Eli Allen
This is an amazing documentary/rock-mockumentary musical comedy. It's fake, but based on real-life. It's a family affair! The film and series is: directed, written, created, and executive produced by: Polly Draper. The main characters are Draper's real-life sons, Nat and Alex Wolff who really write, compose, sing, and perform all the music. It also stars there show-and-real-life father and Draper's husband, Michael Wolff ("Mr. (Sonny) Wolff" in the film and series). He stars as a dorky father who plays the accordion. Since Draper is to busy putting the whole show together it's too much for her to star on the series, so she's known as deceased and the series does not talk too much about her/their "mock(-umentary)" mom.Now, to get started on how adults can get interested too!Polly Draper is an actress, writer, producer, and first time director. I'm sure there's people out there that remember a hit ABC show in the late 80's and early 90's titled, "thirtysomething." Well, Draper is best-known for her starring-role as career woman Ellyn Warren (Remember, she was friends with Michael, Hope, and Elliot). Also, Michael Wolff is not dorky in real-life. In real-life he is a famous jazz pianist-composer-band-leader and occasional singer-songwriter. He is best-known for his role as the band-leader and musical director of the 1987-91 talk show, "The Arsenio Hall Show."Actually, Wolff and Draper weren't even married to each other at the time. It wasn't until Draper guest stared on "The Arsenio Hall Show," that they met and eventually married.He's also worked with: B.B. King, Bobby McFerrin, Christian McBride, Frank Sinatra, Dave Koz, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, Jean Luc Ponty, Warren Zevon, Wayne Shorter, Cal Tjader, Cannoball Adderley, and Sonny Rollins.Too top it off. In 1975, Wolff became the musical director, vocalist, and arranger for jazz artist, Nancy Wilson! As well as working with many other greats!Since "Naked Brothers" is Draper's directing debut when was was her screen writing debut?"The Tic Code," (1998, Italy; 1999, USA; 2000, NYC) was her first screenplay writing and producing. It's a romantic-musical-drama film. It was part biography and was inspired by her husband (Wolff)'s struggles with his mild case of Tourette syndrome and his love of the jazz piano. Starring: Polly Draper, Gregory Hines; And Introducing: Christopher George Marquette. Directed by: Gary Winick; written by: Polly Draper; Produced by: Polly Draper, Michael Wolff, Sarah Pillsbury, Karen Tangora. Music by: Michael Wolff (composer, piano); (partner) Alex Foster (Saxophone).Back too the "Naked Brothers Band"...Nat and Alex formed a band in pre-school with there best-friends who were all in the movie and all but one is also in the series!The film had specials appearances by tons of celebrities who are friends with Draper and Wolff: Arsenio Hall; Nancy Wilson; Cyndi Lauper; Julianne Moore; Uma Thurman; Ricki Lake; Ann Curry; Tony Shalhoub; Cindy Blackman; John B. Williams to the whole cast of "thirtysomething" (Ken Olin, Mel Harris, Melanie Mayron, Patricia Wettig, Tim Busfield, Peter Horton as well as Draper herself!); and Draper's (off-Broadway writing and starring in) Getting Into Heaven cast (Gretchen Egolf, James Badge-Dale, Barbara Eda-young). The show brought Nickelodeon's highest-rated premiere in seven years!As well as starring in the show, Wolff also co-executive produces/music produces and music supervises the show.In the movie at the time (when Nat and Alex were only (9 and 6) and (12 and 9 in the series), presently 13 and 10), follows a world-famous rock band that deals with friendship, fame, girls, and a band break up. But, eventually gets back together at the end of the movie.In the film, "Naked Brothers" weren't famous in real-life (which was, filmed in 2004), but in the show it all came true! Though, they exaggerate to pretend to be world-famous like "The Beatles" (that band inspired Nat and Alex in the beginning). Other "Draper" relatives are in the series and film: Jesse Draper (Jessica Cook Draper-Nat and Alex's cousin and Polly's niece) (as the band tutor and babysitter, Jesse Cook), Billy Draper (Jesse's brother) (as Jesse's boyfriend Billy Timmerman) ("The Timmerman Brothers"), Adam Draper (Jesse's other brother) (as Jesse's other boyfriend Donnie Timmerman), (another "Draper" relative) Coulter Mulligan (Polly's nephew-and Jesse's cousin) (as Jesse's OTHER boyfriend Johnny Timmerman), venture capitalist Tim Draper (Polly's brother and Jesse's father) (as Principle Schmoke), Eleanor Draper (Jesse's sister) (as Bessy-who is also Jesse's sister on the show), and Lisa Mulligan (Coulter's sister and Jesse's cousin) (as Tessy-Jesse's sister on the show). Tim Draper is also the consulting producer. Some heck of a family affair! Beautifully scripted/directed/produced, stay tuned to back-to-back of new episodes, Saturday's (on Nickelodeon) at 8:30PM/ET.
Emma A.
A big fan of mockumentary and musical fiction, I find this to be a great movie, fun for kids and 'tweens (the intended audience). Actually, it can be enjoyed by anyone with an open mind. The songs are surprisingly catchy, and fun to annoy your friends with (namely Crazy Car). These kids may not be so great now, but they definitely have a bright future ahead of them, if they don't get screwed over by the child star business anyway. I also find this movie rather inspiring. I'm sure many children will have NBB-influenced attempts at forming a band with friends... heck, I even wanted to do it after seeing this movie. I would recommend this film to anyone with an open mind who enjoys music and would appreciate the cute factor. It's also a great introduction to mockumentary, and maybe even independent film-making.
