Today’s quick review: Chicken Little. One year after his claim that the sky was falling made him a laughingstock, Chicken Little (Zach Braff) is trying to repair both his reputation and his relationship with his dad (Garry Marshall). But just as things are looking up, Chicken Little learns something that no one will believe: that his town is being invaded by aliens.
Chicken Little is a CGI-animated family adventure comedy from Disney. Chicken Little adapts the classic children’s story with a science fiction twist, making aliens the cause of Chicken Little’s panic. The movie is rendered with cartoonish CGI that works well enough for its anthropomorphic animals and bouncy action, but the quality falls well short of that found in later Disney films.
As a comedy, Chicken Little is a mixed bag. The movie pulls off a few genuinely cute and funny moments. There are enough gags that many of them hit their mark, although there are no real standouts. But Chicken Little’s jokes are simple to a fault, a far cry from Disney’s usual layered humor. The movie also relies too heavily on pop music and dancing to earn its laughs. As a result, the movie feels insubstantial, even for a kids’ comedy.
Chicken Little is a treasure trove of familiar voice actors. Zach Braff is a surprisingly good fit for Chicken Little, a unpopular, accident-prone boy who just wants to please his father. The supporting cast includes Joan Cusack, Steve Zahn, and Garry Marshall. There are also appearances by Don Knotts, Patrick Stewart, Wallace Shawn, Harry Shearer, Patrick Warburton, and Adam West.
Watch Chicken Little when you are in the mood for a light but shallow comedy. The energetic tone and a couple of good moments make it a decent watch, but the craftsmanship needed to make it a memorable movie just isn’t there. Skip it if you are looking for bigger laughs or the Disney magic.
5.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for modest entertainment value.