UNIT 13 - What kind of films do you like?

The New Boss

TFK talks to actress Lisa Kudrow about her role in The Boss Baby

                                                                             MARCH 31, 2017

By Stephanie Kraus

                             Tim, left, discovers his baby brother’s surprising secret in the new DreamWorks film, The Boss Baby.

It's not always easy when a new baby arrives. In real life, it usually means parents and siblings are dealing with dirty diapers, high-pitched crying, and late-night chaos. In DreamWorks’ new animated film, The Boss Baby, the characters deal with all that and more. Not only is the new baby fussy, he’s plotting a secret mission.

TFK talked to actress Lisa Kudrow about her role in the new movie, out March 31.

TIME FOR KIDS:

What is The Boss Baby about?

LISA KUDROW:

It’s about a little boy named Tim. He’s 7 years old when a baby wearing a suit and holding a briefcase shows up at his house—in his parents’ arms. The baby takes over the house. It feels like all of the love and attention his parent had for him [Tim] is being shifted to the baby. One day he hears some talking and goes into his room to realize it’s the baby talking and it sounds like Alec Baldwin!

TFK:

You voice the mother. Could you tell us about your character?

KUDROW:

She’s sweet and understanding. It’s funny when they [the parents] just panic and get hysterical. The mother and father are both very busy at work. They work at a place called the Puppy Co. and all they want to do is stay home and be with the baby. As the plot unfolds, there’s a plan afoot by Puppy Co. to replace babies. Puppy Co. has created the “forever puppy” and they want families to have a forever puppy instead of a baby.

TFK:

Tim doesn’t seem thrilled to have his baby brother in the house. Why is that?

KUDROW:

The baby brother is taking up all the attention from the parents. Tim used to have this good night ritual with hugs and a song and five stories read to him. And now there’s no time! He might not even get a good night from his parents. And as the plot unfolds, you see the boss baby has a secret plan.

TFK:

You’re a mother in real life as well. Is there anything in the movie that rang true to real life?

DREAMWORKS

     Actress Lisa Kudrow and actor Alec Baldwin      pose together at the New York premiere          of The Boss Baby.

KUDROW:

When a new baby comes into the house, everyone’s running around trying to take care of the baby and keep it from crying. They need to be fed a lot, and they need a lot of attention.

TFK:

The Boss Baby wears a suit, carries a briefcase and takes business calls. What is he hiding?

KUDROW:

He’s not hiding anything very well since he’s in a suit and carrying a briefcase! And the parents don’t seem to know that. He [the baby] is really an upper management guy from Puppy Co.

TFK:

Jimmy Kimmel voices the father and Alec Baldwin voices the baby. Did you get to record with any of these actors or did you record separately?

KUDROW:

One day I got to record with Jimmy Kimmel and that was great. The rest of the time you’re just recording so you have to use your imagination with a lot of effort to imagine the other people that you’re talking to.

TFK:

What’s one message to take away from this film?

KUDROW:

I don’t think kids need to know absolutely everything—that’s called childhood.