Same movie as blazing saddles but samurai and for kids. Because of this it's very predictable. Still like it tho and I think kids would love it. Solid seven stars.
85 Reviews
Kids blazing saddles
williamhleavitt14 July 2022
Watchable, but not outstanding...
paul_haakonsen11 August 2022
I sat down to watch the 2022 animated movie "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" with my 12 year old son here in 2022, without ever having heard about the movie. So I didn't know what I was in for, aside from it being an animated samurai movie of sorts.
The storyline in "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank", as written by Ed Stone, Nate Hopper, Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor and Alan Uger, was fairly okay. I mean, I was adequately entertained by the storyline.
The animation and art style in "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" was good, and that definitely carried the movie a great long way. As did the impressive voice acting ensemble, with the likes of Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, Mel Brooks, George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou and even the legendary Michelle Yeoh.
This 2022 animated movie was watchable and enjoyable enough for what it was, but there are far more impressive and enjoyable animated movies out there, recent ones as well. And I doubt that I will ever return to watch "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" a second time. And while there were a fair amount of more mature jokes and references, then the overall feel of the animated movie is that aimed for a younger audience.
My rating of directors Chris Bailey, Mark Koetsier and Rob Minkoff's "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" lands on a five out of ten stars.
The storyline in "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank", as written by Ed Stone, Nate Hopper, Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor and Alan Uger, was fairly okay. I mean, I was adequately entertained by the storyline.
The animation and art style in "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" was good, and that definitely carried the movie a great long way. As did the impressive voice acting ensemble, with the likes of Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, Mel Brooks, George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou and even the legendary Michelle Yeoh.
This 2022 animated movie was watchable and enjoyable enough for what it was, but there are far more impressive and enjoyable animated movies out there, recent ones as well. And I doubt that I will ever return to watch "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" a second time. And while there were a fair amount of more mature jokes and references, then the overall feel of the animated movie is that aimed for a younger audience.
My rating of directors Chris Bailey, Mark Koetsier and Rob Minkoff's "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" lands on a five out of ten stars.
I'm sorry to have to say this but......
bostonct18 July 2022
I was surprised to see that the Minions outdrew this movie by over 3-1 average per theater so I went to see for myself. Unfortunately, it's a bit stale and uneven. The jokes are Mel Brook-ish and dated so I'm not sure if the kids get it. A few childish tantrums scenes that could have been better written really didn't add to the movie. Storyline execution aside, the voices were good. Samuel, Ricky and George (when given a chance) Ricky were standouts. Sorry for the low rating but Bob's Burgers and The Minions really raised the bar so if you know going in that this movie is a notch below, you'll be OK as your expectations will be met. It's still a nice time out.
Worth a watch
williamsshane-582081 August 2022
It's a alright family film, few adult jokes in it as well. It's not the best kids film but worth a watch with the kids. My daughter was laughing throughout. Could of been better though. So wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.
Corny and kawaii and we loved it!
pdfolk21 July 2022
We saw this without knowing anything about its long development cycle. Once we heard that Cera, Talal, Jackson, and Mel Brooks were in this movie we had to see it. And who in their right minds won't be charmed by animated cats and dogs?
The critics overthought this remake of Blazing Saddles. Filled with both sight gags and loads of pop culture references, in addition to all the Blazing Saddles humor (and probably some Spaceballs gags as well), this quick-cut, display animated comedy was funny from start to end credits.
We thought it was cute and a great break from the doom and gloom of daily life. We would see it again to catch the bits that went by so quickly we did not get all of them on the first viewing.
The critics overthought this remake of Blazing Saddles. Filled with both sight gags and loads of pop culture references, in addition to all the Blazing Saddles humor (and probably some Spaceballs gags as well), this quick-cut, display animated comedy was funny from start to end credits.
We thought it was cute and a great break from the doom and gloom of daily life. We would see it again to catch the bits that went by so quickly we did not get all of them on the first viewing.
Paws of Disappointment
stilloopless116 July 2022
"As the summer temperatures continue to sizzle family friendly films are hitting the big screen as an enticement to lure folks back to the theaters. This week's offering is Nickelodeon's animated film, "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank". The story of a dog with big dreams of becoming a samurai. I again ventured to my local theater with high hopes for an entertaining hour thirty-seven-minute viewing experience in air-conditioned comfort to check this one out.
