The Onion Movie (2008)

Directors:

Tom Kuntz
Mike Maguire

Writers (WGA):

Todd Hanson (written by) &
Robert D. Siegel (written by)

Release Date:

7 January 2008 (Brazil)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

America's finest news source.

Plot:

Satirical interpretations of world events and curious human behavior.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Commercial | Penguin | Fake Ad | Nudity

Cast

Daniel Chacón	...	Young American / Cock Puncher
Ken Takemoto	...	Sensei
Steven Seagal	...	Cock Puncher
Don McManus	...	Dennis McCormick
Kate Fuglei	...	Dolores McCormick
Abigail Mavity	...	Roseanne McCormick
Reid Weaver	...	Dennis McCormick, Jr.
Brian Powell	...	Typical Neighbor Husband
Adele Robbins	...	Typical Neighbor Wife
Jason L. Miller	...	Sooty Firefighter
Brendon Baerg	...	Sooty Child
Len Cariou	...	Norm Archer
Larissa Laskin	...	Dana Dobbs
Scott Klace	...	Kip Kendall
Barbara Pilavin	...	Alzheimers Old Lady
Sandy Kenyon	...	Alzheimers Guys in Crowd
Sam Menning	...	Alzheimers Guys in Crowd
Orlando Seale	...	Producer
Erik Stolhanske	...	Producer
Sarah McElligott	...	Melissa Cherry
Michael Bolton	...	Himself
Karl Montgomery	...	African Child (as Karl Montgomery Jr.)
Kwame Boateng	...	Dibo
Steven Kozlowski	...	White Trash Dude
Randy Oglesby	...	Surgeon General
Archie Howard	...	Fat Man
Howard Shur	...	Smoker
Todd Hanson	...	Smoker Driver
Arthur Kendall	...	Bud Schwartz
Ira Gewant	...	Brunno Tucci
Christopher Weeks	...	Rolly Ingersoll
Edward Ansara	...	Skink Bradley
Murray Gershenz	...	Raggles Wimpole
Paul 'Mousie' Garner	...	Uncle Smackers (as Mousie Garner)
Helen Geller	...	Mavis De Haven
Richard Fancy	...	Kenneth Garber
Murphy Dunne	...	Raymond Marcus
Alex Solowitz	...	The Masses
Savannah Haske	...	Rapist Lisa
Griffin M. Creech	...	Rapist Policeman
Daniel Dae Kim	...	Ivy Leaguer
Stefan Sacks	...	Rapist Uncle
Rebecca Lowman	...	Rape Victim Julie
Amy Davies	...	Rape Game Woman
John Gibson Miller	...	Steel Beam Construction Guy
Jim Gleason	...	Steel Beam Architect
Ben Braat	...	Dutch Dad
Sal Lopez	...	Peruvian
Jay Montalvo	...	Peruvian
Bashar Rahal	...	Arab Terrorist
Russell Steinberg	...	Young Terrorist
Ahmed Ahmed	...	Ahmed
Amir Talai	...	Ahman
Ryan Bosch	...	White Black Guy Bill
Leslie Duke	...	White Black Guy Jenny
Brendan Fletcher	...	White Black Guy Tim
Michael Brainard	...	White Black Guy Policeman
Dane Farwell	...	White Black Guy Policeman
Mary Boucher	...	White Black Guy Judge
Chris Karwowski	...	White Black Guy Jury Foreman
Michael Harte	...	Pentagon General
Charles Howerton	...	Pentagon General
James Kayten	...	Pentagon Officer
Sean Conroy	...	Landmine Salesman
Christopher Boyer	...	Landmine Boss
S.E. Perry	...	Recruitment Officer
Michael Harney	...	Line-Up Detective (as Michael J. Harney)
Alonzo Bodden	...	Prisoner
Gill Gayle	...	Prisoner
Robert Shampain	...	Prisoner Dad
Jordan Lindsay Hamm	...	Girl Greeting Prisoner
Tom Wright	...	Kwame Roberts
Gedde Watanabe	...	James Nakatami
Troy L. Collins	...	Dashante Jackson
Daniel Colembie	...	McSorley's Bartender
Marc Antonio Pritchett	...	Upstanding Black Man
Jerry Giles	...	Dave Kostman
John Viener	...	Peen Out Guy
Mike Loew	...	Library Penis Man
David Chisum	...	Penis Pal Glen
Martin Morales	...	Penis Ethnic Man
Micah Sauers	...	Skooter Boy
Michael R. Dowell	...	Penis Businessman
Ken Narasaki	...	Businessman
Clint Culp	...	Bates Computer Customer
Paul Scheer	...	Bates Computer Salesman Dirk
Maria Schneider	...	Bates Computer Customer's Wife
Dustin Seavey	...	Bates Temp Dude
Bill Dearth	...	Bates Businessman
Zia Harris	...	Bates Delivery Man (as Z.C. Harris)
