The CN Movie

The CN Movie is a 2019 live-action/animated adventure comedy film, making this film Cartoon Network Studios' first ever live-action theatrical film. The film is directed by James Bobin with writing alongside Nicholas Stoller, and Cartoon Network veteran John McIntyre. The film will include B.D. Wong, Zachary Levi, and Tina Fey as the supporting cast, with Jeremy Shada as Finn, Thurop Van Orman as Flapjack, and Raymond Ochoa (replacing Nicky Jones) as Chowder.

The film was released in theaters on July 26, 2019, produced by Warner Animation Group and Cartoon Network Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. This also makes it Warner Bros.' third live-action and hand-drawn animated hybrid film, preceding Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

The film takes place in November 2018 and it follows Finn reuniting with his old friends Flapjack and Chowder, and on the verge of getting them their own movies. Instead, they have to save the studio from being a film studio from a studio executive who has been a fan of their shows.

Before the release of the film, a sequel was planned, until it was scrapped.

Plot
Ever since 2010, Finn had been friends with Flapjack and Chowder. But when August came around, Chowder and Flapjack's shows were canceled, and Finn was upset that they were gone. Doing his show, he could barely take his mind off them to stay focused, but with help from his friends, he was able to stay on track. Fortunately, after eight years on the air, Finn felt glad to be part of the concluded shows. In the present day, Finn had explained his predicament to the other defunct shows in the studio, which leaves everybody in pity for him.

In Ooo, he; Jake; BMO; Bonnibel; Marceline; Simon; Phoebe; Lumpy Space Princess and Lady travel to Lady's barn to celebrate Jake and Lady's children's birthday. While there, he is less enthusiastic. After the party, Bonnibel comforts Finn and has a talk with him. Still on the fact that he and his friends were still not on speaking terms, she questions if he could just go over and meet them otherwise; giving Finn an epiphany.

As Finn sets off to reunite with his old friends, he has Marceline lie about his whereabouts until further notice. Upon the reunion, they discuss about the two's decrease in popularity and recognition, so Finn decides to get them each a film as to re-introduce them to the public. Arriving at the Warner Bros. studio, they get thrown out by security. After many attempts of getting in, they disguise as their creators and claim that they want to pitch their idea for The CN Movie; in which works. Heading inside, they meet the receptionist to ask if they could see head executive for their request on giving Chowder and Flapjack their own movies, in which she declines due to their shows' declining qualities, followed by getting thrown out again.

They sneak into the executive's office via transition flip and meet executive Dan Manson. Unfortunately, he forgoes their wish of giving them a movie despite being their biggest fan, but he could make a movie about all three of them if they sign a contract, for "personal reasons", to forward the idea. Arriving back at the Cartoon Network studio, their friends are distraught at them for their absence, indicating that Marceline hadn't covered for Finn. Finn tries to make up for it by explaining that they got a deal for a movie about the trio and half the studio's other characters. Chowder eventually discovers that they had signed away the rights to the studio, thanks to the Powerpuff Girls' narrator explaining the plot point.

The boys, knowing that they were responsible for signing away the rights, go back to the studio to get back the rights. Arriving back to Warner Bros., the boys try to get Manson to give back their studio's rights, in which he will for $50,000,000, much to their disappointment. With no other options, they decide to steal the contract back. At night, the boys sneak into the studio and break into Manson's office and find the contract. However, Manson found out that the boys would steal it, so he kept it with him, so they could not find it. In response to them trying to steal the contract, he brings security to escort them out, followed by knocking them out.

Waking up, they find themselves in a crate. Getting out, they find themselves in London, England. Unfamiliar with the country, they go around town to get help to get back to Burbank. At a nearby bar, they find out on the news that Manson will start owning the studio by tomorrow and will rebrand it as a film industry. Pressed for time, they travel through various traveling tactics via travel montage. Fortunately, they make it back to California. However, the Warner Bros. studio is an hour away to walk (as said by the narrator), so they hitchhike and fortunately get a ride by a couple who is in California for their honeymoon.

