Why Ali Wong Decided to Go G-Rated on Netflix

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As a seasoned movie-goer and parent who has seen more than her fair share of adult-themed content, I must admit that my initial skepticism about Ali Wong voicing the lead character in the new kids’ animated series “Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld” was quickly dissipated upon watching the first episode.

Upon hearing “Ali Wong‘s name, your grown-up thoughts might wander to rather explicit realms. This Emmy-winning entertainer initially captivated us with her bluntly risqué and R-rated stand-up performances centered around parenthood and matrimony. Lately, she’s garnered attention for a more dramatic yet still comedic and inappropriate-for-kids role in Netflix’s acclaimed series, “Beef“. Interestingly enough, Wong’s past voiceover work has been quite risqué (we’re looking at you, Big Mouth)). However, a new kids’ animated series called “Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld” is now available on Netflix, which presents a refreshing change from Wong’s previous work.

Wong, who plays the title character, recently expressed her enthusiasm to MovieWeb about taking on more family-friendly roles and potentially earning some “cool points” with her children. She jokingly mentioned this as the main reason for her decision, but there’s an element of truth as her kids cannot watch anything she does due to age restrictions. Wong further commented:

Although the majority of animated voiceovers I’ve done are off-limits for viewing, I’m thrilled about this project because it’s rare to find an animated show suitable for both me and my children. In fact, I can count them all on one hand. It’s particularly meaningful for me to be involved in a show that allows me to share the experience with my kids.

Casting Ali Wong, Lucy Liu, Bowen Yang: ‘Such a Dream’

Jentry Chau, a series set in a Texas high school that follows Wong’s character as she becomes embroiled in supernatural turmoil linked to her ancestors’ enigmatic past, was developed by Echo Wu. In an interview with MovieWeb, Wu discussed the experience of collaborating with Wong and other notable figures (Lucy Liu, Bowen Yang) to breathe life into this deeply personal production:

Working alongside Ali and this fantastic team feels like a dream come true for me. This project holds a special place in my heart since it’s inspired by my childhood memories, having grown up in the suburbs of Dallas. I believe that creating something relatable and resonant with the audience is important, and I feel that this show might just be what I’ve always yearned to see on TV. Being able to bring such a vision to life with this extraordinary cast, musicians, and more is almost overwhelming for me.

Wu expresses her readiness for another season and shares her aspirations for the audience to find relatable characters while enjoying a heartwarming story filled with family values. She mentions that it can be difficult to create a fish-out-of-water experience, but she also hopes viewers will develop a crush on some of the show’s characters, as they put a lot of effort into creating them. In essence, Wu wants people to feel the excitement of having a cartoon crush and appreciate the hard work that went into developing the characters.

Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld is now streaming on Netflix. Watch it here.

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2024-12-07 01:01