The Naked Brothers Band: Polar Bears
Encyclopedia
Polar Bears is a 2008 television movie
written and directed by Polly Draper
and starring her prodigious sons, Nat Wolff
and Alex Wolff
, who act as famed versions of themselves. It tells of the siblings' who, along with their bandmates, take a ride on their tour bus to go to New Orleans, Louisiana
. The plot chronicles Alex's obsession to save the polar bears by preserving the environment, as well as a conflict, in which, Rosalina (DiMeco) is suspicious when Nat becomes very close to his childhood friend "Little" Grace (Grace Cartwright). The movie also features band members, Thomas (Thomas Batuello
), David (David Levi
), Rosalina (Allie DiMeco
), Qaasim (Qaasim Middleton
), as well as, Cooper (Cooper Pillot
), Jesse (Jesse Draper
), and Nat and Alex's real dad (Michael Wolff
).
The motion picture is presented in the style of a mockumentary
—a parody shot in documentary format. It aired as a three-part TV special in conclusion of the second season of The Naked Brothers Band TV show
, which broadcasted on Nickelodeon
on June 6, 2010.
Brothers Nat and Alex, aged twelve and nine, are members of a rock band called The Naked Brothers Band. The film begins with the group—along with their ditzy nanny, Jesse—eating outside on a table in Pawnee Junction, Missouri
. The cellist, Thomas, shows the audience a magazine which features a "Nat Wolff Exclusive". It shows five reasons why Nat "isn't perfect" and the first one is: "he slurps his soup".
The group has been touring the country in their psychedelic tour bus and their next concert stop is in New Orleans, Louisiana
. The group stays over Onita's (Donna Lynn Leavy) house, who is an old friend of the Wolff family. They also hang out with Onita's daughters, "Big Ella" (Saorise Scott), and "Little Grace" (Grace Cartwright).
Although "Big Ella" is the younger sister and "Little Grace" is the eldest, they have been Nat and Alex's childhood friends. While they are traveling on the bus, Jesse conducts a "manners class" for everyone, apart from Alex because he is "too young to play with knives". This is arranged by Jesse, as Nat's table manners are not approved by the restaurant ballroom.
While Jesse was in the middle of her lesson, Alex walked into the room. Jesse urged Alex to watch a digital versatile disc that she bought for him. Alex replies: "And what movie is this my lovely sugar plum?" Jesse recalled that a salesman from Blockbuster recommended buying this old humorous film called "The Awful Truth
", starring Carry Grant.
After watching it, Alex comes back into the room explaining that she made a mistake; the film was actually called An Inconvenient Truth
that featured Al Gore
. Alex also recalls that "... Polar bears die in it, because the earth is too hot so their homes melt."
That night, Alex becomes overly concerned about the polar bears losing their homes, so Nat suggested to gather all the money they make from their upcoming concert and give the proceeds to the environment. The next morning, Alex shows their viewers a list of things that he will be doing to preserve the environment. He wrote it on his arm so he does not waste paper and it includes recycling and not taking baths.
Later during the day, they arrive in New Orleans in which their dad waits at the bus stop, along with Nat and Alex's dog Lucky. Their dad surprises them by bringing Little Grace too. They meet up with the other family at their house, and everyone is overjoyed that they are all together again.
The children go out into the town for the day, and Nat starts hanging out with Little Grace most of the day and Rosalina thinks that he is attracted to her, but he really is not. Meanwhile, Qaasim asks Rosalina for advice on how to flirt with Little Grace. Later on, the flooding from Hurricane Katrina
flew Onita's house away, and because of this, the family had to move into a trailer home.
Over dinner that night, Qaasim puts his napkin on Little Grace's lap, in order to be well-manared. Little Grace did not acknowledge this, and so Rosalina explains to Qaasim that Little Grace obviously dislikes guys who are polite and to be more of a "bad boy". Meanwhile, Nat starts asking Little Grace if Rosalina likes him more than just a friend.
Little Grace explains that it seems like Rosalina actually likes Qaasim in that way because Rosalina was telling Grace how she was fascinated by his table manners, but Rosalina actually said that to try to cause Little Grace to fall in love with Qaasim. Following Rosalina's advice, Qaasim sits down next to Little Grace and pinches her butt. This results with her being abruptly furious and she ensues his actions by taking her bowl of spaghetti and pouring it all over his head.
