May 17, 2017 The Skanner Page 7
Arts & Entertainment
FILM REVIEW: Schumer and Hawn
Share Vacation from Hell in ‘Snatched’
Interview
cont’d from pg 6
KW: What interested
you in “Underground”?
AV: Misha Green and
Joe Pokaski’s writing.
It’s smart, dynamic, and
bold!
KW: Congratulations
on your character’s ex-
panded role during the
second season.
AV: Thank you. Ms. Er-
nestine is such an amaz-
ing, complex woman that
I was thrilled to get the
opportunity to go deeper
into her story.
Amirah was nominated for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Ernestine in
“Underground,” WGN America’s critically acclaimed series.
and stewed chicken with
rice and beans.
KW: How would you
describe her in 25 words
or less?
AV: She’s like so many
women I know: strong,
resilient, wise and beau-
tifully flawed.
KW: Sherry Gillam
would like to know what
is the most important life
lesson you’ve learned so
far?
AV: Live honoring your
truth, not in response to
others.
KW: Has her plight
ever struck an emotional
chord in you?
AV: Most definitely!
These are our ancestors,
and what they had to en-
KW: What’s the cra-
ziest thing you’ve ever
done?
AV: Daring to pursue
my dreams. It’s not such
a crazy idea y’all!
“
The fact remains that Ms. Er-
nestine found the courage to
get up and face another day.
So, it is my duty to share her
courage and her humanity
dure is almost unimag-
inable. But the fact re-
mains that Ms. Ernestine
found the courage to get
up and face another day.
So, it is my duty to share
her courage and her hu-
manity.
KW: What message do
you want people to take
away from the series?
AV: Let’s all be soldiers!
Join me on the front
lines. I am arming myself
with a voice that speaks
for equality and justice, a
spirit of love, and a walk
with God.
KW:
AALBC.com
founder Troy Johnson
asks: What was the last
book you read?
AV: “God, Dr. Buzzard,
and the Bolito Man” by
Cornelia Bailey. It beau-
tifully reflects both the
Gullah Geechee Nation,
my African American
father’s history, and my
mother’s stories of Puer-
to Rico.
KW: What is your fa-
vorite dish to cook?
AV: My favorite meal is
pollo guisado with arroz
con habichuelas and a
side salad with avocado,
View movie trailers at
TheSkanner.com
KW: If you could have
one wish instantly grant-
ed, what would that be
for?
AV: Leadership that re-
flects the diverse citizens
they represent.
KW: The Uduak Oduok
question: Who is your fa-
vorite clothes designer?
AV: Hmmm... That’s
tough. I can say I love
baggy jeans and a hoodie
as much as I do an elegant
dress.
KW: The Anthony
Mackie question: Is there
anything that you prom-
ised yourself you’d do if
you became famous, that
you still haven’t done
yet?
AV: Give back! Love
doing that and will con-
tinue.
KW: Harriet Paku-
la-Teweles asks: With so
many classic films being
redone, is there a remake
you’d like to star in?
AV: I would love to be
in a remake of “Set it Off.”
KW: Judyth Piazza
asks: What key quality
do you believe all suc-
cessful people share?
AV: They pressed on
through the storm.
KW: Finally, what’s in
your wallet?
AV: A Metro card. Al-
ways ready to jump on
the train.
KW: Thanks again for
the time, Amirah, and
good luck with “Under-
ground.”
AV: Thank you, Kam.
To see a scene from Un-
derground,
featuring
Amirah singing “Move,
Daniel,” visit TheSkanner.
com.
Goldie Hawn, Amy Schumer and Tom Bateman in ‘Snatched’
by Kam Williams
For The Skanner News
E
mily Middleton (Amy Schumer)
is just having one of those days.
First, she’s fired from her sales
job in a boutique for irrespon-
sibly ignoring customers in order to
try on outfits for herself. Second, her
boyfriend (Randall Park) callously
dumps her on the eve of their planned
romantic getaway to Ecuador, stating,
“You don’t have any direction in life.”
Then, she cries on the shoulder of
her mother (Goldie Hawn) who only
proceeds to rub salt in her wounds
with, “Michael was the best you’ll
ever do.” Nevertheless, against her
better judgment, Emily invites her on
the trip because the pre-paid vacation
package is non-refundable.
Trouble is, Linda is also highly neu-
rotic — a worrier who rarely leaves
the house, let alone the country. Plus,
she’s a helicopter mom, which means
she’ll be hovering around Emily the
whole time, and thus probably pre-
venting her from meeting a new guy.
In the end, Linda grudgingly agrees
to step out of her comfort zone, and
hastily packs for what ought to be an
uneventful stay an exclusive resort in
paradise, judging from the brochure.
That is the stock setup of “Snatched,”
a screwball comedy far more enter-
taining than it might read on paper.
For while the script does unfold like a
generic “Vacation from Hell” yarn, it’s
actually way above average, since it’s
executed by a stellar cast topped by a
quartet of consummate comediennes.
The picture co-stars Amy Schumer
and Goldie Hawn as the aforemen-
tioned mother-daughter at the center
of the story. It also features a couple
of veterans in scene stealers Wanda
See SNATCHED on page 11