Woody Woodpecker (2017) User Reviews

Really awful, but I don't know what I expected

[DakedoJones · 3/10 · 22 February 2018]

Hey, remember all those movies from the late 2000s where a vintage cartoon character is suddenly in extra realistic CGI, now a side character to a live action drama about corporate business deals and/or a workaholic father who needs to spend time with his family? Well, we've got one of those for Woody Woodpecker now, and he now belches, farts, and makes Hip Cool jokes about "swiping left" and ringtones and songs that are his "jam". It's a movie from 2017 that feels like it's from 2008.

I wasn't exactly expecting Fargo or something, but why are CGI family movies almost always this terrible? This film barely counts as family material...Woody outright tries to murder people via such schemes including electrocution, gas explosions, and pouring wet cement into an occupied car. He also defecates on people, with one character (unknowingly) eagerly eating it. A character remarks that she "needs a Xanny" in response to a loud kid. Woody's driving force for being the harbinger of chaos is just, "I don't want an artsy house near my tree, so it's time to get some humans almost killed." Multiple subplots come and go; the only one I cared about was how the lawyer's son joins a band to both prove himself and to help out some friends at a talent show. You may ask, "I thought this movie was about land development and paternal bonding. What talent show?" Well, just wait until you have to climb through the other subplots involving a black market for stuffed birds, Woody's entire species being extinct, two brothers who are poachers, a forest ranger trying to catch said poachers, a house fire with improperly-placed blame, a sickly father-in-law, a Xanax-popping interior decorator and her flimsy marriage, and a guitar. The morning after I watched this movie, I had trace memories of it, and thought, "Wait, that was real? That was a thing that I really watched? And it came out in 2017?!" This film is disjointed, and definitely not kid-friendly.

I can't imagine being a Woody Woodpecker fan and seeing this; it reminds me a lot of the film "Furry Vengeance" from 2010, albeit now with a talking bird shoving his bug-eyed, CGI face in the camera "Son of the Mask" style. I give this a 3/10 because the kid playing the lawyer's son gave a really good performance, and the ending song was catchy. Otherwise, just run away from this. So many better children's/family movies have come out in the past decade, so this film both has no reason being so bad, AND you owe it to your kids to put on something better.

Not exactly the worst but sadly very mediocre

[gavin-thelordofthefu-48-460297 · 4/10 · 21 February 2018]

I'm not a fan of Woody the Woodpecker, although I do remember watching a couple of cartoons revolving around the character when I was a kid. But I do understand how certain people are fond of that lovable woodpecker. So, wouldn't you know it, Hollywood decided to make a live action/cgi adaptation of said character and so far it falls I the same category of movie adaptations of classic cartoon characters not being very good. But that's not why I decided to watch it on Netflix a few days ago. The only reason is because I was expecting something that would at least have some effort. Unfortunately, it turned out to be very mediocre. It's marginally better than the terrible live action Death Note film back in 2017, but its still not very good.

The story is juvenile and above all predictable with several cliches we've seen before which I'm not going to spoil, the writing is complete garbage with only one or two moments that are funny but the rest of the film is flat out mediocre so that doesn't matter, the characters are really generic despite the actors themselves trying hard, and the pacing is really uneven despite being only an hour and a half longer.

It's a shame because there are some good things that came out of it. The CGI is ok and is accurately detailed on the design of Woody and the voice actor Eric Bauza did a good job imitating the actual character. Also the music score is pleasant and the scenery is very pretty.

Is Woody Woodpecker as terrible as the critics and audiences made it out to be? Nope, I wouldn't go too far to say I hated it, it sadly, its still not a good film. My recommendation: just watch the cartoon and give this one a skip unless you have kids. Otherwise, I'd stick to Speed Racer (2008).

Disappointing

[alvesmarceloalves-73751 · 4/10 · 11 March 2018]

As a fan of the cartoon, one of my favorites of all my life, I expected more for the first live-action version of the Woody Woodpecker. The result is a bit disappointing. Woody Woodpecker's first movie resulted in a silly, uninspired film with very poor acting. The good things are just the funny situations created by Woody and his characteristic laughter that animated my mornings in childhood and adolescence.