Arriving at Warner Bros., they confront Manson and suddenly retrieve the contract from him, during their argument, then run off into the studio lot to lose him. They then hijack a security cart and drive back to the studio, with Manson and his bodyguards giving chase. They eventually lose them by Chowder rocketing their cart into the sky via spicy peppers, with the trio landing on a cruise ship. As they continue, their cart's engine stalls, much to their dismay. Fortunately, they get a lift from Manson's assistant Andrew Neilly.

Arriving to the studio, they find everyone outside and relieved that they have returned. Unfortunately, Manson arrives and tries to take back the contract, leading to the boys to pass it on to many of the other Cartoon Network characters, with Phoebe grasping it last; leading to accidentally burning it in the process, leaving Manson in anguish. Fed up with the three, he reveals that he wants to buy the studio to make it as his film industry because every studio has rejected his ideas, so he had to buy a piece of land to produce his own movies. Unbeknownst to him, his entire confession has been broadcast by Dexter and BMO, leading to his arrest by the police. The characters rejoice and throw a celebratory dance party, with Marceline singing "Ultimate" by Lindsay Lohan.

In a mid-credits scene, All the cancelled/concluded show characters are back in the studio interacting with the current running show characters, as Finn calls it "under one roof".

In a post-credits scene taking place in a white void, Marceline dances to Ke$ha's "Boogie Feet" and flies briefly during the song. The trio arrives and dances along with her, along with the other Cartoon Network characters joining in.

Cast
Cameos consists of Ron Perlman as the director of Friends with Benefits; Kathleen Turner, Timothy Dalton, Randy Quaid, and Wayne Knight as the Friends with Benefits cast; Bryce Dallas Howard as a woman carrying luggage; Jason Bateman and Kristen Wiig as Walter and Jane Williams, the couple that gives the trio a lift to Warner Bros. Studios; Dennis Haysbert as a news reporter; Allison Janney as a school teacher; John Oliver as a cruise ship captain; Chris Parnell as a typewriter; and Will Arnett as the California police chief. Gavin Free and Dan Gruchy, of The Slo Mo Guys fame, were meant to cameo as two friends in London who help the trio get back to Burbank in the original version.
 * B.D. Wong as Dan Manson, a Warner Bros. executive who has been a fan of Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack and Adventure Time ever since.
 * Zachary Levi as Andrew "Andy" Neilly, Warner Bros. vice-president and assistant to Manson.
 * Tina Fey as Sandra Alexander, receptionist at Warner Bros. Studios.
 * Dave Boat as Smith, Manson's bodyguard.
 * Ben Schwartz as Winston, Manson's other bodyguard.
 * Tom Cavanagh as a security guard at the Warner Bros. Studios' front gate.
 * Jeff Bergman provides the voice.

C.H. Greenblatt, Thurop Van Orman and Pendleton Ward also cameo as themselves as the trio's disguises.

