Monte Carlo

Based on the book, Headhunters by Jules Bass. Monte Carlo tells the story of a girl and her best friend who travels to Paris, accompanied by her uptight stepsister when she was mistaken for a British heiress.

The story was so simple. It's like a rags-to-riches kinda tale. The movie was so simple that it will make you feel more relaxed watching now that there are more intense movies. What I enjoyed about the movie is the travel to Europe. A travel to Europe is one of my bucket list. France is also one of the countries in Europe I want to see. I was not surprise to hear the song "La Vie En Rose" by Louis Armstrong.but I enjoy listening.

When I watched this on an advance screening, I thought this will be watched by women but I found out that the men were dominant so it is something guys want to watch as well. What I wish to find out if Cory Monteith and Selena Gomez was casts in this movie because of their popular statuses respectively since Monteith is currently on Glee and Selena is currently Justin Bieber's girlfriend. As expected, this is a wholesome movie since Selena Gomez still has that Disney image in her. Andie McDowell comes back after a long absence in movies. Stars Selena Gomez,  Leighton Meester, Kate Cassidy, Cory Monteith, and Andie McDowell.  “Monte Carlo” opens July 1 in theaters from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

SELENA GOMEZ IN “MONTE CARLO”

Selena Gomez

Teen superstar and Bieber’s babe Selena Gomez stars in the romantic comedy “Monte Carlo” co-starring Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy and Cory Monteith.  The movie revolves three American girls who take a trip to Paris and get caught up in a case of mistaken identity, based on the Jules Bass novel “Headhunters” and directed by Thomas Bezucha.

Gomez plays Grace, a young woman who uses her savings to go on the Parisian holiday of a lifetime, bringing along her best friend and her uptight big sister. When Grace is mistaken for Cordelia, a British heiress, the trio find themselves swept into a storybook world of romance, paparazzi and couture as their vacation takes them to Monte Carlo.

However, the holiday is not without its crazy moments, as the girls must avoid the real Cordelia (also played by Selena Gomez) as well as dealing with the suitors pursuing them accross Europe.

Selena Gomez, 18, first appeared in “Barney and Friends” at the age of nine and is most famous for her role as Alex Russo in “The Wizards of Waverly Place” shares in the following q&a shares her experience on filming her first movie out of Wizards. 

Q.        Do you have anything in common with your character?

A.         Like Grace, I grew up in a small town, and I was determined to branch out and do something that I love. Being at home is wonderful, but I think you need to be prepared to push yourself out of your comfort zone and explore all your options if you’re going to achieve your dreams. I think that’s something that I share with Grace.

Q.        What was the most challenging part of making the film?

A.         This is by far the hardest job I’ve ever taken on. Because I graduated this year, this is the first project I’ve been able to work on as an adult. It means working 17 hour days, which can be quite intense! It’s also been one of the most fun projects I’ve ever worked on. Monte Carlo is a beautiful place to work, and I’ve got some amazing people around me - Cory’s so much fun, and Leighton is like a big sister! They make me feel relaxed and carefree.

Q.        Is it tough to be away from your family and friends during filming?

A.         Well, I’ve got my Mom with me, and my friend Ashley flew over from Texas. I miss my friends a lot. The internet is really bad here, which doesn’t help. I talked to my Grandma on iChat once. She’s really tech savvy - my Grandma has got it going on!

Q.        Who are you closest to on set?

A.         It’s impossible to pick just one person! The girls are amazing. Leighton and Katie are so sweet and affectionate. You know that they’ll always be there for you. Katie is really honest. She’s a big fan of tough love and she has lots of strong opinions that she’s happy to express. Leighton is a bit more romantic and dreamy. She’ll be the one saying “follow your heart” when you need advice.

Q.        Has working on Monte Carlo inspired any of your songwriting?

A.         We shot a lot of the movie in Budapest, and I recorded half of my album while I was there. I wrote a song called Ready, Steady Go, which is about how it feels to move to a different country and all the anxieties I had about going. I was terrified, but I was surrounded by people who helped and supported me. The whole theme is about following your heart and finding yourself.

            “Monte Carlo” opens July 1 in theaters from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

LEIGHTON MEESTER IN “MONTE CARLO”

Leighton Meester

‘Gossip Girl’ star Leighton Meester takes us on a trip out with the girls en route to Europe in the romantic comedy “Monte Carlo” with Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy and Cory Monteith (Glee).

            Grace (Gomez) is an ordinary girl who becomes an accidental princess when a summer trip to Paris turns into the fantasy of a lifetime.  But Grace’s killjoy stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester) is involuntarily installed as chaperone by Grace’s mother.  Grace and Emma, however, will not be deterred, and soon enough, the two friends, with Megan in tow, arrive in France.  Scurried past famed landmarks by a hyperactive tour guide, and discouraged by their “luxury” accommodations and frequent tiffs, the trio’s spirits sag like the behinds of knit-panted American tourists. 

Fortunes change, however, when Grace is mistaken for British socialite Cordelia Winthrop Scott.  When the girls inadvertently take possession of Cordelia’s invitation to a ritzy charity ball in Monte Carlo, they seize the moment, they embark on a romantic adventure of yacht parties, polo matches and highly eligible bachelors.

            Both girls see the presence of Meg (Meester) as an unwelcome intrusion – a fly in their sparkling glass of bubbly.  Simply put, she’s never been known as the life of the party. “Meg recently lost her mother, and is still a bit traumatized over it. She’s somewhat excited to visit France, but not under these circumstances, and certainly not with these two girls,” explains Leighton Meester.  

