Barnyard

PG           90min           2006

“Barnyard” is the coming of age story of a transgender cow leading the farm animals after coyotes kill his transgender father cow.

This film was totally uncalled for and was done better as the ‘The Lion King’. The target audience, children, doesn’t need to know about upright transgender animals. The theme of it is a little more for adults. It miss represented itself.

If I were a parent I wouldn’t want my child to know about transgender until they were old enough to understand the concept of a transgender. Even some adults have trouble understand transgender. If they were suppose to be male then animators should have represented them as bulls as they did have some in they group of animals.

This theme was represented more maturely than ‘The Lion King’ and was a little too mature for kids. The comedy was a little more moronic that it needed to be. Its as if the writers just thought of funny thing to put in a dramatic tale to lighten up the movie. Its like two different movies are taking place.

It starts out as a comedy, about barn animals that walking on their hind legs acting human. Then after the father cow dies in turns into a revenge action movie with comedy added to lighten the mood for kids. Several times the Otis the cow has a chance to make the farm safer for the rest of the animals by killing the head coyote and doesn’t.

The film was thrown together to cash in to the growing popularity of animated film. This proves that you can’t just take a story getting big name celebrities to voice the animation and it will be good. The story has to at least have something to offer and ‘Barnyard’ doesn’t in my opinion.

I give it 2/5 Gs.

"Monster House (2006)"

PG           91min           2006

“Monster House” is the tale of the haunted house on the street. When D.J. kills his neighbor Mr. Nebbercracker he comes back to get revenge by inhabiting his house. Now D.J., his best friend Chowder, and a girl scout Jenny must prove the house is really haunted and exorcize Mr. Nebbercracker.

Everyone has known about the haunted house in their neighborhood. “Monster House” takes this tale and turns it on its head. This movie is fun and entertaining and keeps you laughing using funny situations. When Jenny enters the headquarters for the first time, her observations will have you laughing. Although the story goes out there you still take the trip. The big name talent didn’t over shadow this movie.

“Monster House” is about-facing your fears of the unknown based around a haunted house. The three main characters are in that awkward phase just before puberty, Facing growing up and losing that innocence.

These characters keep you watching because you want to know what there going to do next. The situations that they get into are funny and keep the plot moving; even when the story goes into left field you want to go along for the ride. Everyone has known something scary. These kids face their fear in the form of haunted house and decide to face it, destroy it and along the way forming a tripod of friendship.

Monster House had the voicing talents of Kevin James, Nick Cannon, Jason Lee, Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal. It’s the Voicing talents of the three unknown children stars that shine in this film. They imbue the character with the emotions and flare that you see on the screen. Some of this be name talent was wasted on the character and they didn’t out shine the three stars. When you figure out the voice behind the character its like finding a great prize in the “Cracker Jacks” box.

Overall Monster House is a great film because it’s funny and entertaining. The has a nice story about friendship, growing up and facing your fears. The “Hollywood” talent in this film doesn’t out shine the unknown actors and is a treat when you figure them out. It has something for everyone, young or old.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"Cars (2006)"

G           116min           2006

“Cars” is an animated movie where the cars talk and have distinct personalities. When a up an coming arrogant racecar gets lost in Midwest American, he finds something that has been missing in his life.

Voiced by some of Hollywood’s top talent, a new marketing ploy from film companies, it an interesting story that I didn’t find interesting. The best draw for me was Mader voiced by Larry ”The Cable Guy”, and he was under used. The subject matter was a little to head for them and was done better by several live action films. This movie was totally geared to children with its bright and colorful cars.

Half the funny of these animation movies is not looking at any publicity, so that when I watching it I can figure out the voice behind the characters. Even with the voicing talents of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, and Larry “The Cable Guy” could keep me interested. I felt that the performances were hollow, that they weren’t the cars by just voicing them. I didn’t feel the emotion in the voice that should have accompanied the action on the screen. But Larry ”The Cable Guy” did shine as the dim-witted “Mader”

This movie’s subject matter was a little thin for adults and the cars distracted the children from a boring movie. “Days of Thunder” is a much better live action version of “Cars. It just didn’t work for me and it can’t be blamed on me not being the demographic because I absolutely loved “Monster House” and “Over the Hedge”.

“Cars” was geared to kids using bright and colorful cars; as the title implies they were the movie. Made specifically to market something to children. This was made to make children want everything “Cars, toy cars, birthday cakes, and merchandise galore. This was made to be a money making machine.

Cars should have been a live action film. It has a thin plot gear to children not for the purpose of entertainment but for the “envy” of all. It had a weak plot and the voice acting was hollow. Other animation this year out shined this film.

I give it a 2/5 Gs.

"Over the Hedge"

PG           89min           2006

“Over the Hedge” is the story of a raccoon named RJ that uses a mismatched family of forest creatures to repay a debt he owes to a bear named Vincent by invaded a suburban cul-de-sac.

This is a movie that children and adults alike will enjoy. Its an funny and amazing tale with some of Hollywood’s best talent voice these animated creatures. Half the funny of the movie is trying to figure out the voice behind the creatures. I won’t ruin the surprise.

The highlight of this film is Hammy. He steal the show from all the other creatures just as his live action counter part does. The sound this actor makes to go with the animated faces with have you throwing up from laughter.

There is nothing bad about this movie. You would have to be a total Scrooge not to like this film. Its great to watch, it’s great to give as a gift, and it begs ti be watched several more times.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

"Hoodwinked"

PG           80min           2005

“Hoodwinked” is a re-imagining of the ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ tale. It’s the mystery that unfolds as Red is on her way to granny’s house, to protect her secret recipes.

It is imaginative, funny, and funny for all to have. It took a tale we all know and throw against the wall and let the piece fall where they may. Kids will love it for all the action and animation. Parents will love it because of the familiarity with the characters and how they have been re-imagined.

“Little Red Riding Hood” has elements of the original story but its been torn apart and stretched like ‘Play Dough’. It’s a old story told new to a new generation, that the old will find interest and funny too. There are characters added that make the story so funny,

‘Hoodwinked’ has big name star voices that complement their characters and some voices are distinct but you can place the actor. Kids will love the animation because of its bright vibrant colors. The colors are cheery and delight.

This isn’t our ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ this is Red for a new generation. She is a confident young woman who is capable of making to Granny’s house. Granny’s no longer sitting by the fire waiting to die. The re-imaging of all the character is what make this tell funny.

“Hoodwinked” is one of the better-animated movies. This will make most children complacent enough to finish an entire load of laundry. It’s one that you can what it several times and pick up a clue that you didn’t see before.

I give it 3/5 Gs.