Mina and the Count (2020 film)

Mina and the Count is a 2020 family horror comedy live-action film written and directed by Rob Renzetti and co-directed by Tom Hanks. The film stars JoJo Siwa as Mina Harper, Isabella Moner, Tom Hanks, Chosen Jacobs, Veronika Bonell, Joshua Rush, with the voices of Jim Carrey and Rachel Wiesz. A live-action film based on a series of Oh Yeah! Cartoons shorts and a TV series by Rob Renzetti was announced in 2018, and Siwa was cast in the title role on February 2019. Most of the other lead cast members were hired throughout the rest of the year, and filming took place from May to September 2019 in Kansas City, with Worlds of Fun announced to make an appearance in one scene of the movie. The film will be released both theatrically and digitally simultaneously. The film is set 7 years after the television shorts and after the series finale of Mina and the Count.

The film was released on October 30, 2020, and received mixed reviews from both fans and critics

Plot
Taking place seven years after the shorts, Mina Harper (JoJo Siwa), is now fourteen and now lives in the small town of New Transylvania, Missouri. During a sleepover with her friends Warren (Chosen Jacobs), Lisa (Veronika Bonell), and Thomas (Joshua Rush), Vlad suddenly comes back after mysteriously disappearing on the day Mina moved. Now Mina, his family and his friends must embark on a quest to stop Igor from taking over the world, or risk losing her family forever.

Synopsis
7 years ago, young Mina Harper encounters a 700-year old vampire by the name of Vlad, who was accidentally sent to the house by his leader Igor after he confuses Mina Harper with “Nina Parker.” After a while, both Vlad and Mina became best friends, until 7 years later when Mina’s father decides to move the family to New Transylvania, MO so Mina’s older sister Lucy can attend New Transylvania University. Mina, knowing that Vlad can’t come, decides to give Vlad a final goodbye, only for Vlad to vanish right after Mina enters her old room leaving nothing but a note from Vlad.

Now living in New Transylvania, Mina decides to express her thoughts of Vlad’s note via animation and electric keyboard music, believing that Igor might’ve caught Vlad red-handed and took him back to the castle. On her first day at her new school, Mina meets friendly Warren, aspiring class president Lisa, and often-bullied Thomas. She invites them over for a day at an amusement park and a sleepover. However, during the sleepover, Mina and her friends encounter Vlad in her room while they were asleep. Vlad introduces himself to Mina’s friends, only to be caught by her parents.

Confessing that she was lying to her parents all along, her parents forgive her and ask why Vlad is in their house. Vlad tells everyone that Igor has become emperor of Transylvania and all of the other vampires and wants all of the vampires to suck every teenager’s blood out. Vlad also explains that Lucy must come with them in order to stop Igor. After telling Lucy everything about what’s going on, Lucy joins them. They decide to use Vlad’s airplane to get to Transylvania. After encountering other vampires under Igor’s control and batling them. The gang faces Igor head-on, defeating him after discovering his second vampire weakness, reporting to the head vampire council. Vlad thanks the gang for helping them out and tells them that they can always visit them at any time. After the gang comes home, Mina and her friends and family celebrate by hosting a successful party while Igor is trapped in prison.

In a post-credits scene, Mina receives a letter from Vlad, claiming that ever since Igor was defeated, Transylvania has become a much safer place for visitors. And Mina responds by saying, “See you on the holidays, Vlad”.

Cast

 * JoJo Siwa as Mina Harper: an aspiring animator and pop star who met Vlad when she was 7.
 * Isabella Moner as Lucy Harper: Mina's older sister who attends New Transylvania University.
 * Jim Carrey as Mr. Harper: Mina and Lucy's strict yet loving father.
 * Rachel Wiesz as Mrs. Harper: Mina and Lucy's busy mother.
 * Chosen Jacobs as Warren: a boy from New Transylvania High who befriends Mina.
 * Veronika Bonell as Lisa: a girl who dreams of becoming the next class president at NTH.
 * Joshua Rush as Thomas: a boy who gets picked on at New Transylvania High.
 * Tom Hanks as Vlad: a 700-year old vampire who met Mina when she was 7 years old.

Release
The film was released on October 30, 2020, it was originally scheduled to be released on September 10, 2020.

Marketing
The film was announced at CCXP and San Diego Comic Con in 2018. The first trailer was first seen before Sonic the Hedgehog on February 14, 2020, and was released on YouTube on the next day.