Thereafter, the entire group speaks at a press conference in which Alex is looking at a calendar on the wall. Alex says, "Look at the calendar. Our picture. It's bigger. We're bigger than Santa Claus
." News reporters twist his words around; they falsely claim that he said: "We're bigger than Santa Claus." The journalists get mad and they chase the band to Onita's trailer to hide from the reporters.
The misinterpretation causes the band's state dinner party to be cancelled. The next day, Alex and Big Ella shows Nat the documentary cameras to prove that Rosalina is actually attracted to Nat and not Qaasim. The footage shows Qaasim and Rosalina talking that night at dinner, in addition to even earlier when they were talking on the tour bus.
They were talking about how they both agree that Nat is attracted to Little Grace. Then Nat starts shouting "No! No! I'm in love with you Rosalina. How could she not know that I love her?" Alex replies, "She does now," which prompts Nat to look behind him. Nat finds the door open towards the kitchen and sees Rosalina smiling in the doorway. Then they start hugging and kissing each other, to show their affection and forgiveness.
The next morning, Big Ella wakes everyone up explaining that everything the reporters claimed of what Alex initially said about Santa Clause is all fixed. Because Alex doesn't believe her, she turns on the television in which the media explains that: "Alex was framed by nasty reporters who just wanted a story." Big Ella, who is obsessed with Santa Clause, is shown on television explaining to reporters that "Alex Wolff loves Santa Clause.
All he wanted to do was to tell you that he was giving all his money to save the polar bears. The polar bears are Santa's neighbors. Santa loves them and he loves Alex too, and so do I." Everyone applauses the actions that Big Ella took to save Alex's reputation and the group's state dinner. That following night, the band ends up raising money at the state dinner, which they donated to a charity that helps global warming.
, wrote and directed this film; she recalls, "Nat and Alex have become a fanatic about recycling and saving the environment—and mostly Alex, because after we watched [An Inconvenient Truth
] he completely flipped out about it. He refused to take baths: only foot and butt bath's. And we hope that this movie will get kids' to recycle and think about the polar bears and the environment."
Principal photography
took place in New Orleans, where Michael Wolff is a native of. A scene in the film, depicts Alex saying: "We're bigger than Santa Clause", which lampoons John Lennon
's comment that the Beatles
were, "more popular than Jesus
".
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
written and directed by Polly Draper
Polly Draper
Polly Carey Draper is an American actress, screenwriter, playwright, producer and director. She is renowned for her ensemble role in ABC's hit series Thirtysomething. In 1998, Draper starred in her screenwriting debut The Tic Code, featuring Gregory Hines which was inspired by her husband Michael...
and starring her prodigious sons, Nat Wolff
Nat Wolff
Nathaniel Marvin "Nat" Wolff is an American child actor, and singer-songwriter, composer, and keyboardist. He is the frontman of Nat & Alex Wolff...
and Alex Wolff
Alex Wolff
Alexander Draper "Alex" Wolff is an American child actor and musician, currently playing in Nat and Alex Wolff. He is best known for his role as himself on the Nickelodeon series The Naked Brothers Band, also starring his older brother, Nat Wolff; the series was created by the boys' mother, Polly...
, who act as famed versions of themselves. It tells of the siblings' who, along with their bandmates, take a ride on their tour bus to go to New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The plot chronicles Alex's obsession to save the polar bears by preserving the environment, as well as a conflict, in which, Rosalina (DiMeco) is suspicious when Nat becomes very close to his childhood friend "Little" Grace (Grace Cartwright). The movie also features band members, Thomas (Thomas Batuello
Thomas Batuello
Thomas Vann Batuello is an American musician and child actor best known for his appearances in the Nickelodeon series The Naked Brothers Band. The show is a mockumentary about two brothers and their friends who form a band. Batuello was cast alongside stars Nat and Alex Wolff, with whom he had...
), David (David Levi
David Levi (musician)
David Julian Levi is an American teen actor and keyboard player. He is best-known for the role as himself on The Naked Brothers Band...
), Rosalina (Allie DiMeco
Allie DiMeco
Alexandra Jean Theresa "Allie" DiMeco is an American actress and multi-instrumentalist.-Early life and career:...
), Qaasim (Qaasim Middleton
Qaasim Middleton
Qaasim Asani Malik Seawright-Middleton is an American child actor, singer and musician best known for his role on The Naked Brothers Band. Qaasim is also known for his role on the HBO documentary movie The Music in Me.-Personal life:...
