Wheely(film)

Wheely
Directed by	Yusry Abdul Halim
Produced by	Norman Abdul Halim
Production companies	Kartun Studios KRU Studios
Distributed by	Primeworks Studios
Release date	16 August 2018(2018-08-16)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	Malaysia
Languages	Malay English
Budget	10,000,000Malaysian ringgit
Box office	$1,340,799

Wheely,also released asWheely: Fast and Hilarious,is a 2018 Malaysian English-language animated comedy film written and directed by Yusry Abd Halim as his first animated film.It was released in Malaysia on 16 August 2018. Critically, the film received negative reviews, with critics calling it amockbusterofPixar Animation Studios's filmCars.

Plot

After a fierce crash, Wheely is demoted from a 3-time rookie racer to a downtown Taxi with a mountain of debt and a bruised ego. The cause of the accident is no other than Putt Putt, his philosophical/Feng Shui practitioner fan who becomes his best friend. Nothing dire happens until Wheely discovers Bella, a wealthy supermodel. Stuff gets odd when she reveals she has a boyfriend. Luckily for Wheely, Bella approves his “Street smart, ghetto like and funny-guy” personality. However, the 2 are prevented from interacting and learning more about each other as Ben, her stuck-up boyfriend, gets in the way. Despite the events, Wheely's situation gets tedious when Bella gets "car-napped" by Kaiser, a monstrous 18-wheeler truck who started a gang interfering with the world.

Cast

• Ogie Banksas Wheely, a shy and good-hearted yellowMitsubishi Evothat suffers a racing accident, the main protagonist
• Gavin Yap as Putt Putt, a greenPiaggio Vespa,Wheely's best friend
• Frances Lee as Bella, an attractive redAlfa Romeo GT
• Thomas Pang as Ben, a dark greenBuick XP2000,Bella's ex-boyfriend
• Jay Sheldon as Frank, a rustyFrankenstein-lookingFord Econoline,that is known as acardiologist.Sheldon also voices Bryan the Commentator a blue helicopter who narrates Wheely's race
• Brock Powell as Kaiser, an evil blueVolvo FH,who is the leader of a luxury "car-napping" syndicate
• Raymond Orta as Parmo, a navy blueMini Cooper,one of Kaiser's henchmen
• Armando Valdes-Kennedy as Rumble, a tealChevrolet Camaro,one of Kaiser's henchmen
• Tamiyka White as Momma, a Jamaican-accented orangeVW Beetle,Wheely's mother
• Barbara Goodsonas Sergeant Street, a black and whiteFord Crown Victoria,that takes care of Gasket City
• Chris Jai Alex as Crank, a ship that transports Kaiser
• Khairil Mokhzani Bahar as Joe Flo, a red1991 Nissan Silvia
• Gavin Yap as Brad, an orange and white2002 Subaru Impreza WRX STi.Yap also voices Ryan the Commentator a red helicopter who narrates Wheely's race
• Joe Murray as Royston, a wealthy blue1960 Jaguar Mark 2,who is Ben's father
• Ghafir Akbar as the Director, an unnamed purpleWillysmodel Jeep, who directs a commercial that Bella is acting in
• Diong Chae Lian as Amy, a yellowDaewoo Matiz,who is Wheely's biggest fan

Production

Yusry Abdul Halim came up with the idea for the film in 2014 under the name ofKLTaxi. But when we it get marketed the internationally buyers did not get the "KL" name. So Yusry immediately changed the title to Wheely.

His brother Norman added that the car photos went through various inspirations for the character designs, with the concept being expanded on the storyline. “We got two British writers who sneaked into the KRU Creative studios inIpohto work on the script but we eventually realized that the humour and sensibilities don't fit intro our movie. We wanted the movie to be have American charm rather than British, which explains why Wheely is not red and white like regular taxis in Malaysia “Yes but you know, back in the 80's our taxis were yellow and black, so it’s still Malaysian in that sense,” said Norman. With half of the animation handled at Invector Heads studio inIndia,KRU produced stereoscopic 3D version exclusive forRussia.

Release and reception

Wheelywas released in Malaysia on 16 August 2018,and had a worldwide gross of $1,340,799, the highest grossing country being Poland with $348,806.

Wheely: Fast and Hilariouswas also released in Australian theatres on November 9, 2018, distributed by Odin Eye's Entertainment alongside Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Critically, the film received negative reviews, with critics calling it amockbusterofPixar Animation Studios's filmCars.But, according to Norman Abdul Halim, the movie is not a rip-off ofCars:"it has its own unique characters, designs, plot, storyline and flavour."

External links

• WheelyatIMDb
• WheelyatRotten Tomatoes