Ben Stiller is back in a comedic leading role, just in time for the holidays, with Nutcrackers. Take a look at the trailer above.
Stiller stars as Mike, a strait-laced workaholic who’s roped into becoming a temporary guardian for his four young nephews after their parents’ unexpected death. A quick trip to rural Ohio morphs into a long stay, and Mike soon finds himself in the thick of farm life and navigating the chaos of four lively boys.
The film is directed by David Gordon Green, going for lighter movie fare following his recent horror features (the recent Halloween trilogy and the ill-received The Exorcist: Believer). The screenplay was penned by Leland Douglas.
This marks Stiller’s first lead role in seven years, a return to acting after going behind the scenes in television, directing acclaimed series Escape at Dannemora and Severance. Reflecting on the time away from acting, Stiller told Variety in a September interview, “I never thought I’d take this much time away from acting. It wasn’t intentional; it was just how things evolved.” During the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes, production on Severance was paused, leaving Stiller with a rare opportunity to jump back into acting. “This movie happened in a zone where it was literally the only time I could have made it. A few months later, and I couldn’t have done it.”
Interestingly, the young cast playing Stiller’s nephews are actual brothers—Homer, Ulysses, Arlo, and Atlas Janson—who have never acted before. Plus, the film was shot on their actual family farm, adding a touch of rural authenticity.
Stiller mentioned his balancing act between playing a “grumpy guardian” on screen and connecting with young cast members off-camera. “I wanted to have a good relationship with them, because sometimes I have to be a jerk in the movie,” he told Variety. “Especially with a kid who hasn’t acted before, you watch them react to something you say and look hurt. First you think, ‘That’s great for the movie!’ And then you’re like, ‘Gee, I hope that’s not damaging.’”
Nutcrackers, with a supporting cast that includes Linda Cardellini, Edi Patterson, Tim Heidecker, and Toby Huss, will be streaming on Hulu from 29 November.
