“The Nutcracker” star Ben Stiller picks his favorite holiday films

November 29, 2024

The old Hollywood warning is clear: never work with children or animals, as both would easily overshadow any star.

“Yeah, so that was making this movie Opposite “It was about working with both children and animals,” Ben Stiller says of his new feel-good holiday film “Nutcrackers” (which airs Friday on Hulu).

But before the veteran actor (“Meet the Fockers”), director (“Tropic Thunder”) and producer (“Severance”) can move on, one of those little co-stars, Ulysses Janson, 11, interjects.

“Yes, they should say, ‘Never work with adults,'” says Janson, who goes by Uli.

Stiller gives him a wide-eyed Ben Stiller look. “I think you’ve got something there, kid.”

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And so it goes for the next 20 minutes: effortless banter mixed with good-natured banter between the 58-year-old actor and two of his four young co-stars, which also include Homer Janson, 13, and twins Arlo and Atlas. 8.

That easy camaraderie shines off the screen in “The Nutcracker,” a heartwarming vision from director David Gordon Green (2018’s reboot of “Halloween”) that tells the story of career-obsessed Michael (Stiller) who suddenly and rowdy over his four orphaned nephews are waiting for news of their placement in a foster family.

The Real Brothers’ Antics Inspired Hulu’s New Holiday Movie ‘Nutcracker’

The unique gift of “Nutcracker” is that Green met the four Janson brothers while visiting an old college friend who had moved to her family farm outside Wilmington, Ohio. Being with their crazy and talented children made the director believe he essentially had a movie ready to shoot, with the actors and the farm location already set.

Stiller recalls: “David called me and said, ‘Hey, I have an idea for a holiday film with these guys who live on a farm but have never acted before, and we’ll grab some 35mm cameras and.’ Rock ‘n’ Roll.’ . It starts in eight weeks, are you there?”

He admits that his first question after reading the script was: “As a cynic, is he doing some kind of parody of a holiday movie? But that wasn’t the case.”

Stiller was intrigued, thanks in part to his deep love for a number of classic holiday dishes.

“I never thought, ‘Oh, I have to do a holiday movie,’ no, but I love them, from those Rankin/Bass animations (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) to It’s a Wonderful Life.” “Planes, Trains & Automobiles,” “Polar Express,” all films that just get you into the spirit of things,” he says. “I also liked that it felt so organic – it wasn’t a big studio production.”

The Janson brothers have evolved from acting novices into accomplished professionals, says Ben Stiller

The four Jansons handled the filming like ducks to water, says Stiller, no doubt reassured that their familiar family farm also served as a location for the film.

“I mean, these guys live in this house, so they were screaming, cut, but the cats and guinea pigs and dogs and goats are all still there, just wandering around,” Stiller says. “Sometimes things would happen and you wouldn’t even know if the cameras were rolling.”

Homer Janson says he and his brothers were worried that once filming was scheduled, the quartet would have to spend hours cleaning up the homestead. But to her delight, the opposite was true. “We want it to look like four boys lived there alone, so we made sure it was,” Homer says with a laugh.

It didn’t take long for the boys to get the hang of filmmaking, from the perks (“That would be the free breakfast burritos every morning,” says Uli Janson with joy) to the lingo.

“First we said, ‘Step on your mark,’ and they asked, ‘What’s a mark?’ “says Stiller. “And at the end they say, ‘This is a 30mm lens, and he’s going to cover and take an over-the-shoulder shot.’ “

Next up are the ballet-dancing Janson brothers? A performance of “The Nutcracker”

Is there any further acting planned for the Janson brothers, who do their best as “Nutcrackers” and are also talented ballet dancers?

“Well, we’re currently practicing for a performance of the real ‘Nutcracker,’ which will be at the same local theater you see in the movie,” says Homer Janson.

Stiller leans forward. “But I’m your manager now,” he says with mock seriousness. “I own their rights to life; her parents sold her to me. You’re okay with that, right?”

Home and Uli smile. Stiller feels like an old friend. The best thing about working with him?

“Ben is so nice, he’s so great…” says Uli. “Go on, please, go on,” Stiller says expressionlessly.

Okay, what is your favorite Ben Stiller film?

“Well, Homer has seen ‘Alex the Lion’ about 15 times,” says Uli, but Homer quickly corrects him: “You mean ‘Madagascar’.” “

Stiller portrayed the lion in this animated hit. He’s quick on the draw. “Right, but it should have been called ‘Alex the Lion’, no question. Good point, Uli.”

For Homer, “Tropic Thunder” and “Zoolander” are among Stiller’s best works. But he will soon add another film to this list after working with the star.

“The whole experience was so nice working with Ben,” he says.

Stiller may be flattered, but again, he just can’t resist making a comedic dig.

“Well, first of all,” he says with a shrug. “But later, guys, admit it, things got difficult, we didn’t talk anymore. Things like ‘Hey, why does Uli have a bigger trailer than me?’ “

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