I almost feel guilty writing a negative slanted review of this film. I saw it on a Saturday afternoon matinée with my six year old son, we had a great time and he loved it. And isn't that what the movie experience should be about. To nitpick the awkward scenes, the cheesy dialogue, the endless in-your-face-ain't-I-clever movie references that no kid would ever get - well that just seems churlish, doesn't it.
Well, then, call me a churl.
Chicken Little is minimally passable kids entertainment. As Disney's first "non-Pixar" foray into computer animation, it s really a failure when you consider that Pixar's films rank from great to brilliant.
The plot involves our cute little chicken (Zach Braff, brimming with enough sincerity for a lifetime of Church of the Latter Day Saints commercials) sending his town into panic because a small octagonal piece of the sky has fallen on his noggin. It turns out to be nothing but an acorn, and he is outcast for causing the scare. We know he was right, but no-one, especially his emotionally absent single dad (Gary Marshall) believes him. Quick aside, why can't any Disney main character have two living parents?
From there, we get to see his redemption, failure, near redemption, near failure and so on and so on. The cast is rife with wacky sidekicks, evil villains, aliens, even a nice, funny little cameo by PAtrick Stewart as a teacher of the Mutton language.
Chicken Little is OK, and completely inoffensive. It does not achieve the greatness of The Incredibles or Shrek - in fact it does not come close. The latter two are movies adult can and will see on their own. Chicken Little requires Child Accompaniment. ** out of ****.
Well, then, call me a churl.
Chicken Little is minimally passable kids entertainment. As Disney's first "non-Pixar" foray into computer animation, it s really a failure when you consider that Pixar's films rank from great to brilliant.
The plot involves our cute little chicken (Zach Braff, brimming with enough sincerity for a lifetime of Church of the Latter Day Saints commercials) sending his town into panic because a small octagonal piece of the sky has fallen on his noggin. It turns out to be nothing but an acorn, and he is outcast for causing the scare. We know he was right, but no-one, especially his emotionally absent single dad (Gary Marshall) believes him. Quick aside, why can't any Disney main character have two living parents?
From there, we get to see his redemption, failure, near redemption, near failure and so on and so on. The cast is rife with wacky sidekicks, evil villains, aliens, even a nice, funny little cameo by PAtrick Stewart as a teacher of the Mutton language.
Chicken Little is OK, and completely inoffensive. It does not achieve the greatness of The Incredibles or Shrek - in fact it does not come close. The latter two are movies adult can and will see on their own. Chicken Little requires Child Accompaniment. ** out of ****.