Voices
Additional voices include John DiMaggio as Jake and Schnitzel; Hynden Walch as Bonnibel Bubblegum; Olivia Olson as Marceline Abadeer; Jessica DiCicco as Phoebe; Pendleton Ward as Lumpy Space Princess; Dee Bradley Baker as Cinnamon Bun; Niki Yang as Lady Rainicorn and BMO; Brian Doyle-Murray as Captain K'nuckles; Kevin Michael Richardson as Boogie Man and Mr. Gus; Roz Ryan as Bubbie; Jeff Bennett as Peppermint Larry, Johnny Bravo and Raj; Jackie Buscarino as Sally Syrup and Susan Strong; Dwight Schultz as Mung Daal; Cathy Cavadini as Blossom; Tara Strong as Truffles, Ben Tennyson, and Bubbles; E.G. Daily as Buttercup; Liliana Mumy as Panini; J.G. Quintel as Mordecai and Hi-Five Ghost; William Salyers as Rigby; Sam Marin as Benson and Muscle Man; Mark Hamill as Skips; Janie Haddad Tompkins as Margaret Smith; Minty Lewis as Eileen Roberts; Linda Cardellini as CJ; Zach Callison as Steven Quartz Universe; Estelle as Garnet; Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl; Tom Scharpling as Greg Universe; Shelby Rabara as Peridot; Jennifer Paz as Lapis Lazuli; Uzo Aduba as Bismuth; Grace Rolek as Connie Maheswaran; Peter Browngardt as Uncle Grandpa; Eric Bauza as Belly Bag; Adam DeVine as Pizza Steve; Spencer Rothbell as Clarence Wendle; Sean Giambrone as Jeff Randell; Katie Crown as Mary Wendle and Ms. Baker; Eric Edelstein as Chad Caswell and Griz; Bobby Moynihan as Panda; Demetri Martin as Ice Bear; Charlyne Yi as Chloe Park; Maurice LaMarche as Boss; Richard Horvitz as Billy; Kyle Carrozza as Prohyas and Grup the Dragon; Grey Griffin as Mandy, Frankie Foster, Yumi Yoshimura, and Vambre; Vanessa Marshall as Irwin; Jane Carr as Pud'n; Janice Kawaye as Ami Onuki; Sean Marquette as Mac; Keith Ferguson as Bloo, Candi Milo as Dexter, Coco and Madame Foster; Kat Cressida as Dee Dee; Phil LaMarr as Wilt and Samurai Jack; Roger Craig Smith as Thomas and Belson Noles; Courtenay Taylor as K.O.; Lara Jill Miller as Juniper Lee; Kath Soucie as Ray Ray Lee, and Carlos Alazraqui as Lazlo and Clam.
 * Jeremy Shada as Finn, the main character of Adventure Time.
 * Collin Dean as Finn back in 2010.
 * Thurop Van Orman as Flapjack, the titular character of The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.
 * Raymond Ochoa as Chowder, the titular character of Chowder.
 * Chowder's original voice actor, Nicky Jones, makes a cameo as his original voice as to compare his current voice and regular voice to Finn and Flapjack. This is Jones' first time reprising his role as Chowder after 9 years prior to Chowder's cancellation, and his first role to return after retiring in 2012.
 * Tom Kenny as the narrator of The Powerpuff Girls, who narrates throughout the film, with Chowder being the only one throughout said film who can hear him.
 * Kenny also provides the voice of the Mayor from The Powerpuff Girls, Eduardo from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Simon Petrikov from Adventure Time, and Sumo Sumouski from Clarence.

Cameos include Alex Walsh, Mumy, John Omohundro, Ian Jones-Quartey and Sam Lavagnino as the Bravest Warriors characters.

Production
The film was supposed to have Thurop Van Orman (voice of Flapjack) as director before James Bobin was chosen. Don Burgess, who has collaborated with Bobin before, is hired as the cinematographer, replacing Matthew F. Leonetti. Steven Rasch was previously chosen to edit the film until being replaced by Michel Aller. The locations featured in the film are filmed in Burbank, California and in London, United Kingdom.

The animation for the Cartoon Network characters is done by Hong Ying Animation, Saerom Animation, and Rough Draft Studios. Live-action objects the characters had to interact with in the film are animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks, rather than strings or robotic arms to hold actual props.

The show characters chosen to be in the film are the ones only produced by Cartoon Network Studios, excluding of Ed, Edd n Eddy; as the show was produced by A.k.a. Cartoon, Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel; as they were produced by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, the Lego shows produced by Wil Film ApS and The LEGO Group, as well as any one of the shows produced by Warner Bros. Animation; Hanna-Barbera; and DC Entertainment., along with any other acquired programing.