), as well as, Cooper (Cooper Pillot
Cooper Pillot
Cooper Pillot is an American teen actor. He attends Friends Seminary.-Summary:Cooper was born in Manhattan, New York. He is best known for his starring role as himself, the band manager on The Naked Brothers Band...
), Jesse (Jesse Draper
Jesse Draper
Jessica Cook Draper is an American actress. She first became renowned as a co-star on the Nickelodeon series The Naked Brothers Band, which starred her cousins Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff and was created by her aunt Polly Draper...
), and Nat and Alex's real dad (Michael Wolff
Michael Wolff
Michael Blieden Wolff is an American jazz pianist, composer, producer, actor, and jazz educator. He was the bandleader and musical director of The Arsenio Hall Show...
).
The motion picture is presented in the style of a mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
—a parody shot in documentary format. It aired as a three-part TV special in conclusion of the second season of The Naked Brothers Band TV show
The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)
The Naked Brothers Band is an American television musical comedy created by Polly Draper. The show depicts the daily lives of Draper's sons, who lead a faux rock band from New York City. As a mockumentary, the storyline is a hyperbole of their real lives, and the fictional presence of a camera is...
, which broadcasted on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
on June 6, 2010.
Plot
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The cellist, Thomas, shows the audience a magazine which features a "Nat Wolff Exclusive". It shows five reasons why Nat "isn't perfect" and the first one is: "he slurps his soup".
The group has been touring the country in their psychedelic tour bus and their next concert stop is in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The group stays over Onita's (Donna Lynn Leavy) house, who is an old friend of the Wolff family. They also hang out with Onita's daughters, "Big Ella" (Saorise Scott), and "Little Grace" (Grace Cartwright).
Although "Big Ella" is the younger sister and "Little Grace" is the eldest, they have been Nat and Alex's childhood friends. While they are traveling on the bus, Jesse conducts a "manners class" for everyone, apart from Alex because he is "too young to play with knives". This is arranged by Jesse, as Nat's table manners are not approved by the restaurant ballroom.
While Jesse was in the middle of her lesson, Alex walked into the room. Jesse urged Alex to watch a digital versatile disc that she bought for him. Alex replies: "And what movie is this my lovely sugar plum?" Jesse recalled that a salesman from Blockbuster recommended buying this old humorous film called "The Awful Truth
The Awful Truth
The Awful Truth is a 1937 screwball comedy film starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. The plot concerns the machinations of a soon-to-be-divorced couple, played by Dunne and Grant, who go to great lengths to try to ruin each other's romantic escapades...
", starring Carry Grant.
After watching it, Alex comes back into the room explaining that she made a mistake; the film was actually called An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim about former United States Vice President Al Gore's campaign to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that, by his own estimate, he has given more than a thousand times.Premiering at the...
that featured Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
. Alex also recalls that "... Polar bears die in it, because the earth is too hot so their homes melt."
That night, Alex becomes overly concerned about the polar bears losing their homes, so Nat suggested to gather all the money they make from their upcoming concert and give the proceeds to the environment. The next morning, Alex shows their viewers a list of things that he will be doing to preserve the environment. He wrote it on his arm so he does not waste paper and it includes recycling and not taking baths.
Later during the day, they arrive in New Orleans in which their dad waits at the bus stop, along with Nat and Alex's dog Lucky. Their dad surprises them by bringing Little Grace too. They meet up with the other family at their house, and everyone is overjoyed that they are all together again.
The children go out into the town for the day, and Nat starts hanging out with Little Grace most of the day and Rosalina thinks that he is attracted to her, but he really is not. Meanwhile, Qaasim asks Rosalina for advice on how to flirt with Little Grace. Later on, the flooding from Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
flew Onita's house away, and because of this, the family had to move into a trailer home.
Over dinner that night, Qaasim puts his napkin on Little Grace's lap, in order to be well-manared. Little Grace did not acknowledge this, and so Rosalina explains to Qaasim that Little Grace obviously dislikes guys who are polite and to be more of a "bad boy". Meanwhile, Nat starts asking Little Grace if Rosalina likes him more than just a friend.
