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It’s her! Eve! And she wants to be your special friend, in the new trailer for Freeform’s “Life-Size 2.”

The 1-minute clip released Wednesday shows the return of Tyra Banks as everyone’s favorite real-life doll, Eve, who is no longer tormenting Casey Stuart with her relentless cheerfulness. No, Eve’s new reluctant bestest pal is Grace Manning (played by Francia Raisa), who straight up thinks this woman believes she’s a doll is nuts.

And then Eve drinks liquid butter and tries to pay a $12,485 shopping spree bill with a toy credit card, and we can’t really fight against the crazy argument.

Also Read: Freeform Cancels Lonely Island-Produced Comedy 'Alone Together' After 2 Seasons

Here’s the official description for the sequel, which will air on Freeform in December as part of the network’s “25 Days of Christmas” promotion:

In “Life-Size 2,” Grace Manning (Francia Raisa...

Freeform has released is ready to deck the halls with original films and specials for their annual 25 Days of Christmas.

Tyra Banks is returning as a living doll for Life-Size 2, while comedies No Sleep ‘Til Christmas and The Truth About Christmas will provide festive entertainment for the season.

Shadowhunters star Isaiah Mustafa will bring a little bit of holiday spice as Freeform Santa with on-air spots and his very own social media handle (@FreeformSanta) from now until December 25.

Read full details and watch trailers of the forthcoming slate of films and specials for 25 Days of Christmas:

In Life-Size 2, Tyra Banks stars alongside Francia Raisa who plays Grace Manning, a 20-something CEO of Marathon Toys, a huge toy company started by her mother that is most famous for manufacturing the iconic Eve doll. Grace is also in the middle of her quarter-life crisis, realizing she is in over her head as CEO.

Grown-ish‘s Francia Raisa is set to co-star opposite Tyra Banks in Life Size 2, Freeform’s holiday movie sequel.

Raisa will play Grace Manning, the confident and funny CEO of Marathon Toys, a huge toy company started by her mother that is most famous for manufacturing the iconic Eve doll. Grace is also a hot mess in the middle of her quarter-life crisis and realizing that she is in over her head as CEO. To make matters worse, her wild-child ways are causing the company’s stock to plummet. Joining Raisa and Banks are Gavin Stenhouse as Grace’s potential love interest Calum; Shanica Knowles as Tahlia and Hank Chen as Brendan, who are Grace’s best friends; along with Alison Fernandez as Lex, Grace’s young next-door neighbor.

Banks starred in the original film, which premiered 18 years ago as part of ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney, as Eve,...

“Join the Smurfs on their biggest adventure yet…at the Omaha Color Run!

You can win:

a pair of tickets to The Color Run at the CenturyLink Event Center on July 15th a Blu-ray copy of Smurfs: The Lost Village! The Smurfs will be greeting participants with Little Bites Smurfberry Muffins as they cross the finish line.

Stop by and say hi and enter to win Smurf prizes!

Smurfs: The Lost Village is now available on Vudu, and on Blu-ray and DVD July 11th!”

Enter for a chance to win:

Your Name And Email In Our Comments Section Below.

1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. No P.O. Boxes. No Duplicate Addresses.

2. One Winner Will Be Chosen From All Qualifying Entries.

No purchase necessary.

Make it a family movie night with the beloved blue creatures in the fully animated, all-new take on...

The critics love Smurfs: The Lost Village :

“The entire family will love this movie.” ~ Shawn Edwards, Fox-tv

“Hilarious and adorable for the whole family to enjoy!” ~ Deepa Prashad, The Family Channel

Make it a family movie night with the beloved blue creatures in the fully animated, all-new take on The Smurfs when Sony Pictures Animation’s Smurfs: The Lost Village debuts on digital June 20 and on 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ + Digital, Blu-ray + Digital and DVD July 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Boasting an “A” CinemaScore with general audiences and a rare “A+” with those under the age of 18, Smurfs: The Lost Village follows Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs...

Chicago – There are only a few times that I have left a film mentally shouting, “Won’t someone think of the children?” Not through some self-righteous religious fit, of course, but through a general concern for the animated films created for our young. “Smurfs: The Lost Village” is either made for a specific crowd in mind or made for a crowd without a mind.