Cultural references

 * The Warner Bros. Pictures/Warner Animation Group logo customized for this film pays homage to the Warner Bros. Family Entertainment logo, as Bubbles steps out of the shield (in place of Bugs Bunny) and eats a cookie.
 * One scene has Bubbles blasting a poster of the 2016 series of The Powerpuff Girls, a nod to fans' dislike on the reboot.
 * The security guard character portrayed by Tom Cavanagh in the film is reminiscent of Michael Maltese's character in the Looney Tunes short You Ought To Be in Pictures, and while being voiced by Jeff Bergman, he sounds like Fred Flintstone from The Flintstones.
 * The film includes a cameo with Timothy Dalton, Kathleen Turner, Wayne Knight, and Randy Quaid together on the set as the cast of Friends with Benefits; making this their second time in a live-action/animated hybrid film. *At the beginning of the chase scene as Chowder, Finn and Flapjack drive back to the Cartoon Network studio, they crash through a billboard promoting Teen Titans Go!; serving as a jab at the show's backlash. They also crash through one of the pillars holding the Warner Bros. water tower, leading to one of the workers saying "Not again!"; referencing the end of the studio lot sequence in Looney Tunes: Back in Action, another live-action/animation hybrid film.

The CN Movie: The Score
The film's score is composed by John Debney. The music of the film consists with guitar, drums, reggae organ, and orchestral instruments, such as violins; piano and trumpets.

The CN Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The soundtrack is released on the same day as the film, consisting of songs featured from the film. The only exception is "My Generation" by The Who (which was only used in the second trailer), "Hooray for Hollywood" by John Williams and "Rule Britannia" by Theodore Shapiro.

Release
The film will release in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2019, followed by releasing in Canada on July 12, and on its general release on July 26 in North America.

Marketing
The film's teaser is released on January 8, 2019 on the Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube channel, along with the second/final trailer revealed on May 15, 2019.

On February 13, three individual teaser trailers are released in theaters; with Chowder in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finn in the Hogwarts Quiddich competition of Harry Potter, and Flapjack with Aquaman of the DC Extended Universe.

On March 10, the film is first promoted on television with a tie-in with Super Bowl Sunday, featuring characters from Chowder; The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack; Adventure Time; Regular Show; Steven Universe; Clarence; The Powerpuff Girls; Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends; Dexter's Laboratory; and OK K.O! Let's Be Heroes in a stadium seeing the football game. Cinemark promotes the film with a phone policy announcement on May 17. McDonald's releases a line a six Happy Meal toys on June 3; and Cartoon Network shows promotional tie-ins on its network on June 16, consisting of bumpers with Finn, Flapjack and Chowder in a movie theater announcing the film. In addition, they host the entire line-up during intermissions between commercial breaks.

Home media
The CN Movie will have a digital release on October 8, 2019; and on DVD and Blu-ray on October 29, by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

The Blu-ray release includes a short film entitled Marcy's Real World Adventure, which serves as a separate subplot focused on Marceline going outside the studio and traveling the streets of Burbank. The DVD release includes a CD entitled "Marcy's Track List", which consists of songs such as:
 * Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi"
 * Lillix's "What I Like About You"
 * Bon Jovi's "Raise Your Hands"
 * Green Day's "Holliday"
 * P!nk's "So What"
 * Aerosmith's "Dream On"

Critical response
Critical response aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 47% based on 84 reviews. The critical consensus reads: "The CN Movie succeeds on returning our favorite characters from our childhood – however, it fails on a first impression by going on the Roger Rabbit rout." Metacritic gives the film scored a 51/100, indicating "mixed-or-average reviews". CinemaScore's review on the film is a "B" on its A+ to F scale.

Commercial reaction
Despite the mixed reviews, the film becomes a commercial success, unlike Warner Bros.' previous films, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Quest for Camelot, The Iron Giant, Osmosis Jones, Looney Tunes: Back in Action and Clifford's Really Big Movie.

Video game
An endless running app game, titled CN Rush!, is where you can play as Chowder, Flapjack and Finn to run around various locations of classic and modern Cartoon Network shows such as The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Steven Universe, Clarence.

The game is developed by Grumpyface Studios and released on iPhone, iPad, Android, and Windows 8 on June 26, 2019.

Cancelled sequel
The sequel titled CN World Tour, was to have Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly directing, with Nicholas Stoller returning as writer alongside Mike Cerrone as co-writer, including the score composed by Christophe Beck. The film was set to release on December 17, 2021.