My kids liked this and that greatly concerns me

[bryanb480 · 2/10 · 13 August 2019]

Everything about this movie feels lazy. Some of the actors did the best they could with the garbage they had to work with, but it's still hot garbage. Honestly, there's nothing redeeming about this movie. It's not cute, it's not funny, it's not endearing, it's not worth watching for free. My kids stumbled on this on Netflix and they giggled and asked to watch it again at some point. I'm deeply disturbed that they enjoyed this film. I'm not sure these are my kids.

There's a reason I'd never heard of it

[Moonstrike9 · 1/10 · 16 February 2018]

It's because it stinks. The acting stinks (Tim Omundson manages to be somewhat ok, but his character is empty and moronic). The music stinks. Woody Woodpecker's character and voicer is annoying, vapid, and obnoxious. Everything and everyone is see through and one dimensional. Universal was like,what's the crappiest thing we can do with a beloved character? Oh I know, let's butcher it with lazy writing and worse production. Good grief it stinks.

Horrible

[cliffordadamsii · 2/10 · 15 February 2018]

I have no idea why the writers found it necessary to start the movie with a broken family plot. Rich dad divorces mom and hooks up with younger sex object who needs a "Xanny" at one point. Why?!

Dad is forced to take kid along on a vacation which really is dad trying to build a mansion in the forest.

I think a key aspect of writing for kids is that the writers have kids. Are we targeting ages 4 - 7? 8 to 10? up to 12 years old (because they won't believe a woodpecker drummed on soup cans to produce Jon Bonham-esque sound).

I feel sorry for anyone who had any role in this project, but mostly anyone who decided to watch it.

Why? Just why.

if my daughter did not enjoy it,

[sueharriz · 2/10 · 14 April 2018]

....then as an adult, would i? she watched it for 10 minutes and she picked up her Lego toys,started playing with it,completely ignorant of the movie. sheesshhhh!!!!

A failure!

[realart_ds · 1/10 · 4 February 2018]

A film without grace and without a well-executed script, an unfortunate montage, a flat photography, nothing innovative, nothing fun and completely a waste in something that many of us who grew up watching the cartoon would have enjoyed if the right decisions had been made, starting with-how the movie was made, and having a better direction.

A plot forced to give a half message of father son relationship, with themes of divorce and young stepmother that nothing fits into a movie where the protagonist should be woody. But mistakenly they put him as a third actor, and focus more on the plot of the poor child with separated parents, and an absent father who seeks to recover the place with his son.

I think the correct line would have been pure animation, without the need to interact with the real human world, in this way they would have brought to the plot characters that complete woody like Buzz Buzzard, Wally walrus to name a few, and maybe in its second part and to have an interaction with humans, in the human world, as it was the new series.

The Worst One Out of All The Crappy Cartoon Reboots

[benjaminsuey · 12 March 2018]

This film is god awful! The jokes are predictable, the characters are completely forgettable, there's stereotypes, cliched plot lines, bad effects, and just a living hell to sit through.

Enjoy Watching It

[merrylynn-70198 · 6/10 · 22 June 2018]

I grew up with Woodypecker and he still makes me laugh. My grandchildren love this movie and I enjoy watching it with them..The premise of the movie is about a rich, self absorbed, divorced businessman with a snobby, pampered, annoying girlfriend who learns to reconnect and build a relationship with his really nice son. He also eventually realizes money isn't everything and learns to appreciate the beauty of nature and what he's been missing out on.

Save Yourself

[jedsherman · 2/10 · 18 May 2019]

I have seen a lot of bad movies, but this has to be the worst.

Grew up with the Woody Woodpecker show

[lovettstough · 10/10 · 7 February 2018]

I was born in 1974 so now I am 43 and the Woody Woodpecker Show was one of my favorite cartoons growing up. Needless to say I loved this movie. Woody Woodpecker was just as funny and crazy in this movie as he was in the show. I seen some of the review and they were negative but those a bit younger than me especially millennials don't know what good child friendly entertainment is & simply don't appreciate it especially since they are always stuck on their smart phones and computers. Nobody really watches cartoons much less plays outside anymore. I notice the only children I have seen watching cartoons is babies and toddlers maybe up to 5 years old give or take. I wish and hope they would make a Mighty Mouse movie too as well. These child friendly cartoons back then were really good for children and taught children how to be the good guy and that it was better to be the good guy.

silly fun

[rocklobster-32435 · 7/10 · 28 February 2018]

I didn't expect much- was glad it wasn't so annoying like the cartoons- they gave me a headache. The more I watched the more I laughed.

