Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe

Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe
Poster
Directed byRobert McCallum
Written byRobert McCallum
Jordan Christopher Morris
Produced byMark Bishop
Aeschylus Poulos
StarringErnie Coombs
CinematographyJohn Minh Tran
Edited byNathan Shields
David New
Music byJohn H. McCarthy
Production
companies
Amazon MGM Studios
marblemedia
Pyre Productions
Hawkeye Pictures
Distributed byAmazon Prime Video
Release date
  • September 9, 2023 (2023-09-09) (TIFF)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe is a 2023 Canadian documentary film, directed by Robert McCallum.[1] The film profiles Ernie Coombs, the children's entertainer who created and starred in the long-running Canadian television series Mr. Dressup, documenting his career and its impact on Canadian culture and entertainment.[2]

The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People's Choice Award for Documentaries.[3] It was also screened at the 2023 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival,[4] the 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival, and the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival,[5] and was released to Amazon Prime Video on October 10, 2023.[6] It is the first documentary film to be released through Amazon MGM Studios, a new distributor formed by Amazon Studios following their acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2022.[7]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 9 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10.[8]

Rachel Ho of Exclaim! write that "one of the highlights of the film is the focus on Judith Lawrence, the puppeteer responsible for bringing Mr. Dressup's dependable pals, Casey and Finnegan, to life. Lawrence's contributions to Mr. Dressup have long gone unacknowledged (not for lack of trying on Coombs's part), making her inclusion in the film incredibly valuable as she finally gives voice to her experiences on the show." She concluded that "Millions of us watched Mr. Dressup as children, and I'd reckon the majority of us never truly appreciated what he meant to us during those impressionable years — I sure didn't. The Magic of Make-Believe not only serves as a reminder of the joy Coombs brought to our young lives, but it also emphasizes the need for Mr. Dressup's patience and kindness today more than ever."[9]

Victor Stiff of That Shelf also had praise for the film's inclusion of Lawrence, and concluded that "McCallum just delivered the feel-good film I didn’t realize I needed in my life. Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe is a charming, insightful, and heartwarming doc about a gentle spirit who dedicated his life to filling the world with joy."[10]

Awards

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Award / Film Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Toronto International Film Festival September 17, 2023 People's Choice Award for Documentaries Robert McCallum Won [11]
Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival September 28, 2023 Audience Choice for Best Documentary Film Won [12]
Canadian Screen Awards 2024 Best Direction in a Documentary Program Won [13]
Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series Won
Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research Max Berger, Liz Hysen, Catherine Machado, Judy Ruzylo Won
Barbara Sears Award for Best Visual Research Won
Best Production Design or Art Direction, Non-Fiction Rudin Causi, Javed Ali Won

References

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  1. ^ LaPierre, Megan (September 29, 2022). "'Mr. Dressup' Documentary Greenlit by Prime Video Canada". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Mullen, Pat (September 29, 2022). "Mr. Dressup Set to Receive Documentary Treatment". Point of View. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Pearce, Leonard (July 26, 2023). "TIFF 2023 Adds Documentaries by Frederick Wiseman, Errol Morris, Raoul Peck, Roger Ross Williams & More". The Film Stage. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Sudbury-shot 'traumedy' to be a Cinefest special presentation". The Sudbury Star. July 27, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Harris, Aleesha (August 10, 2023). "'Star-studded' films among highlights of upcoming Vancouver International Film Festival". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Chabot, Amy (September 11, 2023). "A Mr. Dressup Documentary Is coming To Amazon Prime". CKHY-FM. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Whittock, Jesse (May 8, 2023). "Amazon MGM Studios Distribution To Launch At LA Screenings". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Ho, Rachel (October 10, 2023). "'The Magic of Make-Believe' Is a Warm Reminder of the Importance of 'Mr. Dressup'". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Stiff, Victor (September 12, 2023). "TIFF 2023: Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe Review". That Shelf. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Zilko, Christian (September 17, 2023). "'American Fiction' Wins People's Choice Award at 2023 TIFF (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Cinéfest reveals 2023 award winners". Sudbury.com. September 28, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Mullen, Pat (March 6, 2024). "Canadian Screen Award Nominees in Documentary and Factual Categories". Point of View. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
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