Rating: 1.5/5.0

Created the perfect children’s film isn’t an easy task. You need something that will be engaging, exciting, and has something to offer the countless adults that will be forced to sit through with their children. “Smurfs: The Lost Village” offers you none of that and instead tries to peddle nostalgia to a new generation that has no context for it. Director Kelly Asbury, who directed the best Shrek film (“Shrek 2”), has proven he knows what it takes to create a compelling animated film.

I figured it was the live-action that was the problem.

The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2 were, for the most part, rambunctious, asinine, lazily written child distractors, the cinematic equivalent of a big, bouncing blue ball. It bounces up and down, up and down, up and down, and eventually, something gets smashed or broken, but the kid is (seemingly) transfixed. But amongst the drivel, there were always shining little moments of promise and potential. They came near the top of the films, as we watched our CG Smurfs interact in their animated environment known as Smurf Village, away from their dreaded, pointless impending visit to the Big Apple. These segments were lively, engaging, inspired and, dare I say it, kinda fun. They were everything the resulting 80 minutes (and change) weren’t, a glimpse into what could’ve been if Sony Animation decided to cut their losses and stick with the animation.

For centuries, humankind has been vexed by one question above all others: Do Smurfs have sex? Some, such as noted scholar Donald Darko, say that Peyo’s iconic blue gnomes are asexual beings who lack reproductive organs altogether. Others contend that Smurfette — the only Smurf who identifies as female — is solely responsible for breeding future generations, although that argument obviously fails to account for the Smurfs that predated her. Canonically, it’s understood that a fleet of storks deliver baby Smurfs to Smurf Village whenever there’s a blue moon; that sounds a bit suspect, so far as these theories go, but it has the added benefit of being easily explained to young children.

I regret to inform you, dear reader, that “Smurfs: The Lost Village” does not put to bed the matter of how these tiny creatures procreate. On the contrary, this creatively vacant animated reboot — a perilous half-step...

MaryAnn’s quick take… An adventure crammed with junky slapstick and garish animation that seems to believe it is feminist, but only doubles down on Smurfily regressive notions of gender. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing

I’m “biast” (con): hate the Smurfs

what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

The problem with the Smurfs — apart from the fiery rage they inspire to stomp them into blue goo, although perhaps that is not a problem per se — is Smurfette. (Typical: it’s always the woman who causes trouble.) Created by the evil wizard Gargamel out of clay — as opposed to whatever it is the Smurfs were created out of, and by whom — and sent into the Smurf village as a spy and to sow discord, she’s sort of the original sin of Smurfkind: it was only then, with a female suddenly among them, that the Smurfs realized they were male,...

The Smurfs return to the big screen, but they've ditched the humans. Here's our review of Smurfs: The Lost Village...

It’s often forgotten that the first Smurfs movie, a live action/animation hybrid, grossed over $500m at the worldwide box office. The sequel didn’t hit anywhere near those heights though, but Sony knew that somewhere it had some box office gold on its hands. For this, then, its third venture into Smurfland, it’s opted for a fully computer animated feature, dispensing of pesky human beings. The decision, on the whole, is a wise one.

See related British cinema behaviour survey: the results

Smurfs: The Lost Village has thus landed into the capable hands of director Kelly Asbury, last responsible for the Statham-laden animation Gnomeo & Juliet. He directs a screenplay from Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, and between them, they’ve fashioned a decent enough family picture.

In the early stages,...

Check out all the photos from Smurfs: The Lost Village stopover in St. Louis.

Clumsy and Papa Smurf visited some special kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

After that, they attended the St. Louis Science Science Center’s First Friday and crashed Harry Potter’s party!

On Saturday, Clumsy and Papa stopped by the HealthWorks! Kids Museum where they were able to get a fun lesson in personal health. Papa even raided the kitchen and whipped up some of his famous SmurfBerry yogurt.

There’s still time to catch the Smurfs at The Magic House on Sunday, March 5th from 11:30 to 2Pm before they leave St. Louis and head out on their quest for The Lost Village!

Before you see them on the big screen in Smurfs: The Lost Village on April 7 – meet them in a city near you!

See the full list of cities Here.

There will...

Hacker emoji Jailbreak (Ilana Glazer), exuberant Gene (T.J. Miller) and his handy best friend Hi-5 (James Corden) embark on the app-venture of a lifetime in Sony Pictures Animation’s Emojimovie: Express Yourself, in theaters summer 2017.

