Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Bee Movie. Unwilling to be stuck with a single job for the rest of his life, honeybee Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld) leaves the hive to explore the world outside. There he meets Vanessa Bloome (Renee Zellweger), a human florist, and the two of them strike up a friendship. But when Barry learns that humans have been harvesting bees’ honey without their permission, he decides to sue the human race.

Bee Movie is a family animated comedy about a bee who wants something more out of life. Jerry Seinfeld brings his signature style of humor to a world where bees talk, dream, and live in a microcosm of human society. True to its premise, Bee Movie has exactly one source of jokes: bees. What follows is a barrage of sight gags, bee puns, and insect-flavored stand-up comedy, all wrapped around the question of what bees would think of humans.

Bee Movie’s main weaknesses are its flimsy story and its over-reliance on humor. The plot is not meant to be taken seriously, but it feels contrived, even for a comedy. Everything from Barry’s lawsuit onward seems like a stretch, and there’s nothing to serve as an emotional core. To the movie’s credit, the gags are amusing and the tone is consistently light, but it comes across as a series of joke stitched together rather than a full story.

How much you get out of Bee Movie will depend on your sense of humor and what you are expecting. If you like simple, honest humor, alternate takes on human society, and light stories that serve as a vehicle for comedy, Bee Movie is a good pick for you. But if you are looking for a more robust family movie with well-defined characters and a strong emotional arc, you should look elsewhere.

For another animated story about insects, try A Bug’s Life or Antz. For a similar parody of human society, try Robots, Shark Tale, or Osmosis Jones. For a more serious adventure about a tiny being who braves an interaction with humans, try The Secret World of Arrietty.

[6.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389790/). I give it a 6.5 for light humor and a shaky story.

Today’s quick review: Turbo. Turbo (Ryan Reynolds), an ordinary garden snail, has only ever had one dream: to be as fast as his idol, racing champion Guy Gagne (Bill Hader). He gets the chance to make his dream come true when a freak accident imbues him with super speed. Tito (Michael Pena), a taco truck owner, sees Turbo’s potential and tries to get him a spot in the Indy 500, where Turbo can show his newfound speed to the world.

Turbo is a family animated sports comedy about a little snail with big dreams. Turbo crosses an underdog racing story with a typical family film setup about a snail who is shunned for being different. Neither side of the story offers many surprises, but they work well together, establishing Turbo’s dream and then giving him a shot at it. Solid execution and a dash of passion are enough to make Turbo an entertaining pick for the right viewer.

Turbo has a strange relationship with suspension of disbelief. The bulk of the movie works according to the standard rules of family films: snails can talk and pull off remarkable acrobatic feats, none of the human characters question Turbo’s speed, and everything runs smoothly. But the movie has to bend over backwards to make its premise seem feasible, and in the process it has to rely on more coincidences and thinner story logic than usual.

Once Turbo gets over these issues, it makes for a fun watch. The voice cast helps sell the film, with Ryan Reynolds, Michael Pena, Paul Giamatti, and Samuel L. Jackson all turning in strong performances. The art style is simple and not that distinctive, but the movie knows how to change up the visuals to make the races pop. The underdog story is predictable, but it is handled well, and it is satisfying to watch Turbo chase his dream.

Turbo is a solid pick for anyone in the mood for a lighter family film. Neither its premise nor its execution is enough to set it apart, and its plot is a mash-up of a couple of well-worn formulas. But in spite of these drawbacks, Turbo is well polished, energetic, and reasonably funny. Give it a try when you are in the mood for something light and enjoyable. Skip it if you are looking for a memorable movie that breaks new ground.

For a more manic, cartoonish, and visually inventive love letter to racing, try Speed Racer. For a live-action movie about street racing, try the early Fast & Furious movies. For another underdog story, this one about robot boxing, try Real Steel.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1860353/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a flawed but entertaining take on a classic formula.

Today’s quick review: Battle for Terra. When the last survivors of Earth invade the peaceful planet of Terra, Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) becomes a bridge between worlds when she rescues Jim Stanton (Luke Wilson), a human pilot, from his crashed ship. As General Hemmer (Brian Cox) begins to terraform the planet to make it suitable for humans, killing the Terrians in the process, Mala and Jim race to find a way for both species to coexist.

Battle for Terra is an animated science fiction movie set in a distant future. The movie is built around an interesting moral choice. Trapped in a failing spaceship with a dwindling supply of oxygen, the remaining humans must contemplate wiping out an innocent alien species so they can survive. The movie does a decent job of bringing this conflict to life, but its shallow world-building and mediocre plot mechanics make it a missed opportunity.