Its cast was going to be Walt Dohrn as Thaddeus "Thad" Peterson, a Cartoon Network aficionado who gets hired as the characters' manager and to overlook their routines and acts; Tembi Locke as Amanda Westmen, Thaddeus' assistant who is in charge of taking notes; Antonio Banderas as Pedro Raphael, leader of the world's most wanted crime team; Los Three Diables; Rob Riggle as Chuck Jameson, weapons specialist and superhacker in Pedro's team; and Tiffany Haddish as Abby Howard-Ester, Pedro's master-of-disguise and Chuck's lover; with cameos consisting of Zachary Levi reprising his role as Andrew Neilly from the first film; Danny Trejo as Finn, Flapjack and Chowder's cellmate; and Rebel Wilson as herself in the New York broadway finale near the end of the film.

In the film, the Cartoon Network characters go around the world to preform certain acts on stage as a way to reintroduce the characters from the original shows on their behalf. Meanwhile, its subplot focuses on a team that is on the run from the law. Its protagonists were supposed to be Yumi Yoshimura from Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, Jeff Randell from Clarence, Lapis Lazuli from Steven Universe, CJ from Regular Show, and Mac and Bloo from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.

Trivia

 * This is the first Cartoon Network live-action/animated hybrid movie to hit theaters.
 * The movie will be Rated PG.
 * This is Warner Bros.' third live-action and hand-drawn animated hybrid film, preceding Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back in Action.
 * This is Warner Bros.' next film to be produced at 1.85:1 after The Ant Bully (2006) and before Scoob! (2020).
 * This is Warner Animation Group's first live-action/animated hybrid film, followed by Tom & Jerry (2021) and Space Jam 2 (2021).
 * This is Warner Animation Group's next film to be produced in a 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio after Teen Titans GO! To The Movies (2018).
 * This is Cartoon Network's first live-action/animated hybrid film of 2010s to be rated PG by the MPAA.
 * This makes it Richard Horvitz and Carlos Alazraqui's second time of voicing animated characters in a live-action and hand-drawn animated film, after  Osmosis Jones  released 18 years prior.
 * Defictionalization: Remember the track list Marceline has shown briefly in the movie? Well, it's available on the DVD release. The track list consists of:
 * "Holliday" by Green Day
 * "Sk8er Boi" by Avril Lavigne (One of the songs featured in the actual film.)
 * "Dream On" by Aerosmith
 * "So What" by P!nk
 * "Raise Your Hands" by Bon Jovi
 * "What I Like About You" by Lillix
 * and "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor


 * Exiled from Continuity: The film omits any shows that are not produced by Cartoon Network Studios, such as Ed, Edd n Eddy (but there is a poster of them shown in one scene); Any of the Lego shows as of being produced by Wil Film ApS and The Lego Group; and any one of the shows produced by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation (However, there is a gag with a Teen Titans Go! banner at the Warner Bros. studio).
 * Those Two Actors: B.D. Wong plays the big bad of the movie and Bryce Dallas Howard plays a minor role. This isn't the first time they've appeared in a movie together.
 * What Could Have Been:
 * The film was originally gonna have Thurop Van Orman (voice of Flapjack) as director and John McIntyre as screenwriter.
 * There was gonna be a scene where Dexter has a secret crush on Lisa Loud. However, that idea was abandoned for not being found a place in the movie.
 * The Slo Mo Guys were originally going to be included in one scene where they help the boys get back to Burbank.
 * The climax was supposed to have Manson threatening the trio (let alone the CN characters) with an eraser if they don't give him the contract. Instead, it's a pass-it-on ending with Flame Princess accidentally burning the contract into her hands.
 * The film was also going to have a sequel titled CN World Tour, where the CN characters go on an international trip. Its cast was supposed to be Antonio Bandaras, Rob Riggle, Tiffany Haddish, Walt Dorhn, and Tembi Locke. Also, its main characters were Yumi, Jeff, Lapis Lazuli, CJ, Mac and Bloo.