but Kate and Chris are suspicious of him due to his short tempered behavior. With Eddie as principal, the school is a more live place, with a funfair being set up in schoolyard. However, things get chaotic as Eddie starts feeding students tons of candy, and Kate and Chris want in on it. This turns out to be a bad idea as they experience a strong sugar rush, leading Eddie to his own devices. He tries to drive a bus through a ring of fire over a ramp, but he rides bus backwards into a ferris wheel, which comes loose and rolls towards school, destroying half of it. Eddie then regrets of what he did and runs away to city biker bar. Kate and Chris later find Eddie, as he compiles a bucket list of things he like to do on Earth, but becomes sad when he realizes he might not be able to do them since aliens are hunting him down. Kate encourages Eddie to try to do as much as he can right where they are, and the 3 take a while to enjoy themselves with all bar activities. Unfortunately, a group of rough looking punks come looking for trouble and Eddie aggravates their leader, starting a bar fight. Leader of punks attacks Eddie, but with his alien powers, he speeds up his awareness, saving Kate and Chris. 3 flee bar, outrunning angry patrons, and spending night in Kate house. Later that night, Chris, Eddie, Cole (Rock), and Joey teaches a lesson to Chuck, for getting Chris in trouble as well as Kate, using alien costumes to scare him, eluding police along way. After Kate found out about Chris being chased by police on news, she gets angry at him and tells him he will never happy if he spends his life party and prank without acting more maturely. Chris apologizes to her, and makes a promise to her. Dum Dum finds Chuck and uses him as part of his evil plan by scanning his brain and learns that he has part in brain about seeing a human like alien. This becomes crucial to his plan.

Next morning, Nelly relieves Menabba and Coobot of their assignment, where 2 find Eddie in Kate house. A fight ensues, which destroys house. Dum Dum then finds Kate and Chris and knows about alien, but as Kate tries to stand up against Dum Dum, he sends the 2 teens to a canyon river by using a teleportation gun. Dum Dum and Rogerator finally capture Eddie and they both use him for their new conjoined plan. Kate and Chris both end up in river, ensuing in a heated argument between 2. After argument, Kate confesses that she loved Chris, and loved his pranks and his party shenanigans, and 2 finally reconcile with each other. However, 2 nearly plummet to their deaths down a waterfall, but Kate saves Chris, and they embrace and kiss before traveling together back to Eastwood. Dum Dum tries to take over town with a giant version of Mega Machine 9000, fueled by high school cafeteria leftovers left out by Jenny and uses Chuck brain to turn students into glum zombies, where a few minutes later a whole fleet of alien ships from the Xenonship descends on city and start what appears to be an invasion. As aliens rampage throughout Eastview, vaporizing everything in their path, Kate and Chris find Eddie at Eastview park, where Eddie reveals his alien identity before Rogerator and Dum Dum capture Kate and Eddie, where Chris must seek Cole, Menabba, Coobot, Joey, and Eva Clark (Deschanel) for help. Chris, Cole, Menabba, Coobot, Joey, and Eva all give chase to Rogerator spaceship in Menabba spaceship and rescue Kate and Eddie.

Back on ground, Eddie finally acquires superpowers and, with Kate and Chris help, defeats and shrinks Dum Dum, though he escapes on a moth shortly thereafter. Rogerator seizes control of Xenonship and tries to destroy teenagers, only to have Eddie help make ship collapse off a mountain, causing Rogerator, who is trap inside ship, to fall to his death. Later that day, Nelly arrives on Earth and prepares to take Eddie to new moved alien jail, but Kate and Chris insist that because he saved world, he cannot be taken away. Impressed with Eddie new civility and empathy, Nelly goes against prior decision of Xenonship Federation and decrees that Eddie will live in exile on Earth. He will be entrusted to care of Kate and her mother. Also, feeling that Mr Watson would be nice if he had friends, Kate and Chris set him and lovesick Jenny up on a date, thus making Watson have a change of heart. However, toxic waste from Mega Machine 9000 transforms all appliances and electronics into an army of evil robots which attack restaurant at which Watson and Jenny are dining. Eddie suddenly appears, carry Kate and Chris away to help him fight them, much to Jenny surprise and admiration.

In a post credits scene, Kate and Chris realizes that secretary, which Chris put her on phone before by faking for a challenge of $10 million, has been on phone for entire film, so they shut off call, making secretary angry.