Battle for Terra never quite delivers what it promises. The world of Terra features a few interesting ideas, including a fully aerial society, but it is missing the depth and sense of reality seen in other sci-fi. The characters are lukewarm; Mala shows some promise as a heroine, but Jim only has the minimal traits he needs to move the plot along. The movie also misses several opportunities to make the plot more layered and less linear.

Even with these flaws, Battle for Terra conveys the story it is trying to tell. After a slow start and some clumsy maneuvering, the movie finally comes into its own near the end. The moral dilemma at the heart of the movie puts in some good work, and the final battle manages to bring the movie’s ideas together. These are not enough to make Battle for Terra stand out from the competition, but they do give it a niche as a more serious family film.

Battle for Terra gets enough right that it will appeal to some audiences, but many viewers will find it lacking. The aspects of animated films that resonate the most—the imaginative visuals, the sympathetic characters, and the emotional journeys—are all on shaky ground. Battle for Terra may still be worth a watch for those curious in its world and its story, but the average viewer may find its potential better realized elsewhere.

For another animated sci-fi movie that explores similar themes about humanity after the destruction of Earth, try Harlock: Space Pirate or Titan A.E.. For a more comedic animated sci-fi movie about a human landing on an alien planet, try Planet 51.

[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0858486/). I give it a 6.0 for a solid premise with lackluster execution.

Today’s quick review: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. Soren (Jim Sturgess) and Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), two young owl brothers, are thrust into danger when they are kidnapped and enslaved by the Pure Ones, an army of owls led by the evil Metal Beak (Joel Edgerton). To save his brother and the other kidnapped owls, Soren escapes from captivity and sets out to find the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, the mythic warriors who defeated Metal Beak before.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole is an animated fantasy action adventure directed by Zack Snyder. The story takes place in a richly drawn owl society, where parents teach their children to fly, warriors fight with talons and blades, and little owlets dream of glory. Lavish visuals and detailed world-building give Legend of the Guardians a strong foundation to work with, but some issues with its story and presentation hold it back.

Legend of the Guardians creates a world of its own. Visually, the film goes the extra mile with its CGI. The owls are realistically detailed, from their finely rendered feathers to their bird-like movements in flight. The backgrounds are gorgeous, serene forests awash in the golden glow of sunrise and the cool light of midnight. Narratively, the film strives to build an entire society, going well beyond the minimum premise of talking owls.

Still, Legend of the Guardians is hampered in a few important ways. The film’s lavish visuals work against; its golden color palette and extraneous details can make the action hard to follow. On a similar note, the story suffers from a glut of characters with difficult names, making it an effort to keep track of. More generally, Legend of the Guardians relies too much on exposition, robbing it of some of its emotional impact.

In the end, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole carves out a very pecuilar niche for itself. It is an epic fantasy adventure writ small, a credible attempt at making the lives of owls as grand and as meaningful as the mightiest clash of armies. Legend of the Guardians goes a long way towards realizing this goal, with a rich world and surprisingly intense action, but it never quite reaches its full potential. Approach with caution.

For another miniature CGI take on epic fantasy, try Epic. For an offbeat animated adventure that explores similar themes with a lighter tone, try The Tale of Despereaux.

[6.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219342/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for an impressive world and a flawed but ultimately enjoyable story.

Today’s quick review: Epic. After the death of her mother, Mary Katherine (Amanda Seyfried) goes to stay with her estranged father (Jason Sudeikis), who has spent his life trying to prove the existence of tiny people living in the forest. M.K. learns that her father is right when Queen Tara (Beyonce Knowles) shrinks her down to miniature size and charges her with protecting a seedpod that contains the lifeblood of the forest.

Epic is an animated fantasy action adventure set in a forest where the forces of life and decay are constantly at war. M.K. joins Nod (Josh Hutcherson) and Ronin (Colin Farrell), a pair of noble Leafmen, to protect the Queen’s pod from Mandrake (Christoph Waltz) and his evil army of Boggans. Epic is a classic tale of good and evil with an imaginative setting and detailed animation. However, its story and characters are something of a weak point.

Where Epic shines is its world-building. Nod, Ronin, and Queen Tara live in a minuscule fantasy kingdom where hummingbirds are steeds, leaves are armor, and proud warriors protect the forest against the corrupting influence of the Boggans. Epic’s setting is not that original, but its execution makes it a joy to take in. Every tree, weapon, and piece of clothing shows the same care and attention, making the entire world come to life.