I'll cut to the chase, the best part of this outing was indeed the AC and to a lesser degree the snacks. Neither of which was worth leaving home or burning gas for.
The sinking feeling began with the opening short film. I can't honestly remember the name of this one, but it still has me shaking my head wondering WTF. It was...bizarre and unsettling at best. I'm not sure what anyone was thinking with it, let alone why it was paired with "Paws of Fury", but it definitely set the tone for the lackluster main attraction because once "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" began, things didn't get much better.
"Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" is one of those animated films we get every few years where all the time and money seems to have been spent on assembling a heavy hitting voice cast and little else.
Billed as an animated remake of "Blazing Saddles", with a healthy dose of "Kung Fu Panda" as well, "PoF" is more a POS that lacks the charm, originality, or entertainment value of either.
Slogging through the first half of the film was a joyless and mind-numbing endeavor that felt endless. Fortunately, the second half of the film was much stronger and was a better viewing experience. However, overall, it's a case of too little too late.
Samuel L Jackson is the best part of this film hands down. This is another Turbo situation. In addition, Kylie Kuioka (Emiko) also breathes much needed life into this story as well. As for the rest of the cast, there simply isn't much for them to sink their teeth into. No character development. Little story. Lots of pop culture references (heavy on all things Mel Brooks), dog and cat puns, and visual gags fell short as all indications is this film is aimed toward a younger audience and it was going over their heads. Being one of the oldest audience members I chuckled here and there, but the only laugh out loud moment for the entire audience, especially the kiddos, came at the end of the movie.
Positive messaging throughout while important/great is handled with all the subtlety as a hand grenade in a bowl of oatmeal in its heavy handedness and becomes tedious quickly.
"Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" doesn't hold much to warrant a trip to the theater. The potential was there in the concept but fails in the execution. This one's a stream at home at best. If and when you do, don't forget to fast forward to the end of the credits for one last tiny scene. The sentiment captures this film perfectly.
"Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" is a disappointing 3 for me.
I'll cut to the chase, the best part of this outing was indeed the AC and to a lesser degree the snacks. Neither of which was worth leaving home or burning gas for.
The sinking feeling began with the opening short film. I can't honestly remember the name of this one, but it still has me shaking my head wondering WTF. It was...bizarre and unsettling at best. I'm not sure what anyone was thinking with it, let alone why it was paired with "Paws of Fury", but it definitely set the tone for the lackluster main attraction because once "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" began, things didn't get much better.
"Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" is one of those animated films we get every few years where all the time and money seems to have been spent on assembling a heavy hitting voice cast and little else.
Billed as an animated remake of "Blazing Saddles", with a healthy dose of "Kung Fu Panda" as well, "PoF" is more a POS that lacks the charm, originality, or entertainment value of either.
Slogging through the first half of the film was a joyless and mind-numbing endeavor that felt endless. Fortunately, the second half of the film was much stronger and was a better viewing experience. However, overall, it's a case of too little too late.
Samuel L Jackson is the best part of this film hands down. This is another Turbo situation. In addition, Kylie Kuioka (Emiko) also breathes much needed life into this story as well. As for the rest of the cast, there simply isn't much for them to sink their teeth into. No character development. Little story. Lots of pop culture references (heavy on all things Mel Brooks), dog and cat puns, and visual gags fell short as all indications is this film is aimed toward a younger audience and it was going over their heads. Being one of the oldest audience members I chuckled here and there, but the only laugh out loud moment for the entire audience, especially the kiddos, came at the end of the movie.
Positive messaging throughout while important/great is handled with all the subtlety as a hand grenade in a bowl of oatmeal in its heavy handedness and becomes tedious quickly.
"Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" doesn't hold much to warrant a trip to the theater. The potential was there in the concept but fails in the execution. This one's a stream at home at best. If and when you do, don't forget to fast forward to the end of the credits for one last tiny scene. The sentiment captures this film perfectly.
"Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" is a disappointing 3 for me.
