Today’s quick review: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit. Upset with her family, Janey (Rhyon Nicole Brown) wanders into the woods and meets Brer Turtle (Danny Glover), a kind turtle who tells her all about the world of the animals. His stories center around Brer Rabbit (Nick Cannon), a clever rabbit who uses his wits to outsmart Brer Fox (D.L. Hughley), Brer Wolf (Wayne Brady), and any other animals who try to eat him.
The Adventures of Brer Rabbit is a family animated comedy based on the classic folktales. In a series of short adventures, Brer Rabbit uses quick thinking and reverse psychology to get the better of his enemies. The movie aims for a young audience, with simple storytelling and an emphasis on slapstick. Still, apt voice acting, enthusiastic delivery, and good use of a limited budget give the movie a certain amount of charm.
The Adventures of Brer Rabbit is at its best when it is having fun. The stories lend themselves to Looney Tunes-style cartoon slapstick, and seeing Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox take shots at each other is surprisingly comforting. Nick Cannon, D.L. Hughley, and some pleasant character designs provide most of the appeal here. When everything is running smoothly, the movie provides just the kind of lunacy that can only work in an animated medium.
Unfortunately, The Adventures of Brer Rabbit has too weak of a foundation to put its strengths to good use. The stories are cute enough, but they tend to be variations on the same theme. The framing device of Janey listening to Brer Turtle is a weak point for the movie. The limited budget shows in the backgrounds and some of the animation. And while the movie earns a couple of laughs, it has a low hit rate overall.
The Adventures of Brer Rabbit is a movie with limited appeal. Younger audiences will find it entertaining enough, but anyone else will find it lacks any sort of depth. Those willing to take the plunge will find some charm in the mischievous antics of its characters, but shaky fundamentals mean that there is no real payoff for anyone who sticks it out. Most viewers will want to skip it, even if it does have glimmers of potential.
For a more enduring animated tale of the animal world, try The Jungle Book. For a more exaggerated flavor of cartoon slapstick, try any of the classic Looney Tunes shorts.
[5.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493201/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for fun moments without the support they need.