Epic is on rockier ground with its characters. M.K. never really establishes herself as a heroine, Nod is too irresponsible to pick up the slack, and the movie cannot decide whether to make M.K.’s father a sympathetic figure or a punchline. The story has similar issues. Epic has a serviceable plot, but it never quite figures out how to drive its themes home. The result is a story that gets the job done but misses the opportunity to be greater.

Epic is a fine pick for anyone who enjoys fantasy and action for their own sake. Just spending time in Epic’s world is rewarding, and its action scenes are energetic enough to give the movie a solid backbone. But Epic falters when it comes to its story, and anyone looking for subtle character work or touching themes may be disappointed. Give it a shot if you are interested in seeing the forest from a new angle.

For a richer story from the same creator, try Rise of the Guardians. For another animated fantasy adventure about a tiny hidden world, try The Secret World of Arrietty, A Bug’s Life, or FernGully: The Last Rainforest. For a lighter take on the true nature of the forest, try My Neighbor Totoro. For a gorgeous and emotionally impactful animated fantasy movie about the fight between nature and industry, try Princess Mononoke.

[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848537/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for strong world-building and a decent story to go with it.

Today’s quick review: Rise of the Guardians. The Guardians, a team of mythical beings dedicated to protecting children around the globe, recruit Jack Frost (Chris Pine), a mischievous winter spirit, as their newest member. Jack joins forces with Nicholas St. North (Alec Baldwin), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), and the Sandman to keep their nemesis Pitch Black (Jude Law) from flooding the world with nightmares.

Rise of the Guardians is a family animated fantasy action adventure that puts a new spin on classic figures from children’s fiction. The story unites Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and more as they use their extraordinary abilities to keep the world’s children safe. The film explores familiar holiday themes of hope, wonder, and belief. However, it dresses them up in gorgeous visuals and sweeping action, resulting in something that stands on its own.

Jack Frost is the glue that holds Rise of the Guardians together. Chris Pine delivers a spot-on performance as Jack, striking a perfect balance between childlike wonder and responsibility. His outside perspective on the Guardians is exactly what the audience needs to get to know them, while his kind heart and playful spirit make him easy to like. In a movie that stretches suspension of disbelief, Jack is the character who keeps things grounded.

With its lead firmly in place, Rise of the Guardians goes on to tell a nicely scoped story that shows off each of its characters in turn. The plot is easy to follow but works in enough of the story’s unique lore that it doesn’t feel generic. Not every character design is a hit, but the visual effects and sense of motion are superb. Finally, the action makes great use of the Guardians’ powers and gives the movie plenty of excitement.

Rise of the Guardians will not work for everyone. Its premise requires a considerable amount of buy-in, its tone skews a little mature for a family film, and a large part of its appeal comes from its action. There are countless ways it could strike a viewer the wrong way: too generic, too far out, too serious, or too juvenile. But for the right viewer, Rise of the Guardians is an artfully crafted film with a rich story and quite a bit of heart.

For a Christmas action adventure with a similar reimagining of Santa Claus, try The Christmas Chronicles. For a less family-friendly adventure about a team of heroes with remarkable abilities, try The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

[7.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446192/). I give it a 7.0 for strong action and a carefully crafted story.

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.

Today’s quick review: An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster. Fievel Mousekewitz (Thomas Dekker), a young mouse living in Manhattan, tags along with Nellie Brie (Susan Boyd), an intrepid journalist, to get to the bottom of a series of supposed monster attacks that have been plaguing the city. Their investigation eventually leads them to Madame Mousey (Candi Milo), a fortune-telling poodle who has been profiting from the attacks.

An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster is an animated family adventure and the fourth film in the American Tail series. The Mystery of the Night Monster takes on the heyday of American journalism, with Fievel getting to experience a dangerous investigation firsthand. The historical setting and journalistic themes of the movie give it some potential, but a shallow story and mediocre production values keep it from doing much with its chance.

The Mystery of the Night Monster lands in the same awkward position as the other American Tail sequels. Without the clear hook of a young mouse coming to America, the movie has to cobble together a story out of disparate parts. The newspaper angle helps, but Fievel does not have an important role to play in the story, and there is no real personal angle for him. The result is a story that has a hard time drawing in the audience.

Like its predecessors, An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster will appeal most to younger audiences looking for some colorful adventure. It serves as a passable iteration on the characters of the first movie, and the newspaper angle gives it a unique identity within the series. But the movie has none of the depth, the craftsmanship, or the charm needed to compete with other animated features, making it a miss for most viewers.