Are you a Bruce Lee Fan?
view_and_review13 September 2022
If you're wondering where the title "Paws of Fury" comes from, then you're not a Bruce Lee fan. Arguably Bruce Lee's best movie was 1972's "Fist of Fury." Since then there's been "Blind Fury," "Balls of Fury," and now "Paws of Fury."
In a land where everyone was cats, an evil governor named Ika Chu (Ricky Gervais) wanted to make a huge impression on the Shogun (Mel Brooks) during his visit. To do that he wanted to totally eliminate a small village. He had to make sure that in eliminating the village he was not implicated. His hopes were that by providing the village a terrible samurai (because it was his duty to provide the village with a samurai) he could then use a secret army of samurai to lay waste to the village with little resistance.
For the job of samurai he chose Hank (Michael Cera), a dog who was on his way to being executed because no dogs were allowed in that land.
Hank didn't know the first thing about being a samurai. In fact, he'd come to that land to learn how to be a samurai. Ika Chu saw his plan's success in Hank. He would let him go free to be the samurai of the village.
Hank found a teacher in Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson), though Jimbo was very reluctant to take on the teacher role. Jimbo would have to train Hank enough in order for him to save the village from the impending attack that Ika Chu would send.
"Paws of Fury" falls into the plot category of about 80% of animations: embracing differences. With Hank being the only dog in the land, everyone hated him and wanted him gone or dead. The unfortunate lesson of this animation is that Hank had to prove himself worthy of being embraced. In other words, if he couldn't help the town, then the town would go on hating him simply because he was a dog.
That's not to say that the movie wasn't good or entertaining. It was funny and had its moments. You could see Mel Brooks' mark on the movie with the characters frequently breaking the fourth wall. For instance, I know that the movie was only 85 minutes because Jimbo mentioned that they only had a total of 85 minutes to get the job done.
Rounding out the stars who lent their voices were George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Aasif Mandvi, Djimon Hounsou, and Michelle Yeoh. "Paws of Fury" isn't going to knock your socks off, but it will easily entertain you and your kids.
In a land where everyone was cats, an evil governor named Ika Chu (Ricky Gervais) wanted to make a huge impression on the Shogun (Mel Brooks) during his visit. To do that he wanted to totally eliminate a small village. He had to make sure that in eliminating the village he was not implicated. His hopes were that by providing the village a terrible samurai (because it was his duty to provide the village with a samurai) he could then use a secret army of samurai to lay waste to the village with little resistance.
For the job of samurai he chose Hank (Michael Cera), a dog who was on his way to being executed because no dogs were allowed in that land.
Hank didn't know the first thing about being a samurai. In fact, he'd come to that land to learn how to be a samurai. Ika Chu saw his plan's success in Hank. He would let him go free to be the samurai of the village.
Hank found a teacher in Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson), though Jimbo was very reluctant to take on the teacher role. Jimbo would have to train Hank enough in order for him to save the village from the impending attack that Ika Chu would send.
"Paws of Fury" falls into the plot category of about 80% of animations: embracing differences. With Hank being the only dog in the land, everyone hated him and wanted him gone or dead. The unfortunate lesson of this animation is that Hank had to prove himself worthy of being embraced. In other words, if he couldn't help the town, then the town would go on hating him simply because he was a dog.
That's not to say that the movie wasn't good or entertaining. It was funny and had its moments. You could see Mel Brooks' mark on the movie with the characters frequently breaking the fourth wall. For instance, I know that the movie was only 85 minutes because Jimbo mentioned that they only had a total of 85 minutes to get the job done.
Rounding out the stars who lent their voices were George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Aasif Mandvi, Djimon Hounsou, and Michelle Yeoh. "Paws of Fury" isn't going to knock your socks off, but it will easily entertain you and your kids.
Blazing samurai
MB-reviewer18527 July 2022
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022) was not great, but it was not awful. I do know that this movie is a child friendly remake of Blazing Saddles (1974) just with samurais, which Is weird.
The voice acting was good like Michael Cera and Samuel L. Jackson, and the animation was not that bad because it had some nice backgrounds with some nice visuals.
There are small funny scenes I laughed at, but most of the jokes are for kids to laugh at. There are some unexpected scenes that happen in the movie that I thought was funny at times.