James M. Connor	...	Bates Manager (as James Michael Connor)
Michael Delaney	...	Gil Bates
Nick Chinlund	...	Bryce Brand
Jim Rash	...	Bryce's Manager
Angel Cassidy	...	Porn Star
Mia Crowe	...	Porn Star
Gauge	...	Porn Star
Kirk Ward	...	Brendan Laroux
Eric Siegel	...	Studio Executive
Jen Cohn	...	Cooking Show Host
Meredith Baxter	...	Cooking Show Chef
Charley Beil	...	Wizards Gamer (as Charles Beil)
Dan Benson	...	Wizard Gamer
Adam Crosby	...	Wizard Gamer
Jed Rees	...	Wizard Proteus
Greg Pitts	...	Wizards Dragonmaster
Greg Cipes	...	Hippie Diplomant
William Duffy	...	Man in Suit
Cory McAbee	...	Man in Suit
Yevgeni Lazarev	...	Slovesevic (as Eugene Lazarev)
Adam Gregor	...	Birajko
Terrence Flack	...	Bank Gunman
Mo	...	Second Bank Gunman (as Mõ)
Sarah DeVincentis	...	Bank Customer
Michelle Buffone	...	Bank Liz Anne (as Michele Buffone)
Jim Ortlieb	...	Bank Mr. Poniewicz
Cory Nartatez	...	Gay Guy
Savastian Padilla	...	Gay Guy (as Savastion Padilla)
Bruce Stevenson	...	Gay Guy
Chris Villa	...	Gay Guy (as Christopher Villa)
Kenneth C. Rosier	...	Presidential Advisor
Rodney Dangerfield	...	Himself
Ivan Klipstein	...	Subscription Card Man
Hanna Bluth	...	Little Girl
Jennifer Saurenman	...	Mother
Tanya Ballinger	...	Cockpuncher Entourage
Kamela Forbes	...	Cockpuncher Entourage
Neva Massey	...	Cockpuncher Entourage
Eleanor Mercado	...	Cockpuncher Entourage
Karen Miller	...	Cockpuncher Entourage
Rachelle Wood	...	Cockpuncher Entourage
André Costa	...	Cameraman
Destiny Lightsy	...	God Bless America Dancer
Michon Suyama	...	God Bless America Dancer
Vai Au-Harehoe	...	Melissa Cherry Video Dancer (as Vaitiare Au-Harehoe)
Kato Bonner	...	Melissa Cherry Video Dancer
Allison Kyler	...	Melissa Cherry Video Dancer
Brandy Lamkin	...	Melissa Cherry Video Dancer
Clifford McGee	...	Melissa Cherry Video Dancer (as Clifford McGhee)
Tomasina Parrott	...	Melissa Cherry Video Dancer
Adrian Armas	...	Lollipop Love Dancer
Kevin Federline	...	Lollipop Love Dancer
Dante Harper	...	Lollipop Love Dancer (as Danté Harper)
Robert Hoffman	...	Lollipop Love Dancer (as Robert James Hoffman III)
Lucas Raynaud	...	Lollipop Love Dancer
Dave Scott	...	Lollipop Love Dancer
Harry Shum Jr.	...	Lollipop Love Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kavi Raz	...	Arab Lover
Ahmed B. Badran	...	Peruvian (uncredited)
Kathie Barnes	...	Concerned Mother (uncredited)
Bo Barrett	...	Wigger Jim (uncredited)
Jackson Bolt	...	Texas Chainsaw Killer (uncredited)
Chris Cashman	...	UPS Delivery Man (uncredited)
Martez Covington	...	(uncredited)
Said Faraj	...	Suicide bomber (uncredited)
Bill Frenzer	...	Nicholas Van Essen (uncredited)
Justin Rodgers Hall	...	Terrorist (uncredited)
Glen Hambly	...	Attorney (uncredited)
Mohammed Hassan	...	Terrorist (uncredited)
Hiro Koda	...	(uncredited)
Eloise Lynch	...	Britney Spears fan (uncredited)
Marshall Manesh	...	Announcer (uncredited)
Joel McHale	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
Chrissy Metz	...	Heavy girl (uncredited)
Christopher Nissley	...	Terrorist Training Video Announcer (uncredited)
Ryan O'Quinn	...	Global Tetrahedron Penguin (voice) (uncredited)
Blaine Pate	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
Paula Price	...	Host a Rape Tape Gal (uncredited)
Tony Sagastizado I	...	Taliban Terrorist (uncredited)
Helen Slayton-Hughes	...	'Yarn-it-All' Employee (uncredited)
Channing Swift	...	Ice hockey fan (uncredited)
Tony Swift	...	Ice hockey fan (uncredited)
Melissa Zanit	...	Yearbook girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Tom Kuntz		(as James Kleiner)
Mike Maguire		(as James Kleiner)