Cast

 * Mandy Moore as Kate Anderson, a smart, trustworthy, funny, and clever 18 year old girl
 * Elijah Wood as Chris Mccallister, a sarcastic, wise cracking, arrogant, and somewhat boss 17 year old boy.
 * Jack Black as Eddie, a comical, magical, shape shifting, wise cracking human like space creature who tries to blend in.
 * Justin Long as Chuck Stevens, an intelligent and unkind 16 year old boy.
 * Will Ferrell as Professor Dum Dum, an mad scientist who wants to capture Eddie and use him for his projects.
 * Zooey Deschanel as Eva Clark, Kate best friend
 * Michael Clarke Duncan as Chief Rogerator
 * Danny Devito as Dr Menabba
 * Jon Lovitz as Officer Coobot
 * Steve Buscemi as Mr Watson, principal of Eastview High School.
 * Maya Rudolph as Mary Anderson, Kate loving overprotective mother who cares so much about her only daughter.
 * Seann William Scott as Joey Greenwood, Chris best friend
 * Chris Rock as Cole Jefferson, 1 of Chris friends
 * Jennifer Saunders as Queen Nelly
 * Allison Janney as Ms Mcrobbs, secretary at Eastview High School
 * Jeffrey Tambor as Mr Monty, 1 of teachers at Eastview High School
 * Joan Cusack as Jenny Lunch Lady, lunch lady at Eastview High School who falls in love with Mr Watson.
 * Mike Mitchell as Police Officer and Mime
 * Dan Castellaneta as Nobel Prize Audience Member
 * Mona Marshall as Nobel Prize Moderator
 * Jeff Garcia as Timothy, a student who is seen frequently throughout movie hiding in his own locker.
 * Dan Fogler as Mr Warren, science teacher at Eastview High School who got fired by Mr. Watson.

Additional Voices


 * Stephen Apostolina
 * Kirk Baily
 * David Cowgill
 * Eddie Frierson
 * Jessica Gee George
 * Johnny Gidcomb
 * Jackie Gonneau
 * Nicholas Guest
 * Jennifer Hale
 * Lex Lang
 * Caitlin Mckenna
 * Paul Pape
 * Phil Proctor
 * Al Rodrigo
 * Fred Tatasciore
 * Marcelo Tubert
 * Kari Wahlgren
 * Lynnanne Zager

Production
Universal Pictures acquired rights to produce and distribute a film based on Kate And Chris in 1999. In 2000, an animated film was announced as a joint venture between Universal and Scholastic. It would be produced by John Cohen and written by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, while Michael Wildshill would executive produce. According to Wildshill, film was set to be made by a different animation studio outside of Universal Animation Studios and Gingo Animation. In 2002, Universal said film was scheduled for 2004. In beginning of 2003, film release date was taken over by another Universal animated film, Zina And Vivid Crew. Rob Letterman and Mike Mitchell were hired in 2003 to direct it. Series creator Eric Stern wrote story alongside Disney veteran Gary Trousdale.

In 2004, it was reported that DreamWorks Animation SKG and 20 Century Fox were interested acquiring rights after Universal put film into turnaround however, DreamWorks Animation SKG decided not to proceed with bidding. In October 2004, Fox announced that it would acquire rights from Universal. Most of production team remained unchanged. In 2005, it was announced that movie would be released in 2007, produced by 20 Century Fox Animation.

Music
Film score was composed by John Powell and Mark Mothersbaugh. Soundtrack was released on September 25, 2007 by Varese Sarabande.

Marketing
Mcfarlane Toys released a line of action figures and plushies based on film, Nintendo produced a limited edition Kate And Chris (2007) themed Nintendo DS, to coincide with film DVD release, and Windows Live Messenger presented their users with opportunity to download a free animated and static content for use within their conversations. Burger King promoted film with a set of 7 kids meal toys featuring the characters from film.


 * Teaser trailer was released on November 3, 2006, and was shown in front of Flushed Away, Santa Clause 3 Escape Clause, Happy Feet, Eragon (2006), Charlotte Web (2006), Night At Museum (2006), and Bridge To Terabithia (2007).


 * Film theatrical trailer was released on March 30, 2007 and was shown in front of Meet Robinsons, Firehouse Dog, Spider Man 3, Tony 2 Across Nation, Shrek 3, Pirates Of Caribbean 3 At World End, and Surf Up.


 * Film final theatrical trailer was released on June 29, 2007 and was shown in front of Ratatouille, Transformers (2007), Computer Opolis 2, Harry Potter 5 Order Of Phoenix, Simpsons Movie, Bratz (2007), Daddy Day Camp, and Mr Bean Holiday.

A Video Game based on film has been released for the Wii, Play Station 2, Play Station 3, Xbox 360, Play Station Portable, PC, and Nintendo DS and was developed by Heavy Iron Studios and published by THQ on October 2, 2007.

Release
Kate And Chris (2007) was originally scheduled to released sometime in 2004 by Universal Pictures, but in 2005, short after taking over rights, 20 Century Fox rescheduled it to June 22, 2007. In 2006, release date was delayed to September 28, 2007 to avoid competition with other films releasing in 2007.