The action scenes are fast moving and there are references to other movies that can be funny but unnecessary. The references will be funny mostly to parents who take their kids to see this movie.
There are mostly jokes that are not funny, the main villain is not in the movie that much, and the evil plan for the villain is stupid. I am not the target audience for this movie, but this is a quick movie for kids and adults to watch that will not hurt anyone.
The voice acting was good like Michael Cera and Samuel L. Jackson, and the animation was not that bad because it had some nice backgrounds with some nice visuals.
There are small funny scenes I laughed at, but most of the jokes are for kids to laugh at. There are some unexpected scenes that happen in the movie that I thought was funny at times.
The action scenes are fast moving and there are references to other movies that can be funny but unnecessary. The references will be funny mostly to parents who take their kids to see this movie.
There are mostly jokes that are not funny, the main villain is not in the movie that much, and the evil plan for the villain is stupid. I am not the target audience for this movie, but this is a quick movie for kids and adults to watch that will not hurt anyone.
Solid
MysteryInc_9416 July 2022
Good, simple story for kids. Not too much here, pretty typical, some funny moments. Some noteworthy voice actors, attractive animation and momentary touches on themes of accepting others' differences. Worth the watch, try it :)
...just put on Kung Fu Panda for your kids.
benjaminskylerhill15 July 2022
This is one of those animated movies we get every few years in which it's clear that almost the entirety of the budget was spent on the stacked voice cast and very little attention was given to what's on screen.
The animation is extremely sub-par for the most part, looking more akin to a straight-to-Netflix TV series than to a modern animated feature film.
The voice cast-which consists of very talented actors-all sleepwalk through their performances and sound like they want to fire their agents with every line that they utter.
The script consists almost entirely of tired visual gags, pop culture references, and very dull cat and dog puns. I think I chuckled twice in the entire movie at a couple of the most absurd, awkwardly inserted comedic moments.
As for the characters and story, it could all be called competent at best. There is not a single original idea or memorable moment in the entire film, nor is there a single iota of the whole product that isn't done infinitely better in other movies.
Both Kung Fu Panda and Blazing Saddles are where almost everything is lifted from, and it does result in a story of heroism that is okay in concept, but there is no reason for this movie to exist when both Kung Fu Panda and Blazing Saddles are near-masterpieces of wit and character and you should all just watch those instead.
The animation is extremely sub-par for the most part, looking more akin to a straight-to-Netflix TV series than to a modern animated feature film.
The voice cast-which consists of very talented actors-all sleepwalk through their performances and sound like they want to fire their agents with every line that they utter.
The script consists almost entirely of tired visual gags, pop culture references, and very dull cat and dog puns. I think I chuckled twice in the entire movie at a couple of the most absurd, awkwardly inserted comedic moments.
As for the characters and story, it could all be called competent at best. There is not a single original idea or memorable moment in the entire film, nor is there a single iota of the whole product that isn't done infinitely better in other movies.
Both Kung Fu Panda and Blazing Saddles are where almost everything is lifted from, and it does result in a story of heroism that is okay in concept, but there is no reason for this movie to exist when both Kung Fu Panda and Blazing Saddles are near-masterpieces of wit and character and you should all just watch those instead.
Cons of the Movie, Pros of the Soundtrack
timeblank19 July 2022
Movie felt so hallow. Certain characters didn't feel memorable. Hank did not feel he had a good story. Ika Chu felt more annoying than evil. Jimbo was more interesting but felt misused. Gabriel Iglesias, his character I wanted more of. But how the script and his portrayal, did not feel right with me. Sad to say it was weak.
Blazing Samurai intro song truly felt like I was watching a 80's cartoon. It was catchy and truly felt great to sing a long with. Cool Cat, was a great one as well.
Despite of the movie, overall it is a 7 out 10.
Blazing Samurai intro song truly felt like I was watching a 80's cartoon. It was catchy and truly felt great to sing a long with. Cool Cat, was a great one as well.
Despite of the movie, overall it is a 7 out 10.
Blazing Saddles watered down via Kung Fu Panda
Johnny_West22 July 2022
Somebody wanted to rip-off Kung Fu Panda, but they wanted it to be different, so they copied Blazing Saddles and ended up with Paws of Crap.
