Sleight of Film

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.

Today’s quick review: Escape from Planet Earth. On a mission to Earth, space adventurer Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) is ambushed and captured by General Shanker (William Shatner), the head of Area 51. His brother Gary (Rob Coddry), a brainy operator from Mission Control, launches a hasty rescue mission only to fall into Shanker’s clutches himself. Together, the brothers must find a way to escape and stop Shanker from taking over the galaxy.

Escape from Planet Earth is a family animated sci-fi adventure about two alien brothers trying to break out of Area 51. Scorch, a brash show-off, and Gary, a cautious thinker, have to put aside their differences and learn to work together. Escape from Planet Earth gets off to a promising start, with clear stakes, good character dynamics, and a talented voice cast. However, its execution of its ideas leaves something to be desired.

Escape from Planet Earth does a fine job with the basics. The sibling rivalry between Gary and Scorch is a solid foundation to build on, the idealized space adventures of the planet Baab are a fun inclusion, and the broad strokes of the plot work well, a mission that spirals out of control and needs the help of family to get back on track. All of this, plus a few decent jokes, is enough to make the movie a reasonable pick for interested viewers.

However, Escape from Planet Earth has a harder time managing the details. The jokes are fine but never outstanding. They suffer from mediocre timing and a lack of memorable punchlines. The script has similar problems. The conflicts it sets up are promising, but they tend to peter out rather than building to a big climax. Finally, the sense of spectacle is not what it could be, with no major action sequences to show off the animation.

Give Escape from Planet Earth a shot when you are in the mood for a basic but competent sci-fi comedy adventure. A pleasant world and fun character dynamics makes it an enjoyable watch for anyone who likes the genre. But the movie does not do much to set itself apart, and the payoff is not enough to make the movie worthwhile for a skeptical viewer. Approach with caution.

Check out Monsters vs. Aliens for a similar spoof of classic sci-fi. For an animated sci-fi comedy with more personality, try Megamind.

[5.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765446/). I give it a 6.5 for a serviceable story that’s missing some flair.

Today’s quick review: Home. Looking for a planet to hide from the Gorg, the Boov take over Earth, relocating all of its inhabitants to artificial communities based on the Boov’s crude understanding of human culture. Tip (Rihanna), a teenage girl, is separated from her mother Lucy (Jennifer Lopez) in the chaos. To find her, Tip teams up with Oh (Jim Parsons), a naive Boov who became a fugitive when he accidentally sent the Gorg their location.

Home is a family animated sci-fi adventure about an alien invasion. The story follows the unlikely friendship between a human girl and a Boov outcast as they look for her mother and a way to undo his greatest mistake. Home features a fast-paced plot, cartoonish comedy based on alien anatomy, and a decent story about bridging cultural divides. However, its particular flavor of ridiculous humor will not appeal to everyone.

Home’s main weakness is its rough start. The early part of the movie introduces the Boov, their invasion of Earth, and Oh in particular. The Boov are designed for comedy, from their elastic bodies to their gravity-based technology and skewed perspective on humanity. As such, the movie is front-loaded with forced and predictable humor. Some viewers will find Oh and the other Boov endearing, but for others, it will be a bad first impression.

Home comes into its own as its plot gets underway. Tip and Oh set off on a trip around the globe in a flying car, avoiding Boov patrols as they look for Tip’s mother. The story is typical for a family adventure, but it manages to squeeze in more plot than usual. The animation works perfectly for action sequencs and chases. Finally, Home is bolstered by an energetic soundtrack that does excellent work setting the tone of the film.

Home will not suit everyone. Its over-reliance on goofy humor, mediocre friendship between its main characters, and rocky start keep it from being a surefire hit. But once it finds its rhythm, Home is a fun adventure with some charming moments and entertaining gags. Younger audiences and anyone who enjoys family-friendly animation should give it a try. Skip it if you’re looking for something with a more powerful emotional impact.

For a more emotional family adventure about a friendship with an alien, try E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial or Lilo & Stitch. For another animated movie about an alien invasion, try Chicken Little. For another family sci-fi film that provides a new perspective on human society, try WALL-E. For a sci-fi comedy with a drier sense of humor, try The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

[6.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2224026/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for good energy and a few questionable choices.