Writing credits (WGA)
Todd Hanson		(written by) &
Robert D. Siegel		(written by) (as Robert Siegel)

Produced by
Kevin Halloran	....	co-producer
David Miner	....	producer
Gil Netter	....	producer
Michael Rotenberg	....	producer
David Zucker	....	producer

Original Music by
Asche & Spencer

Cinematography by
Maryse Alberti
Neil Shapiro

Film Editing by
Frederick Wardell

Casting by
Justine Baddeley

Production Design by
Jon Gary Steele

Art Direction by
Kevin Kavanaugh

Costume Design by
Casey Storm

Makeup Department
Stephanie A. Fowler	....	makeup artist
Robert Maverick	....	special makeup effects artist
Debra Schrey	....	key makeup artist
Laine Trzinski	....	hair department head

Production Management
Brad Goodman	....	post-production supervisor
Kevin Halloran	....	production manager
Kimberly Rach	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Paul Clark	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Todd Ellis	....	property master
Tracy Gaydos	....	art department coordinator
Allison Gross	....	property assistant
Gary A. Krakoff	....	construction coordinator
Kevin Loo	....	art department assistant
Danny Ronay	....	stand-by painter
Clint Schultz	....	graphic designer
Tim Y. Wetzel	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Christopher Briles	....	foley recordist
Michael Brown	....	foley artist
Jesse Green	....	sound
Jason Johnston	....	second boom operator
David Obermeyer	....	sound mixer
John Rotondi	....	chief engineer
Clancy T. Troutman	....	supervising sound editor
David John West	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Westley	....	sound designer
Ronald L. Wright	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Mark R. Byers	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Kent Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor
Frank Lawas	....	visual effects I/O supervisor
Jerry P. Magana	....	visual effects producer
Curt Miller	....	digital supervisor

Stunts
Keith Adams	....	stunt coordinator
Randall Archer	....	stunt rigger
Richard Burden	....	stunt driver
Eddie J. Fernandez	....	stunts
Justin Rodgers Hall	....	stunts
Dennis Keiffer	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunt driver
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunts
Hiro Koda	....	action wire coordinator
Hiro Koda	....	stunts
Theo Kypri	....	stunts
Dan Lemieux	....	stunts
Rob Mars	....	stunts
Jeff Podgurski	....	stunt double: Steven Seagal
Matthew Rugetti	....	utility stunts
Spencer Sano	....	stunt performer
Steve Upton	....	rigging coordinator
Xuyen Valdivia	....	stunts (as Xuyen 'Sam' Valdivia)
David Wald	....	stunts
Thom Williams	....	utility stunts
Marcus Young	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Henry Cline	....	camera operator
Kia Dawson	....	camera loader
Brian Evans	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Ben Kaller	....	still photographer
Len Levine	....	gaffer
Jeffrey S. Lorenz	....	first assistant camera
Gary Lowrance	....	electrician
Michael Lowrance	....	electrician
Tony Olivieri	....	first assistant camera
William Robinson	....	assistant camera
Brent Studler	....	electrician