Kate And Chris (2007) had it world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2007, and was released US on September 28, 2007. Film theatrical release was accompanied by a Ice Age short film No Time For Nuts. It was digitally re mastered into IMAX format IMAX DMR and was released on same day in IMAX 3D theaters around world and conventional 35mm screens. An test screening of the film was held at Harkins Cine Capri Theater in Tempe, Arizona on September 14, 2007, at which a Fox representative was present to collect viewer feedback. Fox announced an upcoming theatrical re releases of Kate And Chris (2007), Puppet Pals and Crystal (2008) in 3D back in 2014 and later re released Kate And Chris in 3D on February 26, 2016.

A montage of outtakes were made and included in end credits of film starting on October 30, 2007.

Home media
Kate And Chris (2007) was released on DVD and Blu ray on January 22, 2008 by 20 Century Fox Home Entertainment, and includes sneak peek of Fox animated film Crystal (2008), a gallery of concept art and posters, a 12 minutes making of documentary, DVD ROM features, a 5.1 isolated sound effects track, trailers and TV spots, and deleted scenes.

It was later re released on 4K Ultra HD Blu Ray, Blu ray 3D, and Digital HD on October 11, 2016.

Critical reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, film has an approval rating of 100% based on 149 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2 10. Site critical consensus reads, Kate And Chris (2007) is cute and funny enough, but colorful humor of book gets lost with many Hollywood production values. On Metacritic, it received a score of 100 out of 100, based on 77 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews. Audiences polled by Cinemascore gave film an average grade of A+ on an A+ to F scale.

Michael Rechtshaffen of Hollywood Reporter gave film a gave a positive review saying, Fox Animation Studios slapstick animated adaptation of philosophically satiric book series is a lot of laughs and boasts a much tighter story than most animated features. Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun Times gave film 4 out of 4 stars, saying Kate And Chris (2007) is a truly touching and hilarious family adventure with a blast of humor and soundtrack, as well as a comical plot from folks at 20 Century Fox Animation.

James Rocchi of MSN Movies gave film a negative review, If it even not as good as Kate And Chris (2007) books, Film adaptation is a complete insult to book series for fans. you do even care if 3D CGI animation is good and characters have their usual selves from books, it just awful that Fox should be ashamed of themselves, while Richard Corliss of Time Magazine also gave a negative review and called it insidious nonsense from Hollywood, and accused Hollywood of trying to indoctrinate children.

Box office
Kate And Chris (2007) open alongside Game Plan and Kingdom, and earn $20,795,907 on it open day September 28, 2007 in US making it highest animated open day in September during that time. It grossed a combined total of $55,266,112 in it open week on at 4,055 theaters, reach top of box office for that week. In it 2 week October 5 7, 2007, the film drop 100% to $32,412,397 from an expanded 4,114 theaters, and still placing in 1. In it 3 week October 12 14, 2007, film held well to $21,797,299 and once again placing in 1 beat animated newcomer MISSION. In it 4 week October 19 21, 2007, film gave out to $11,949,464 and finally placing in 3 behind 30 Days Of Night and Why Did You Get Married. Film closed on January 31, 2008 after 125 days of release, grossing $209,819,393 in US and UK, along with $277,412,696 overseas for a worldwide total of $487,209,725.

3D re release
Coming soon!

Internet popularity
In 2018, Kate And Chris (2007) had an unexpected rise in popularity as an Internet meme.

More coming soon!

Television series
Kate And Chris Adventures is a American animated television series created by Fox Television Animation in 2013, based on 2007 film, which in turn was based on book series of same name by Eric Stern. Series aired on Fox Family from July 5, 2013 to November 4, 2016, and continues story of 2007 film.

Cancelled Feature Length Sequel And Possible Revival
After release of Kate And Chris (2007), Fox began to consider producing a sequel. In 2008, a sequel was reported in development for 2012 release. In 2009, it was reported that Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky was hired to write script for sequel while Kevin Lima was hired to direct film. However, film was later cancelled in favor of production of Little Lily. In 2017, 10 anniversary of release of film, co director Mike Mitchell revealed in an interview that he was set to write and direct during early development for sequel but it did not happen due to story and script issues to film as well when Mitchell left Fox Animation Studios to work on other films in 2010. Mitchell also revealed in interview that sequel would deal with Kate And Chris life being turned upside down when Kate friends getting kidnapped into different worlds by a magical portal and Kate must figure out a way to save them. In 2018, nearing Disney acquisition of 21 Century Fox, Disney CEO Bob Iger was in talks with Fox Animation Studios CEO president Robert Baird about a possible way of bringing Kate And Chris (2007) and Little Lily back on big screen.

In 2019, Elijah Wood expressed interest on reprising his role as Chris if a animated sequel ever gets announced.