Today’s quick review: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader), the inventor whose food machine nearly destroyed the world, gets a shot at redemption when Chester V (Will Forte), a celebrity inventor, recruits him for a secret mission. Along with Sam Sparks (Anna Faris) and their friends, Flint returns to the island of Swallow Falls, which his damaged food machine has turned into a lush jungle filled with food animals.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is an animated family adventure comedy. The story picks up shortly after the events of the first film, as Flint gets the chance to prove himself to his idol. The sequel does a good job of building on concepts introduced in the original, adding animate food to the mix and continuing the characters’ story arcs. Still, its bizarre setting and its kid-friendly plot will not appeal to everyone.

Sequels always face the difficult problem of telling a new story that stays true to the spirit of the original. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is one of the few that achieves this. Its premise is a natural extension of the first movie, apart from the excusably abrupt introduction of Chester V and his company. Moreover, the world and the characters have already been established, meaning that the movie is free to try out new combinations of ideas.

In terms of quality, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is not quite as sharp or as focused as the first film, but it has a lot of the same appeal. The movie quickly finds its comedic rhythm, using a mixture of over-the-top characters, off-the-wall gadgets, and food punts to keep the audience on their toes. The haphazard style of comedy won’t suit some viewers, but anyone who enjoyed the first film will feel right at home.

As far as weaknesses go, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is an exaggerated version of the first film. The emotional core of the movie is buried under even more layers of comedy, the setting is even less grounded than before, and the movie is almost impossible to watch without having seen the original. But even with these flaws, the movie never makes any serious missteps, and it still works perfectly well as a family-friendly romp.

If you enjoyed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, give the sequel a shot. It captures many of the strengths of the first movie without feeling like a rehash, and apart from a more outlandish story, there is no substantial drop in quality. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is a fine pick for anyone willing to embrace the sillier, more eccentric side of the family comedy genre. Skip it if you are looking for a more heartfelt story.

For an animated comedy sequel in the same vein, try The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. For an animated sequel with a similar conflict, try Incredibles 2. For a dark thriller about a cult-like tech company, try The Circle. For a live-action adventure about a journey into a dangerous jungle, try the original Jumanji.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1985966/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a story that makes good use of its premise.

Today’s quick review: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader), an aspiring inventor, hits it big when he invents a machine that makes food rain from the sky. Sam Sparks (Anna Faris), a rookie weathergirl, jumps on the story and turns Flint’s invention into a popular sensation. But when the Mayor (Bruce Campbell) convinces Flint to crank his machine into overdrive, it threatens to bury the town beneath a storm of giant food.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an animated family disaster comedy about a food machine run amok. Once an outcast for his failed inventions, Flint finds himself a celebrity when one of his machines actually works. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an adventure that’s packed with over-the-top comedy and colorful characters. The movie scores points for its humor and creative plot, but it can be hard to connect with at an emotional level.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs goes places that no other movie can. The plot is a flight of fancy that kicks logic to the curb and lets imagination run free. Flint’s world is filled with off-the-wall gadgets, super-strong cops (Mr. T), aging child mascots (Andy Samberg), and gullible townsfolk, fueling a unique mixture of food jokes, cartoonish slapstick, and mock-epic situations.

The drawback of all this creativity is that the movie can be a little too much to handle. Even ignoring its outlandish premise, the movie goes out of its way to be ridiculous. Countless jokes clamor for the viewer’s attention, and while many of them hit the mark, the ones that miss miss in a big way. It doesn’t help that the most grounded subplots—Flint’s relationships with Sam and with his father (James Caan)—are also played for laughs.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is an entertaining romp that takes full advantage of an original premise. Its absurd writing and manic style of humor will put off some viewers, but anyone willing to roll with the punches will find that it has a lot to offer in the way of comedy. Anyone looking for a more grounded, emotionally resonant family comedy should approach with caution.

For an animated spy action comedy about an unconventional inventor, try Spies in Disguise. For another hyperactive family comedy from the same directors, try The Lego Movie. For another animated family comedy with plenty of mad science, try Megamind, Meet the Robinsons, or Mr. Peabody & Sherman. For a somewhat weaker family disaster comedy with a father-son relationship, try Chicken Little.

[6.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844471/). I give it a 7.0 for quirky fun that may be too far out for some viewers.