Making good on the commitment to increase overall output while continuing to offer its distinctive mix of family films, Sony Pictures Animation today released the project details on its upcoming roster of titles through 2018, along with additional highly anticipated future feature film projects, including one from Pulitzer Prize-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Kristine Belson, President of Sony Pictures Animation, says, “We are proud of the artist-driven titles we have coming to the marketplace. The abundance, variety and quality of the features are a testament to the wealth of creative talents who call Sony Pictures Animation their home.”

Smurfs: The Lost Village (April 7, 2017 release)

Newly announced voice cast includes: Michelle Rodriguez (SmurfStorm), Ellie Kemper (SmurfBlossom), Ariel Winter (SmurfLily...

The first two Smurfs movies blended live-action actors with CGI versions of the creatures, and while both instalments ended up succeeding at the box office, they didn’t exactly sit well with critics. Smurfs: The Lost Village, meanwhile, is saying goodbye to humans and a real life setting in order to focus on the beloved characters in their own world, though it obviously remains to be seen whether or not that will make any sort of difference when it comes to the critical response it receives.

Based on what we see in the teaser above (and the international version below), Smurfs: The Lost Village definitely looks like a lot of fun. It will no doubt be a film that’s mostly for younger viewers, but it could be that there’s just enough charm in here to ensure that parents and adults in general also find something to enjoy.

For...

“You think you know their world?,” asks the new trailer for Smurfs: The Lost Village. “Think again.” The new clip for the Kelly Asbury-directed, fully animated film from Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation, seems designed to erase memories of the franchise’s latter-day live-action/animated hybrids entries. The reboot, written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, has been touted as a return in tone to the blue gang’s original comic book adventures. In the clip above…...

Sony Pictures Animation has always been the red-headed stepchild of studio animation arms. They’ve had a few big hits, a few mid-sized hits, and they’ve done a very good job of squeezing every possible penny out of the direct-to-video market with sequels to some of their titles. In the press release they sent out today, Sony made it clear that they’re doubling down on animation. Kristine Belson is the president of Sony Animation, answering directly to Tom Rothman, and she talked about letting artists drive the films they’re planning to make. It’s a pretty safe list overall, with an emphasis on pre-existing properties, and I have a hard time getting my head around how anyone is even remotely artistically moved by the idea of an Emoji movie. Some of the titles had already been announced, but there are new details on those, and some of the announcements were brand-new.

Sony Pictures Animation on Monday afternoon unveiled a blockbuster film and television slate through 2018 that made no secret of the properties the studio values most highly.

The multi-platform roster includes features of Spider-Man, Emojimovie and new instalments in the Hotel Transylvania and Smurfs franchises, as well as a TV outing for Ghostbusters.

Emojimovie: Express Yourself will open in August 2017 and explores the world of the characters beloved by cell phone users. Anthony Leondis directs from a screenplay he wrote with Eric Siegel. Michelle Raimo Kouyate produces.

Smurfs: The Lost Village is earmarked for April 7, 2017. Kelly Asbury directs from a screenplay by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon based on the characters and works of Peyo. Jordan Kerner produces and the voice cast includes Demi Lovato, Jack McBrayer, Joe Manganiello, Danny Pudi, Rainn Wilson and Mandy Patinkin.

Christmas story The Star (working title) is being made in association with The Jim Henson Company and set for December 8, 2017. Timothy Reckart directs...

Who says Sean Combs doesn’t have a sense of humor? The rapper has given his blessing to a sitcom that will make light of his life as a producer, artist and entrepreneur, through the eyes of his former assistant. The Hustle, a new show now in development with ABC, will focus on the career of Sarah Snedeker, who has since become an executive at Combs’ Revolt Films. The comedy series will show how a small-town girl adapts to big-city life while navigating her new boss’ “foreign world of extravagance,...

Who says Sean Combs doesn't have a sense of humor? The rapper has given his blessing to a sitcom that will make light of his life as a producer, artist and entrepreneur, through the eyes of his former assistant. The Hustle, a new show now in development with ABC, will focus on the career of Sarah Snedeker, who has since become an executive at Combs' Revolt Films. The comedy series will show how a small-town girl adapts to big-city life while navigating her new boss' "foreign world of extravagance, debauchery and adventure,...