The only good things about Blazing Saddles are all the humor that is not kid-friendly, and that got edited out of the cartoon version. Without the edgy R rated humor, Blazing Saddles is just a dumb spoof of Westerns.
So you mix a spoof of Westerns with a spoof of Kung-Fu movies, and you get junk.
The only good things about Blazing Saddles are all the humor that is not kid-friendly, and that got edited out of the cartoon version. Without the edgy R rated humor, Blazing Saddles is just a dumb spoof of Westerns.
So you mix a spoof of Westerns with a spoof of Kung-Fu movies, and you get junk.
Simple, mediocre, a assumed "risk" but I could enjoy it
margineanvladdaniel26 July 2022
So thank you! I had a few laughs. I liked the dry and sometimes dad jokes. Well use of the stereotypes and applying real life similarities that the world now can relate to. Good quote material too, didn't expect that many. The plot was pretty predictable, but it was straight point so for its runtime it was pretty decent. I wouldn't say no to a sequel. Well done to everyone! Peace & Love!
So stupid it's funny
aka_riley17 August 2022
Lots of 4th wall breaks. Everyone gets to use their catchlines they are famous for. Pretty cool line up although the movie it self leaves much to be desired. Wife and I laughed more than my daughter for the references.
Awful
pno-121-52179516 July 2022
This movie is so bad. How bad? People are making fun of it with fake high-scoring reviews ("Better than Morbius" and "Finally competes with The Godfather" and "My grandma came back to life"). At the time of this writing, the average score is 5.9 - and that includes a lot of fake high-score reviews.
Though rare, there were a few genuine moments of laughter. Beyond that were the soft chuckles, all at the movie's expense. Mix this in with a fair amount of eye rolls, groans and second thoughts on the decisions you've made in your life that brought you to THIS theater watching THIS film, and you have a clear picture of what to expect.
Save this one for a time you can't sleep at 3am and there's nothing else to watch on late-night streaming. Or watch it when you're feeling a bit too proud of your life's decisions and need to be knocked down a peg or two.
Though rare, there were a few genuine moments of laughter. Beyond that were the soft chuckles, all at the movie's expense. Mix this in with a fair amount of eye rolls, groans and second thoughts on the decisions you've made in your life that brought you to THIS theater watching THIS film, and you have a clear picture of what to expect.
Save this one for a time you can't sleep at 3am and there's nothing else to watch on late-night streaming. Or watch it when you're feeling a bit too proud of your life's decisions and need to be knocked down a peg or two.
This is a very average addition to the kids animated genre
kevin_robbins31 August 2022
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022) is a movie my daughter and I watched tonight on Paramount+. The storyline follows an outcast dog looking for work. He meets a local governor who wants to abuse his power, manipulate the shogun and expand his kingdom...so he assigns the dog to be a samurai and protect a local village he wants to take over. The governor forms an army of ninja to invade the town. Can the dog make friends with the locals and rally the troops to face the ninjas?
This movie is codirected by Chris Bailey (Kim Possible), Mark Koetsier (directorial debut) and Rob Minkoff (The Lion King) and contains the voices of Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Michael Cera (Juno), George Takei (Star Trek), Mel Brooks (Spaceballs), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) and Gabriel Iglesias (Space Jam: A New Legacy).
The animation was awesome and beautifully portrayed both the characters and backdrop. The dialogue was funny at times but the jokes were cheesy and inconsistent. The storyline is straightforward and doesn't take itself seriously. The cast who provided the voices is excellent on paper but no one really stands out in this and I didn't love any of the characters.
Overall, this is a very average addition to the kids animated genre. I would score this a 5.5/10 and recommend seeing it once.
This movie is codirected by Chris Bailey (Kim Possible), Mark Koetsier (directorial debut) and Rob Minkoff (The Lion King) and contains the voices of Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Michael Cera (Juno), George Takei (Star Trek), Mel Brooks (Spaceballs), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) and Gabriel Iglesias (Space Jam: A New Legacy).
The animation was awesome and beautifully portrayed both the characters and backdrop. The dialogue was funny at times but the jokes were cheesy and inconsistent. The storyline is straightforward and doesn't take itself seriously. The cast who provided the voices is excellent on paper but no one really stands out in this and I didn't love any of the characters.