Little Grace explains that it seems like Rosalina actually likes Qaasim in that way because Rosalina was telling Grace how she was fascinated by his table manners, but Rosalina actually said that to try to cause Little Grace to fall in love with Qaasim. Following Rosalina's advice, Qaasim sits down next to Little Grace and pinches her butt. This results with her being abruptly furious and she ensues his actions by taking her bowl of spaghetti and pouring it all over his head.
Thereafter, the entire group speaks at a press conference in which Alex is looking at a calendar on the wall. Alex says, "Look at the calendar. Our picture. It's bigger. We're bigger than Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
." News reporters twist his words around; they falsely claim that he said: "We're bigger than Santa Claus." The journalists get mad and they chase the band to Onita's trailer to hide from the reporters.
The misinterpretation causes the band's state dinner party to be cancelled. The next day, Alex and Big Ella shows Nat the documentary cameras to prove that Rosalina is actually attracted to Nat and not Qaasim. The footage shows Qaasim and Rosalina talking that night at dinner, in addition to even earlier when they were talking on the tour bus.
They were talking about how they both agree that Nat is attracted to Little Grace. Then Nat starts shouting "No! No! I'm in love with you Rosalina. How could she not know that I love her?" Alex replies, "She does now," which prompts Nat to look behind him. Nat finds the door open towards the kitchen and sees Rosalina smiling in the doorway. Then they start hugging and kissing each other, to show their affection and forgiveness.
The next morning, Big Ella wakes everyone up explaining that everything the reporters claimed of what Alex initially said about Santa Clause is all fixed. Because Alex doesn't believe her, she turns on the television in which the media explains that: "Alex was framed by nasty reporters who just wanted a story." Big Ella, who is obsessed with Santa Clause, is shown on television explaining to reporters that "Alex Wolff loves Santa Clause.
All he wanted to do was to tell you that he was giving all his money to save the polar bears. The polar bears are Santa's neighbors. Santa loves them and he loves Alex too, and so do I." Everyone applauses the actions that Big Ella took to save Alex's reputation and the group's state dinner. That following night, the band ends up raising money at the state dinner, which they donated to a charity that helps global warming.
Production
The siblings mother', who is the series' creator and executive producer Polly DraperPolly Draper
Polly Carey Draper is an American actress, screenwriter, playwright, producer and director. She is renowned for her ensemble role in ABC's hit series Thirtysomething. In 1998, Draper starred in her screenwriting debut The Tic Code, featuring Gregory Hines which was inspired by her husband Michael...
, wrote and directed this film; she recalls, "Nat and Alex have become a fanatic about recycling and saving the environment—and mostly Alex, because after we watched [An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim about former United States Vice President Al Gore's campaign to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that, by his own estimate, he has given more than a thousand times.Premiering at the...
] he completely flipped out about it. He refused to take baths: only foot and butt bath's. And we hope that this movie will get kids' to recycle and think about the polar bears and the environment."
Principal photography
Principal photography
thumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is filmed, with actors on set and cameras rolling, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
took place in New Orleans, where Michael Wolff is a native of. A scene in the film, depicts Alex saying: "We're bigger than Santa Clause", which lampoons John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's comment that the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
were, "more popular than Jesus
More popular than Jesus
Angry reactions flared up in August 1966, after John Lennon's remark that The Beatles had become "more popular than Jesus" was quoted by the American teen magazine, Datebook. Lennon originally made the remark when an English newspaper reporter, Maureen Cleave, interviewed him at home for a...
".
Guest stars
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Matt Pinfield Matt Pinfield Matt Pinfield is a music personality and TV host, best known for being a video deejay on MTV and VH1. He currently lives in Harrison, New Jersey having previously resided in East Brunswick Township... |
"self" |
| George Lopez George Lopez George Lopez is an American comedian, actor, and talk show host. He is mostly known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including the Mexican American culture... |
"self" |
| Phil Collins Phil Collins Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.... |
"self" |
Songs
| Title | Episode # | Written and Sung by | Keyboards by | Drums by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I've Got A Question" | 11/13 | Nat Wolff | Nat Wolff | Alex Wolff |
| "Flying Away" | 11 | Nat Wolff | Nat Wolff | Alex Wolff |
| "I'll Do Anything" | 12 | Nat Wolff | Nat Wolff* | |
| "Why" | 13 | Alex Wolff | Alex Wolff | Nat Wolff |
| "Eventually" | 13 | Nat Wolff | Nat Wolff | Alex Wolff |