Judd Apatow's been hard at work for a couple of years on Business Trip, a comedy showcase for Leslie Mann set at a corporate retreat. Universal bought the script in 2009 with Apatow attached to produce and Mann to star. But development has dragged on for a couple of years, so recently Apatow has brought in one of the industry's heavy comedy hitters for a re-write. The Wrap reports that Pam Brady has stepped aboard Business Trip to rewrite the comedy. Originally penned by Stacey Harman (The Goldbergs), the plot follows a group of women who embark upon a business trip where... something wacky happens. On company time. It's vague. Does one of them get bitten by a radioactive spider? Does another one get abducted into space, only to join a ragtag group of intergalactic bounty hunters? Does one of them meet a hunky dance instructor in the Catskills in...

Producers Judd Apatow and Benderspink have hired Emmy-winning “South Park” writer Pam Brady to work on the screenplay for their Universal comedy “Business Trip,” TheWrap has learned. Described as “The Hangover” with female leads, the story follows a group of women who go on a corporate trip but wind up doing anything but business while on company time. Stacey Harman wrote the first draft of “Business Trip,” which Universal purchased as a pitch back in 2009 before Apatow and wife Leslie Mann boarded the project in June 2010. Also read: Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow Slam Film Critic Over Column on Elliot Rodger.

New Delhi -- Reliance Big Entertainment has inked a partnership with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment to set up a writers' lab that will employ 10 screenwriters per year to develop both film and TV projects.

The partnership -- called Imagine Reliance Writers Lab -- extends last November's first-look deal between Imagine and Reliance, which also has similar silo funding deals with banners toplined by A-listers like George Clooney, Tom Hanks and Brad Pitt.

Reliance will fund an undisclosed amount for the program, which will be run by Imagine co-chairperson Karen Kehela Sherwood. Sherwood will oversee both the film development department at Imagine and also assign projects for the writers group. Reliance will have the rights to co-finance any project Imagine sets up at Universal Pictures or at other studios. Imagine has an existing first-look deal with Universal Pictures, which will have first rights on completed screenplays from the writers lab.

"Slumdog Millionaire" starlet Freida Pinto is set to appear with "Howl" star James Franco in 20th Century Fox's "Rise of the Apes," reports Entertainment Weekly.

In the prequel, she'll play a primatologist opposite Franco's scientist -- who will reportedly morph into an ape while researching Alzheimer's disease.

Pinto recently called it quits with her former publicist/boyfriend of five years, Rohan Antao, and is rumored to be dating "Slumdog" co-star Dev Patel.

In other movie news,...

Judd Apatow might be best known for his guy-centric filmmaking, but as "Freaks and Geeks" fans can attest, this is still a guy who can tap into his feminine side when needed. It looks like that skill is going to come in handy with his next project, "Business Trip," which Apatow will be producing for Universal and that will star his wife, Leslie Mann. Mann has also had roles in other Apatow films including, "The 40-Year Old Virgin," "Knocked Up" and "Funny People."

"Business Trip" can basically be summed up as "Sex and the City" Meets "The Hangover." Or "The Hangover" with chicks (which I think is basically "Sex and the City," but I digress). It's about a group of corporate women who go on a business trip but end up partying hard, all on company time.

Let's just say if writer Stacey Harman needs any personal anecdotes about chicks...

Judd Apatow, the guy behind recent comedies "Funny People" and "Knocked Up," is set to produce Universal's upcoming comedy "Business Trip." Deadline reports Apatow's wife Leslie Mann will star.

The story follows a bunch of women who go on a business trip but end up doing no business at all. Details are unknown, but my guess is they'll get into big, silly trouble while having a bunch of fun.

Stacey Harman wrote the script, and it looks like "Business Trip" will shoot early next year. No word yet on who will direct the thing. Mann, by the way, had a pretty big role in "Funny People" as well.

One of the loudest and most consistent criticisms lobbed at Judd Apatow is that he doesn't understand the ladies, and can't build a comedy around anything but immature men. But Apatow seems to be on a quiet mission to change his game plan. According to Deadline Hollywood Daily, Apatow has signed on to produce Business Trip, a female-oriented comedy which will star his wife, Leslie Mann.