Overall, this is a very average addition to the kids animated genre. I would score this a 5.5/10 and recommend seeing it once.
Not worth anyone's time
LeAvantGuardian16 July 2022
I was expecting this to be good based off the trailer and the stellar cast but it had the worst script I've seen in ages. I don't think anyone over 6 would appreciate it. It constantly breaks the 4th wall with ridiculous modern humor that isn't even funny. The characters are hollow and the hero doesn't do anything. It's truly bad. Truly.
Wildly Mediocre.
gruffaloslayer16 July 2022
This film is a well made adaptation of Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles!
joe_jr25 July 2022
Nothing more to really say. For those who are curious about content, it had:
While the film is not groundbreaking or revolutionary, it was a great family film that used simple animation (instead of overreaching), kept the values and comedy from the original, and was worth the money spent. Would highly suggest to any Mel Brooks fan, and would suggest to any family that wants a fun but morally good film.
- Good animation (stylistic, no errors) that might not be "hyper-realistic" like films nowadays, but will stand the test of time (even the music used was stuff popular from earlier years, not new pop songs that might die out in a year).
- Great storyline. Literally Blazing Saddles for about 50% of it, and with some adaptation for young audiences. No huge stray from the original (like rapping squirrels or a hard pushed agenda).
- Stayed true to the jokes, 4th-wall breaks, moral values, and light-heartedness of the original. Plus a pretty awesome cast.
While the film is not groundbreaking or revolutionary, it was a great family film that used simple animation (instead of overreaching), kept the values and comedy from the original, and was worth the money spent. Would highly suggest to any Mel Brooks fan, and would suggest to any family that wants a fun but morally good film.
A great nod toy a cult classic
alan-warden24 July 2022
I honestly did not know about the connection to the cult classic "Blazing Saddles" before I watched this movie, but almost immediately recognised the similarities, and then started looking for the jokes that I knew were coming. I was not disappointed.
It is nice to see a "remake" of a film that set the bar a long time ago but couldn't be made today because it would "offend" the idiot minorities that can't take a joke. Remember that the original was hilariously funny without spouting profanities in every other sentence, rare in today's so called "Comedies".
I enjoyed the movie and would be happy for my grandchildren to see it, and then let them watch the original.
It is nice to see a "remake" of a film that set the bar a long time ago but couldn't be made today because it would "offend" the idiot minorities that can't take a joke. Remember that the original was hilariously funny without spouting profanities in every other sentence, rare in today's so called "Comedies".
I enjoyed the movie and would be happy for my grandchildren to see it, and then let them watch the original.
It's Pawfully Entertaining and Cute, But Needs Lots of Polishing
rgkarim16 July 2022
LIKES:
The Pace: You know you are going to love a potential curveball of a kid's movie when you realize it's only 85 minutes not including credits. Paws of Fury gets to the point very quickly, does not hesitate to dive in the ridiculous antics, and just dominates in getting through the film very quickly. For parents hoping this won't drag too long, the pace is fun and keeps up with some of the other elements this movie exploits to really maximize their inclusion into the film. And if you hate everything about this movie, you have at least wasted little time fulfilling your role to take the child to the movie.
The Animation Flow: The Legend of Hank may not be the most realistic, unique, or even awesome design in terms of other animated features. However, don't knock it off because the animation does indeed flow and match the caliber you would expect anthropomorphic animals to move in this day and age. All the denizens of this alternate universe have a flowing motion that works for the lower budget of this film as they run, smack, yell, and fight to defend the odd village of this feudal era pavilion. Far better than what I can do, the movie does at least have good movement for me and fits with the kid friendly atmosphere they have in store.
The References: A gigantic geek like me is all about finding references to other trends and trivia in a movie and their fun inclusion into the work. You'll be happy to see that Hank's journey is loaded with references to the famous films the entire movie is based on in the short 85 minutes. Hank's costume alone should ring some bells, but you'll find plenty of other things getting their moment in the form of dialogue, character design, digs at the original movie and plenty more for you to scope out. While some might be a bit of a stretch, others are perfectly put in there and may have you cracking a smile at what you caught and the clever use they had.