    

Q.        You play Meg, Grace’s stepsister. What’s that character like?

A.         Meg starts off very differently from the way she ends up. She’s kind of a dork, and she’s a little bit uptight. She recently lost her mother, which is a really difficult thing to go through and Meg’s finding it hard. Meg only goes on trip because her father pretty much forces her to.

Q.        Could you relate to her?

A.         Definitely! I hope I’m able to be a little more adventurous than she is at the start, but at least she’s willing and she has the potential inside her. Meg is a very practical character, and I’m totally impractical, but I admire that about her.

Q.        What was the hardest scene to film?

A.         Honestly, the only hard part has been the long days and the early starts. Everything else has been fun. When we were in Paris we had to start filming at 3AM so we could shoot on the Eiffel Tower when no one else was there. So although getting up that day was hard, having the whole of the Eiffel Tower to ourselves was an incredible experience! We also got to be in the Louvre by ourselves, which was amazing

Q.        Meg doesn’t get on with Grace and Emma straight away. How long did it take you to get to know Selena and Katie?

A.         Those two girls have been awesome. It’s been wonderful working with them. I knew Katie a little before, and she’s coming on Gossip Girl, which I’m so excited about. Because we’ve seen each other every day, we’ve become like a family. I think it says a lot if you can see the same people all the time and not get sick of them. I feel very protective of them both, and I think they feel the same about me.

Q.        Is there any romantic gossip from the set?

A.         There are some very, very cute boys in this movie, but as far as I know there isn’t any gossip. I’m really pleased with how they got cast - cute and talented is a great combination. I like them all.

Q.        How do Meg’s outfits compare to those of the other characters you’ve played?

A.         Honestly, I don’t think it matters if a character has high end or low end clothes as long as you feel like they’re definitely a part of that character’s wardrobe. In the film we’re all whisked away to Monte Carlo by accident, and we don’t get to bring many clothes with us. I’m in the same outfit for most of the film. There’s a fabulous gown I get to wear at the end. It’s beautiful, but it’s couture and really heavy. When we started filming the scene, I was so excited to wear it, but by the end my body was aching so much I would have been happy never to see it again!

Q.        Have you had any time to go shopping?

A.         Walking down the street here is like walking through a fashion magazine! It’s tricky to make the time, but I have gone to Gucci. I bought a really cute little purse, and a sweater from Celine as well. I’ve got some great souvenirs from this trip!

            “Monte Carlo” opens July 1 in theaters from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

GLEE’S FINN MANS UP IN TEEN ROMANCE “MONTE CARLO”

Cory Monteith in Monte Carlo

Best known for playing Finn Hudson in the popular Fox series “Glee,” Cory Monteith stars with today’s teen icon Selena Gomez in “Monte Carlo,” along with “Gossip Girl’s” Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy.

“Monte Carlo” opens us to freshly minted high school grad Grace (Selena Gomez) and best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy) jettisoning their waitress jobs in Texas for a trip to Paris.  But Grace’s killjoy stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester) is involuntarily installed as chaperone by Grace’s parents. Meanwhile, Emma’s boyfriend, Owen (Cory Monteith), is trying to put the kibosh on the trip altogether with a ring and proposal.

                Monteith along with the troika of actresses settled, the filmmakers believed that he fits the role of Owen perfectly. He’s a big, friendly, very funny and likable guy. He sells the character the instant he’s on screen,” says director Thomas Bezucha in casting Monteith. Below is a q&a of Cory describing his dream girl and experience in the movie.  

Q.            What’s your character like?

A.            Owen is completely in love with Katie Cassidy’s character, Emma. He’s on a journey - and he’s chasing her across Europe so he can take her home again and marry her. He can be a little misguided, but he’s incredibly romantic and prepared to do whatever it takes to win back his girl.

Q.            Which of your co stars did you bond with the most quickly?

A.            I think I bonded with them all straight away! Selena is very sweet. She’s really down to earth, and excellent at doing accents. We playfight like a brother and sister - she’s tiny but determined, although she has yet to hurt me! Leighton is great, and can give a solid high five. That’s a life skill.

Q.            How flirty are you?

A.            I’m single, and I love that life but I’m not a dog! I’m pretty goofy and I make a lot of dumb jokes - life is too short to be serious, so I guess that’s how I flirt. To be honest, I’ve never really thought about it - I think I’m too shy and reserved to be a proper old fashioned flirt.

Q.            Describe your dream girl.

A.            People who are passionate are attractive - if they’re excited about their life and what they’re doing, that’s really engaging. It doesn’t matter whether they’re a movie star or an accountant. As far as looks go, I don’t have any specifics. I don’t have a preference for blondes or brunettes.

Q.            Do you have a celebrity crush?

A.            I’ve worked with a lot of beautiful girls, but I’d have to say Amber Riley, who plays Mercedes in Glee. Have you heard her sing? She’s amazing.

Q.            What will you miss most about Monte Carlo when you’ve finished filming?

A.            The bread! The bread is delicious, I can get through a lot of that stuff. The way people treat each other here is very different too. There’s a kind of old world sensibility in Europe -   people are refined and respectful and it’s very cool. In North America there’s a different attitude. Everything is faster and less personal.

                “Monte Carlo” opens July 1 in theaters from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.