Business Trip was optioned by Benderspink and Universal last year, according to Variety. Penned by Stacey Harman, it's said to be a female version of The Hangover, and centers on"a group of women who go on a corporate trip but wind up doing anything but business while on company time." As Benderspink was also behind The Hangover, clearly they see a lot of raunchy potential in it. Now Apatow has come around to their way of thinking.

This isn't the first girl-oriented project Apatow has landed on,...

By Jeff Sneider 

Judd Apatow has signed on to produce "Business Trip," a Universal Pictures comedy that will star his wife, actress Leslie Mann, reports Deadline.

Stacey Harman wrote the "Business Trip" script, which is described as "The Hangover" for women. The story follows a group of ladies who go on a corporate trip but wind up doing anything but business while on company time.

Some of Deadline's commenters, as well a...

Ah yes, Hollywood, the land of nepotism. Deadline is reporting that production company BenderSpink has looped in comedy mastermind Judd Apatow to produce their newest comedy Business Trip. Announced last year (via Variety), is setup at Universal and being pitched as The Hangover but with women. The script, written by Stacey Harman, is about a group of women go on a corporate trip but wind up doing anything but business while on company time. That sounds more like a pitch for a porn movie. Deadline also says that, of course, Apatow's wife Leslie Mann is already set to star, because there's no Apatow movie that she's not in. Deadline doesn't say if they have a director attached, but apparently Apatow wants a January 2011 release date for Business Trip. I would honestly be impressed if they could shoot and finish this entire movie in 7 months time, but we'll see if ...

Deadline is reporting that Judd Apatow and his wife Leslie Mann have planned a new project after teaming up with all of his three features. No word yet on if he will direct, but Universal is prepping for an (extremely fast) release of January 2011.

The film is called Business Trip, based on a pitch by Stacey Harman It is about “a group of women who go on a corporate trip but wind up doing anything but business while on company time.” [The Playlist]

Leslie Mann will star, but no other cast details are known at this time. I recently re-watched 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up and they remain two of my favorite comedies, but I still hold Superbad in higher regard in terms of Apatow offerings. The premise doesn’t sound too out of the ordinary but I’ll always give Apatow a chance.

What do you think about the project? Would...

Deadline New York is reporting that Judd Apatow will produce the new Universal comedy Business Trip . Judd's wife Leslie Mann will star in the film that they want to start shooting as soon as January 2011. The comedy, written by Stacey Harman, is about a group of women who go on a corporate trip but wind up doing anything but business while on company time. Benderspink director of development Langley Perer and manager Jill McElroy conceived the idea with Harman after going on business trips.

Here is your dose of film news for June 22, 2009:

• Oscar winner Charles Gibson, who worked as visual effects artist on films such as "Terminator Salvation" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," will make his directorial debut with "The Goblin," a comedy about a family who encounters a goblin in their new home. Geoff Rodkey wrote the script. (Variety)

• Universal will develop a comedy based on a pitch by Stacey Harman. The plot will center on a group of women who do anything but work on a corporate trip. Harman also wrote "Shared Fare," which DreamWorks is developing with Brian Robbins. (Variety)

• Focus Features is gearing up to develop "The Dubber," a comedy French actor Alain Chabat (pictured) is attached to star in. Mark and Jay Duplass wrote the most recent script (earlier writers include David Gilcreast, Jay Chandrasekhar, Richard Raddon and Marina Zenovich), about...

Variety reports that Universal Pictures has picked up the comedy pitch Business Trip from writer Stacey Harman. Benderspink ( The Hangover ) will produce the comedy about a group of women who go on a corporate trip but wind up doing anything but business while on company time. Benderspink director of development Langley Perer and manager Jill McElroy conceived the idea with Harman after going on recent business trips.

Universal has snapped up the rights to Business Trip, a comedy about four women who go on a business trip, but manage to do pretty much anything but work.Written by Stacey Harman, the film will also be produced by Benderspink, the company behind this summer’s runaway comedy hit, The Hangover. And it’s pretty safe to imagine that Business Trip may already be viewed as a woman-friendly, Sex And The City-style version of that movie.The movie was conceived by Harman, along with Benderspink’s Langley Perer and Jill McElroy, when they went on a recent series of business trips together. We’re guessing not much actual work got done, but since a movie came out of it, neither they or Benderspink will particularly care.Chris Bender and Jc Spink will produce, while Perer and McElroy will also be involved in a producing capacity. And that’s...