Casting Department
Michael Hothorn	....	casting executive
Kelly Hunt	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stacy Horn	....	costume supervisor
Jee Ok	....	set costumer
Jennifer Parker	....	costumer

Editorial Department
David Bilow	....	apprentice editor
Ted Brady	....	final colorist
Marisa Clayton	....	post-production coordinator: Modern VideoFilm
Jesus De Santiago	....	post-production assistant
Eric Osmond	....	first assistant editor
Michael Struk	....	additional assistant editor
JoAnne Yarrow	....	editorial production assistant
Steve Barnett	....	post-production consultant (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Bruce Comtois	....	driver: cast
Erik Coutts	....	driver: production van
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Kirk Huston	....	transportation captain
Hugh Kelly	....	transportation
Steve Larson	....	driver
Hardy Ophuls	....	picture car coordinator
Julie Sanders	....	transportation dispatcher

Other crew
Emily Aaronson	....	set production assistant
Maxine Bergen	....	additional script supervisor
Erik Bright	....	unit publicist
Briana Burke	....	location manager
Kyle Cookmeyer	....	production assistant
Ted M. Davila	....	first accounting assistant
Jesus De Santiago	....	production assistant
Richard DiPatri	....	assistant location manager
Karen Golden	....	script supervisor
Doris Hellmann	....	production accountant
Kelly Kiernan	....	production executive
Kris Lahd	....	assistant to producer
Heather Long	....	animal coordinator
Brian McMillan	....	animal supplier
Cheryl Miller	....	production coordinator
Daniel A. Mondschain	....	additional production coordinator
R. Scott Poole	....	location scout
David E. Van Houten	....	publicist
Craig Vegas	....	production assistant

Thanks
Jesse Jam Miranda	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• 3 Arts Entertainment
• Fox Searchlight Pictures
• New Regency Productions
• Regency Enterprises
• Zucker/Netter Productions

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (200?) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Film (2008) (Croatia) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Encore Hollywood (visual effects)
• Stargate Digital (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Micdi Productions  music editing
• Wow & Flutter  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

News Movie (UK) (DVD title)
Onion Movie (USA) (working title)
The Untitled Onion Movie (USA) (working title)
Untitled Onion Sketch Comedy Project (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:MA | UK:15 (video rating) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

3 Arts Entertainment

Trivia:

Originally filmed in late 2003, this was subsequently shelved for many years and never released theatrically (allegedly after poor test screening). Finally released directly to DVD in June 2008.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene they are playing the board game and one of the guys is drinking "Hawaiian punch" the level of the drink goes from full to empty back to full.

Quotes:

[singing]
Melissa Cherry: When you love me right up front, you know that I don't mind. But what I really want is for you, to take me from behind. I don't mind, no. I don't mind. Take me from be-hi-i-i-ind...
Melissa Cherry: Are you ready? Mmmm. Down on my knees. Baby, when we kiss, my heart just skips a beat. And when you hold my hand, oh, I can hardly speak. But there's one kinda lovin' that I can't do face to face. So, let me give you some affection - just below your waist. Oh, yeah! I'm down on my knees for you. I'm begging please, please for you. Oh! I've got so much love, I need to show it. It's a big job, I don't want to blow it. Oh! Oh, yeah. Oh! Baby. Down on my knees, begging please please.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in An American Carol (2008)

Must have been written just for me

There are very few movies that can actually blindside me with a punchline. The Onion Movie did that repeatedly. The plot is very light, and this makes the movie even more enjoyable, I think. But not only is it light, it's also very relevant and critical of the common practices of mass media now-a-days. This movie pulls off a lot of what idiocracy only kind-of succeeded at. From the Hasselhoff bit to the mid-show Asian review to the d&d sketch, the Onion Movie is a rare breath of fresh air!

I won't include a url, but there's a pretty funny audio review on the hotcakes podcast (episode 9) if anyone cares to search it out.