Ben Stiller steps back in front of the camera for a lead role inNutcrackers, a family drama film bydirector David Gordon Green, who is best known for horror. He plays Mike, who travels to Ohio to take care of his sister’s four sons after she tragically passes away in an accident. He plans to get them settled with a foster family and return to his work in Chicago as quickly as possible but plans change as he starts to care for the boys.
This charming holiday movie marks the first acting role for all four boys, who are real-life brothers.Nutcrackerswas actually filmed on their family farm as well. This is Ben Stiller’s first lead acting role in seven years, as he has been spending a lot of time behind the camera onprojects such asSeverance.Nutcrackersstarts streaming on Hulu November 29.
Ben Stiller’s 10 Funniest Movie Characters
Ben Stiller’s awkward comedic persona has created plenty of hilarious characters over the years, some of whom have inspired entire franchises.
ScreenRantinterviewed Ben Stiller, Homer Janson, Arlo Janson aboutNutcrackers. They discussed what their favorite holiday traditions are, as well as what the biggest challenges were on set. The trio also revealed what they hope viewers take away from thischarming Hulu holiday film.
Filming Nutcrackers On The Janson Farm Made For A Warm Environment Through Cold Days
“We were comfortable at our house, and half the people that were filming us were our friends.”
Screen Rant: The tradition of the Christmas couch in this movie is so fun. Do you have a favorite holiday tradition?
Homer Janson: Well, since I got my guinea pig, I seem to bring her in. Usually, that’s a little tradition, bringing my guinea pig in for Christmas.
Ben Stiller: The guinea pig is in the movie, yeah, little Pumpkin, who I held in the bed. Guinea pigs are sweet, but there’s a little bit of an edge to them. Sometimes they’ll be a little grumpy. You don’t quite know what you’re getting.
Arlo Janson: You know I like toys.
Ben Stiller: Every kid loves toys. I love toys. I still love toys.
Homer Janson: Our grandma usually comes over, and we all are together, and we watch a Christmas movie in the morning.
Ben Stiller: We had a nice gift exchange over Christmas too, because we were filming over Christmas, and these guys got me a beautiful sweater.
Homer Janson: He gave us this beautiful train.
Ben Stiller: I found this cool train store in Mason, Ohio, I think. It was so cool. I love model trains.
Screen Rant: What was it like getting to film at your house with your brothers?
Homer Janson: Well, obviously, we were at home, and there was so much love in the atmosphere that maybe it was even a homier feeling to our own house. It was amazing being able to shoot there, and being able to show everybody our little lives that we’ve been living, and taking them into our own little world.
Arlo Janson: We were comfortable at our house, and half the people that were filming us were our friends. Smooth sailing all the time we were filming at our house.
Ben Stiller: I can only imagine what it’s like to have this whole crew come in, but David does work with the same people and they’re all friends, so it was a very friendly, kind of warm, smallish group, but definitely it was chaotic every day.
Homer Janson: But by the second day, we knew everybody’s names, and we were in a routine.
Screen Rant: What was the biggest challenge on set? Was it working with all these animals and trying to get them to do what you wanted them to do?
Homer Janson: They were actually pretty good most of the time.
Ben Stiller: For you maybe. The first day with the hog was a little bit frightening for me. How many cats?
Homer Janson: We had eight during the movie, but it’s down five, sadly.
Ben Stiller: Ladd, your amazing dog who passed away, was just incredible. He would just be on the couch all the time. He’s this giant Irish Wolfhound. The movie is dedicated to him. But every day was crazy, chaotic, but fun. And for me, I was having a great time. I was thinking, for you guys, it must be weird to have all these people in your house.
Homer Janson: I love meeting new people and having people over. It was freezing cold out, and yet it was warm around me. I mean, everybody was hugging each other.
Ben Stiller: A lot of hugs on this set, yeah, really good vibes. The very first day we had this little trailer for hair and makeup trailer, and the very first day, the power was out. I remember we got there at like 5:30 in the morning. And so, I was doing hair and makeup with a blanket around me in this field in Ohio. I was like, Oh, this is going to be an adventure.
The Nutcrackers Cast Hopes Viewers Connect Over The Film
“I think it’s a great holiday sweet treat that David Gordon Green made.”
Screen Rant: How would you describe this movie to get people to check it out?
Homer Janson: I feel like when I was in the theater and when I was watching this with other people, I felt everybody was connecting through the movie. you may relate to the characters, and it’s very heartfelt, and I feel like everybody will love it and feel the love that was put into it.
Arlo Janson: When I was watching it at the theater, I thought that everybody felt connected when I was watching the movie. Mostly laughing and having fun.
Homer Janson: It was a roller coaster of emotion, and everybody was on that roller coaster together, and everybody was happy and just happy to be together in that moment.
Ben Stiller: I think it’s a very organic, heartfelt, funny comedy that, to me, hearkens back to movies from when I was growing up. I think it’s a great holiday sweet treat that David Gordon Green made.
More About Nutcrackers (2024)
Nutcrackers follows strait-laced and work-obsessed Mike (Stiller) as he is suddenly thrust into being a caregiver for his rambunctious, orphaned nephews.
Nutcrackers
Cast
Nutcrackers is a family drama film by director David Gordon Green and starring Ben Stiller. Stiller plays Mike, who, after his siblings pass 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.