The Voice Acting (To a Degree): Again, this is not going to be the role or performance to break the Oscar mold, but it also does not mean you won't enjoy the work that the cast brings to the mix. First of all, the number of people they got for this movie is impressive, pulling in famous voices left and right to portray the cavalcade of cats to life. I could go on about who I was surprised to see, but IMDB will give you the list, many of which have adequate time on this film. So, let's focus on the big three as I usually do to get through this category. Gervais is still the voice you either love or hate. He makes the villain Ika Chu as sassy, conniving, and ridiculous as you would expect and it works so well for this movie that I could not help but love what he was able to do with the role. Like Doofenshmirtz off of Phineas and Ferb, it's a villain that works on two levels and his voice just matches it perfectly. Cera is the same Cera you know, quiet, timid, and managing to find that sweet spot for the unlikely hero. Hank and he share a lot qualities together and I loved just how much they matched the character to the actor in this film. It's really Jackson who has the best of the main three for me, his demeanor matched perfectly in the face of Jimbo. The cat has the attitude and Jackson sells it in his approach to the way of the Samurai, and once more his aggressive and dark level of comedy works in this film. Yes, he has been balanced for younger ears, but the range he gets out of this work was very fun and entertaining for me.
The Action Scenes: Surprisingly, the PG rating did not dilute the action of this movie and I was impressed with how much fighting, coordination, and style they integrated into the film. Paws of Fury does not have the violence that parents may fear of blood, gore, dismemberment and the likes, but still has the stunts and fights you expect this Samurai-Western to have. Sword fights have some style of coordination in the way the opposing parties fight. Other moments are the same montage of tricks and moves that the children's animation loves to show in their fights. It all works for me in the long run and I really enjoyed combining it with the references to see the choices they made without treading into the darker levels you might fear.
The Comedy: This is of course my favorite element, and thanks to several friends of mine, this style of comedy works very well. Paws of Fury has a lot of jokes, and I mean a lot of jokes, crammed into a short amount of time. Fortunately for me, the diversity helps mitigate things and you can enjoy your preferential style of laughs to varying degrees. It's got fart humor, slapstick, catch phrases, recurring jokes, and adult humor masked in the dialogue. All of them work so well in this hodge-podge of comedic antics that you just can't help but enjoy what they have to offer. And again, thanks to my friends, I got a lot of the humor style in this film (dry sarcasm, well-timed shots, and political references) that it maximized my enjoyment. I mean pointing at how ridiculous a concept is, how something doesn't make sense in the era they are in, and even breaking the fourth wall are all in this movie and it's great for older fans like me.
DISLIKES:
The Pace May Be Too Quick: Given the treasure trove of things I was seeing in this movie; the faster pace may have been a downside to be honest. Hank's world has so much to enjoy, but you are experiencing it so quickly that you are left little time to savor the slashes they are bringing. While this will get you out of the kiddy elements faster, the other parts you might enjoy are lost to how quickly we have to get through. The movie even jokes about short attention spans, and sadly this movie is catered to the culture of paying little attention to the details.
The Emotional Depth Is Minimal: Disney may be working in overdrive to bring you touching, modern, and deep tales of characters struggling with current state problems. Hank's journey though is far shallower though, and though it might be a more fun and adventurous tale, it is still lacking that level I like in my characters. There are certainly moments that pull at relatable strings for me, that's no problem, but there was so much more that could have gone into this movie to further sink the audiences' teeth and grip on to. There is potential for more, but unfortunately time and budge seemed to direct this movie away from the heartfelt moments one might enjoy in an animated feature.
Too Many Jokes? Yes, we've seen plenty of times where too many jokes in too short of a run time can lead to burn out, fatigue, and annoyance. Paws of Fury may have crossed the line several times with several styles for older audience members, though the little ones who are targeted will soak it all in and probably imitate their style. I'll admit that some of the younger jokes are lost on me, reminding me of Modern SpongeBob episodes that are no longer clever, but just stupid and lost on me. Fortunately, there are those more adult themed jokes that will help this limitation out for audience members. A win in my book
No Stakes or Edge: Disney has in the past put stakes into their journeys to make you sit on the edge of your seat, think Lion King. Paws of Fury again took the G rated approach and the stakes are practically absent in the presentation this movie chooses to have. It's not the worse, but you bet that there is not quite as on the edge moments as you might have liked to see, which again is great for more sensitive viewers, but for those looking for that bark and bite, don't expect any in this child targeted movie.