AWFUL

[rhee_qp · 1/10 · 12 February 2018]

Bad emotion of every actor and actress. Bad script. My kid watched it with flat expression, even when the movie try to make us laugh. Hopefully there's another woody woodpecker better movie next time.

Another live action atrocity.

[omega2064 · 1/10 · 15 March 2018]

Woody Woodpecker continues the trend of these live action remakes of cartoon characters and then the film makers showing just how much they despise the cartoon and anyone who liked it.

Woody Woodpecker though tries to outdo the others by being as vile and offensive as possible. This was an ordeal to sit thorough. It makes the Underdog movie look good. Why does Hollywood keep making these things.

Avoid this one at all costs.

You know it's a bad movie when

[makuribu · 1/10 · 2 February 2018]

The ONLY joke appears in the cast list. The father's name is Lance Walters, a play on Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker. I paid $1100 for my ticket, but it did come with a flight to Rio. I should have slept. The movie is another fine example of why offering tax credits for making movies is immoral. I feel, as a Canadian taxpayer, as if I personally approved the production of this movie. I didn't. Woody Woodpecker is apparently (and inexplicably) popular in Brazil, to whom this movie is targeted. I used to watch Woody Woodpecker reruns as a college student. They were a source of ironic laughs because they were pretty crappy ripoffs of Bugs Bunny, but with a singularly unappealing lead character. Where Bugs was a jerk to people who imposed on him, defending his turf from people who wanted to pave over his rabbit hole or eat him or shoot him or whatever, Woody was just a jerk. This movie gives him a sympathetic cause with a green environmentalist tinge, but it is bereft of any creativity. There is the troubled father son relationship, the bullied kid, every cliche you could possibly imagine. And Woody? He does fart and poop jokes, because the people responsible have no ability to come up with anything the slightest bit interesting. It would be as offensive a treatment of a beloved childhood character as what Jim Carrey did to the Grinch or Mike Meyers did to the Cat in the Hat, except for the fact that the original Woody was never beloved. He was just a jerk. So who cares? Well, the taxpayers of Canada should.

Hell no...

[mnash1318 · 1/10 · 9 August 2018]

This movie has to be one of the worst I've ever seen. Over acting, poorly constructed jokes, visual effects made in a high school computer science class. my toddler loves it though. I personally can't wait for Netflix to get rid of this movie.

Awful...

[erininmaine54 · 1/10 · 18 August 2019]

The actor who plays the dad did a somewhat OK job of portraying a terribly written character. The whole movie just sucked...

Just horrible

[telutubies · 1/10 · 5 May 2018]

I watched it worst movie ever it is as bad as the little panda fighter check out IHE video on it.

Good fun

[rginter · 7/10 · 18 January 2019]

Entertaining and nostalgic movie. Very good animation and visuals. I really enjoyed this movie.

Bruh

[edglhys · 1/10 · 22 February 2020]

The bird is supposed to be like-able but i can't take it. I know its the character but woody woodpecker is a piece of bird that hurts people for coming into a small part of his large domain.

An uexpected romp of good times and good laughs!

[Bulldog1721 · 8/10 · 13 February 2018]

I have heard rumors of this movie being out in the open with Universal pictures to be released in theatres. But reluctantly, they put on Netflix and made it a Netflix Exclusive.

I thought that this movie was really cool in how it brought the chittering woodpecker to the big screen. I loved the voice acting in this movie along with the dialogue. It really made me feel like a kid again to here that laugh being brought back to the big screen.

It really deserves a round of applause for it's family-friendly content and despite the negative reviews for this movie, I highly recommend to give this movie a try during one of your "Netflix and chilling" sessions!

Simple, bit it's fine

[jesus-c18 · 6/10 · 19 June 2019]

My nephews loves this movie, is a Nice and fresh movie for childrens, simple, bit it's done.

Walter Lantz must be turning over in his grave.

[loraleejessome · 1/10 · 5 April 2018]

I don't get it. Why do they keep making movies where they take a classic cartoon character and attempt to make it appeal to kids in the 2000's by adding nothing but fart, burp and poop jokes? It's just disgusting. I can barely understand what Woody is saying or doing because he acts like a sociopath with severe ADHD off their medication. If you want to really enjoy and appreciate Woody Woodpecker, watch the original animated shorts instead.

woodeoodpecker

[brbrianbarrett · 5/10 · 8 July 2020]

My kids laughed so much yeah predictable plot but hey my kids loved it so I loved it