For an American Tail sequel of similar caliber, try The Treasure of Manhattan Island. For an animated musical about New York with an animal cast, try Oliver & Company. For a classic romance about a bold journalist and her sensationalistic editor, try His Girl Friday.

[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0197230/). I give it the same for a decent setup with unexceptional execution.

Today’s quick review: Free Birds. Reggie (Owen Wilson), a turkey pardoned by the President, has his pampered life turned upside-down when he meets Jake (Woody Harrelson), a self-proclaimed turkey of action on an important mission. Stealing an experimental time machine (George Takei), Reggie and Jake go back in time to 1621 to change the menu at the first Thanksgiving and prevent turkeys throughout history from becoming Thanksgiving dinners.

Free Birds is an animated family adventure about a pair of turkeys on a mission to change the course of history. Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson star as the mismatched pair of Reggie and Jake, who must work together to fulfill their destiny. Free Birds has a talented voice cast but not much else going for it. The movie aims to be a silly, feel-good romp, but its weak characters and poorly justified plot undermine its best efforts.

Free Birds is a hard sell from the very beginning. The movie treats time-traveling turkeys as the most natural idea in the world, but it does not do the work necessary to get the audience onboard. Reggie receives a cursory introduction before being thrust into a new situation as the President’s pet. Jake careens into the plot with no proper explanation, and by the time the time machine enters the picture, the story stops making much sense.

Even ignoring this messy start, Free Birds does not have much to offer. The main plot involves Reggie and Jake helping Jenny (Amy Poehler) and her tribe of wild turkeys evade Captain Standish (Colm Meaney) in the days leading up to the first Thanksgiving. But none of the characters are compelling enough to make this story worthwhile, and the presence of a fully-functional time machine undermines all of the movie’s attempts at drama.

The end result is a story that does not hang together, even by the lax standards of the genre. Free Birds never manages to sell its premise, its plot, or its characters, leaving it a flurry of mediocre jokes without the structure to make them engaging. The movie scores some points for letting its voice cast show off, and it earns a few modest laughs along the way. But its basic storytelling issues keep Free Birds from being more than a niche pick.

For a much more grounded comedy about poultry who do not want to be eaten, try Chicken Run. For a more entertaining time travel comedy, try Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

[5.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621039/). I give it a 5.5 for a plot that does not hang together and humor that misses the mark.

Today’s quick review: Planet 51. Paranoia sweeps a peaceful alien town when human astronaut Chuck Baker (Dwayne Johnson) lands in their midst. Fearing that an invasion is at hand, General Grawl (Gary Oldman) mobilizes the military to hunt down the escaped human. But when Lem (Justin Long), an ordinary teenager, meets Chuck and realizes he’s not an enemy, it falls to Lem and his friends to get Chuck safely back to his ship.

Planet 51 is a family animated sci-fi adventure about an American astronaut lost on an Earth-like planet. The story follows Chuck and Lem as they avoid soldiers and citizens who think Chuck is a movie-style monster bent on conquering their planet. In spite of this colorful premise, Planet 51 does not find much to do with it. One-note humor, weak character work, and a basic plot make Planet 51 a movie that’s pleasant but ultimately unfulfilling.

Planet 51’s main shortcoming is that it only really has one joke. Apart from its green-skinned inhabitants and a few superficial details, Lem’s planet is a carbon copy of 1950s America, down to the clothes, technology, and taste in science fiction. This makes for a charming enough backdrop and an easy source of humor, but the movie never grows beyond it. Instead of building up its own flavor of comedy, Planet 51 keeps recycling the same cheap jokes.

Planet 51 also struggles with its characters. Before Chuck enters his life, Lem is a generic teenager with generic problems. There is no particular reason to sympathize with him or find him interesting. For his part, Chuck is more of a joke than a character. His egotistical personality means that he is entirely unfazed at discovering a planet full of human-like aliens, and he never develops the rapport with Lem needed to make their story touching.

Planet 51 is a fun romp that never figures out how to make its premise work. The movie’s inverted take on the usual boy-meets-alien story gives it an interesting hook, and its light tone makes it a pleasant enough watch even for skeptical viewers. But Planet 51 is missing the sharp humor and rich character development that family adventures are usually able to offer, making it a shallow film that is easy to skip.

For an animated sci-fi adventure with the inverse premise, try Escape from Planet Earth. For one with a similar flavor of 50s-inspired science fiction, try Monsters vs. Aliens. For one that puts a Cold War-era setting to better use, try The Iron Giant. For a somewhat flaky family comedy about an alien invasion, try Chicken Little. For a more energetic meeting of the worlds, try Home.

[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762125/). I give it the same for a story that never clicks.