Tony Hale & D'Arcy Carden Open Up About Their Real-Life Parallels in the Magical New Movie Sketch
If you’re a fan of feel-good family films with a touch of magic and heart, Sketch — hitting theaters this Wednesday — should definitely be on your radar. It’s the kind of movie that tugs at your emotions while sprinkling in moments of wonder, and fans of Tony Hale and D’Arcy Carden will be thrilled to hear that their characters are surprisingly close to their real-life selves.
Real-Life Vibes in a Magical Story
Tony Hale plays Taylor, a devoted dad trying to navigate the tricky waters of parenting after a heartbreaking loss, while D’Arcy Carden plays his sister, Liz, who doubles as the kids’ fun-loving aunt and a savvy realtor. But what really makes this movie click is how both actors felt a genuine connection to their characters.
In a recent Zoom chat with UPI, D’Arcy didn’t hesitate to admit, “I am kind of a cool aunt. Sorry to brag. I just took my nieces to Disneyland. That’s pretty freakin’ cool.” She brought a slice of her real personality to Liz, even down to the realtor business. Fun fact: the realtor headshot on the house sign in the movie? Yep, that’s one of D’Arcy’s actual photos — snapped by photographer Luke Fontana and picked specifically for its “realtor-esque” vibe.
Meanwhile, Tony Hale, who’s no stranger to playing quirky, offbeat characters (think Buster Bluth on Arrested Development or the vice president’s aide on Veep), found something refreshingly grounded in Taylor. “He felt grounded and that was fun,” Tony shared. Even though Taylor is a widower raising two kids and Tony isn’t, he’s a parent himself, which helped him bring authenticity to the role.
The Heart of Sketch: Monsters, Art, and Healing
At its core, Sketch is about family, loss, and the incredible power of creativity to help us process our emotions. Taylor’s daughter, Amber — played by 14-year-old Bianca Belle — has a unique way of dealing with her feelings: she draws monsters. These aren’t your typical scary creatures; they are her emotional expressions come to life on paper.
But when Amber’s sketches accidentally fall into a lake, the monsters leap off the page and into the real world, setting off an adventure that’s as magical as it is meaningful.
Tony described Taylor’s grieving process in a way that feels honest and real: “At first, he’s thinking, ‘This is too much for my kids to handle. I’m gonna compartmentalize these emotions. We gotta move forward. Let me keep them happy.’ Then Amber, his daughter, teaches him that they have to actually process this stuff.” That’s a journey many families can relate to — it’s messy, imperfect, and deeply human.
Nostalgic Feel-Good Vibes for All Ages
D’Arcy reflected on how the movie gave her the same empowering feeling she got from classic ‘80s movies like The Goonies and E.T. “Those movies made me feel seen,” she said. “It didn’t feel like an adult talking down to me. Sketch taps into that same vibe — a story that respects kids and adults alike.”
Tony chimed in with a personal connection to The Goonies, revealing he has asthma like Sean Astin’s character and appreciated seeing that represented on screen. “It felt good to see that,” he said.
And Bianca, who plays Amber, also related to her character’s struggle. “Amber uses her drawings to express what she’s feeling,” Bianca explained. “I feel like I could be either not trusting enough or too trusting when it comes to telling people how I feel, so I really related to trying to seek comfort from others.”
Behind the Scenes: Crafting the Magic
Seth Worley, the writer and director of Sketch, had a clear vision for the movie. He wanted it to be a safe space for kids and adults alike to explore their feelings through art. “We wanted kids to leave the theater feeling empowered to express their complex and sometimes dark emotions creatively,” Seth said. “And we wanted parents to feel empowered to create safe spaces for those conversations. Even people who aren’t parents should feel encouraged to create those spaces for themselves and the people around them.”
The young cast bonded, too. Kalon Cox, who plays Amber’s classmate Bowman, mentioned how tight-knit the group became. “Kue Lawrence and I still talk every day — whether it’s messages, in person, or gaming. We play Marvel Rivals, Roblox, and a new game called Grounded 2. Not sponsored, but it’s awesome!”
Monsters With a Twist
One cool detail: Seth initially tried to give each of Amber’s monster drawings a direct emotional meaning — like a chart linking monsters to specific feelings. But that felt forced. Instead, the creatures are more ambiguous, much like how kids (and adults) really process emotions. “In real life, kids draw weird stuff or we draw weird stuff, and it’s not immediately traceable to a specific feeling,” Seth said.
Some of Amber’s monsters reflect her fears — for example, eyeball monsters who steal things symbolize her fear of people looking into her private notebook. But overall, the monsters are both goofy and spooky, balancing humor and tension.
Bianca herself likes to draw, but her art wasn’t used in the film. “Mine aren’t as cartoony or death-y,” she said with a laugh. “I mostly just doodle.”
Bringing these whimsical monsters to life was a challenge, requiring a lot of trial and error. Seth praised his visual effects team for striking the perfect balance: “We wanted the monsters to feel simultaneously threatening and goofy as hell. Somehow scary but also funny.”
What’s Next for Tony Hale?
While Sketch might be Tony Hale’s current big family movie, it’s not his first rodeo in the genre — he’s also the voice of Forky in the Toy Story series. In fact, Tony recently recorded some lines for Toy Story 5, which is highly anticipated. He mentioned he’s purposely avoiding seeing too much of the film ahead of time, preferring to enjoy the final product fresh.
Forky, the lovable, quirky character introduced in Toy Story 4, continues to evolve, and Tony’s excited to see where the story goes.
Quick Highlights
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Tony Hale and D’Arcy Carden say their characters Taylor and Liz in Sketch are surprisingly close to their real selves.
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Amber’s monster drawings magically come to life, symbolizing how kids process tough emotions.
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The movie explores grief, family, and healing in a heartfelt, authentic way.
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Director Seth Worley emphasizes creative self-expression as a healthy outlet for emotions.
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The young cast bonded deeply, with friendships lasting beyond filming.
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The monsters blend spooky and goofy to keep things fun yet meaningful.
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Tony Hale continues his voice work as Forky in the upcoming Toy Story 5.
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