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Movie Review by:
Jim "Good Old JR" Rutkowski
Directed by: Matt O'Callaghan
Written by: Kenneth Kaufman, David Reynolds. Based on the book
series by Margret Rey & H.A.Rey.
Starring the Voices of: Will Ferrell, Joan Plowright, Dick van Dyke
Running time: 90 minutes,
Released: 02/10/06.
Rated G |
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 I
can't remember the last time I've had an experience of such
overwhelming niceness. The makers of "Curious George" have
figured out how to make an innocent cartoon that will amuse
knee-nuzzlers without hitting adults like a liter of
chloroform.
Adapting the gentle children's classics by H.A. Rey took a
bit of doing. In virtually every outing, the good,
inquisitive little chimp would cause a bit of mischief and
be rescued by The Man in the Yellow Hat. The End. The
stories captured the dynamics of an idealized parent and
child relationship. Little George brings a messy but
boundless delight to exploring the world. Yellow Hat tidies
up after him, never spoils his fun, and in return enjoys a
life that is a lot more interesting.
In terms of dramatic construction, the books are one step up
from "Teletubbies," and turning George's antics into a yarn
with intergenerational appeal is a tricky balancing act. The
film adds a tad of structure, mild conflict and a smidge of
romance.
The Man has a name now (Ted), a job (curator at the stuffy
Bloomsberry Museum), and a voice (Will Ferrell). Ted meets
George while leading an African expedition for a fabled
idol. The statue is just the thing needed to turn around the
museum's falling attendance. In fact, it's the only thing
standing between the institution and the wrecker's ball.
The mission doesn't go as planned, however. Ted's main
trophy from Africa is the friendly little ape, whose high
jinks back in the big city complicate Ted's life. But he
also helps save the day for the museum and brings his
grownup pal closer to Maggie (Drew Barrymore), a fetching
teacher who never misses one of Ted's lectures. There are
smiles for the preschool crowd (George plays a mean game of
peekaboo) and their parents and grandparents (an enlarging
projector makes George appear Kong-sized as he travels
through the town).
The animation, combining traditional cell painting and
digital effects, is faithful to Rey's simple, loose
watercolor illustrations. More important, the spirit of the
stories remains intact. The only bothersome aspect of the
production is the drab score by Jack Johnson, whose lullaby
rhythms quickly grow blah. Otherwise, although its main
character loves to make a mess, "Curious George" is pretty
neat. |
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CURIOUS
GEORGE ©
2006 United International Pictures.
All Rights Reserved
Review © 2006 Alternate Reality, Inc. |
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