Tommy Davidson and Tichina Arnold Lead Family Comedy 'Search Party: Where's Paw Paw'
Tommy Davidson and Tichina Arnold will lead the family comedy feature "Search Party: Where's Paw Paw," which recently wrapped production in Los Angeles, according to Deadline (Deadline).
The film is a PG-rated, early-2000s-inspired comedy about three best friends on a search party. Davidson plays PawPaw, a grandfather who goes missing from his nursing home while his health takes a sudden turn. Arnold plays the chaotic Auntie who joins the hunt. The story follows college student Noble Williams, who rushes home after receiving the call about her grandfather, and must track him down before time runs out.
Behind the camera, Victoria Monai Richards makes her directorial debut. She also co-wrote the screenplay with Sherrie Richards and stars as Noble. Rounding out the main cast are Daisy Fernandez and Nijah Brenea. According to the film's official website, Richards was 22 when she took on the triple role of writer, director, and lead — a rare combination for a first-time feature director.
Production comes from Faith Plus Works Productions, a newly launched family-owned start-up, alongside The Harold Brothers. The producing team includes Sherrie Richards, Victoria Monai Richards, Joseph Harold, Joel Harold, and Grant Gilmore. The crew spans cinematographer Taylor James Randall, editor Patrick Lawrence, composer Matt Orenstein, production designer Krystyna Loboda, costume designer Malcolm Bacani, and sound designer Jake Gamboa.
"Search Party: Where's Paw Paw" appeared in the 2024 Micheaux Film Festival lineup (Deadline), placing it on the festival circuit before principal photography concluded. The film's Instagram account promotes it with the tagline "Let's go on a wild-goose chase to find PawPaw!" (Instagram).
A theatrical release is expected in the fall. No distribution deal has been publicly announced, so the exact date and number of screens remain to be confirmed.
For Davidson, the role adds to a comedy career stretching back to the early 1990s. Arnold, a familiar face from television sitcoms, brings her own comic presence to the Auntie role. Pairing them in a family-friendly caper gives the film two seasoned performers at its centre, anchored by a first-time director who wrote the part she plays.