Some Moments Last Too Little: This goes for the action scenes and exciting challenges to the obstacles put before our heroes. Paws of Fury moves briskly, and because of the lack of edge, build up, and oomph, there are moments that just feel a bit too easy and short sighted in the long run of the movie. Certainly, the comedy helps with this, but again, in the art of storytelling it feels like this film is coming up short again on the full magic they could have obtained had they put a little more time and focus on it, giving you those climactic finishes, I come to expect in adventure movies like these.
The VERDICT:
Paws of Fury is a fun little distraction from the blockbusters that have come out the last few months. Geared towards a younger audience, it serves as a good introduction movie to a young viewer for various genres and gives them a taste of what the cinematic world has to offer. It's highlight for me were: the entertaining pace, the flowing animation, the references, and the comedy that was geared to me. These moments really show the potential of the series and the studio if they have more time and money to make the piece they want. However, the juvenile nature and fast pace also get in the way of the movie on many elements, including: suspense, adventure element, and story that sort of make this tale a blander film than you hope. Though I enjoyed my viewing in the theater, I believe this is another film meant for home viewing or going out with a group or family more than seeing in a small viewing party. My scores are:
Animation/Action/Comedy: 7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0.
The Pace: You know you are going to love a potential curveball of a kid's movie when you realize it's only 85 minutes not including credits. Paws of Fury gets to the point very quickly, does not hesitate to dive in the ridiculous antics, and just dominates in getting through the film very quickly. For parents hoping this won't drag too long, the pace is fun and keeps up with some of the other elements this movie exploits to really maximize their inclusion into the film. And if you hate everything about this movie, you have at least wasted little time fulfilling your role to take the child to the movie.
The Animation Flow: The Legend of Hank may not be the most realistic, unique, or even awesome design in terms of other animated features. However, don't knock it off because the animation does indeed flow and match the caliber you would expect anthropomorphic animals to move in this day and age. All the denizens of this alternate universe have a flowing motion that works for the lower budget of this film as they run, smack, yell, and fight to defend the odd village of this feudal era pavilion. Far better than what I can do, the movie does at least have good movement for me and fits with the kid friendly atmosphere they have in store.
The References: A gigantic geek like me is all about finding references to other trends and trivia in a movie and their fun inclusion into the work. You'll be happy to see that Hank's journey is loaded with references to the famous films the entire movie is based on in the short 85 minutes. Hank's costume alone should ring some bells, but you'll find plenty of other things getting their moment in the form of dialogue, character design, digs at the original movie and plenty more for you to scope out. While some might be a bit of a stretch, others are perfectly put in there and may have you cracking a smile at what you caught and the clever use they had.
The Voice Acting (To a Degree): Again, this is not going to be the role or performance to break the Oscar mold, but it also does not mean you won't enjoy the work that the cast brings to the mix. First of all, the number of people they got for this movie is impressive, pulling in famous voices left and right to portray the cavalcade of cats to life. I could go on about who I was surprised to see, but IMDB will give you the list, many of which have adequate time on this film. So, let's focus on the big three as I usually do to get through this category. Gervais is still the voice you either love or hate. He makes the villain Ika Chu as sassy, conniving, and ridiculous as you would expect and it works so well for this movie that I could not help but love what he was able to do with the role. Like Doofenshmirtz off of Phineas and Ferb, it's a villain that works on two levels and his voice just matches it perfectly. Cera is the same Cera you know, quiet, timid, and managing to find that sweet spot for the unlikely hero. Hank and he share a lot qualities together and I loved just how much they matched the character to the actor in this film. It's really Jackson who has the best of the main three for me, his demeanor matched perfectly in the face of Jimbo. The cat has the attitude and Jackson sells it in his approach to the way of the Samurai, and once more his aggressive and dark level of comedy works in this film. Yes, he has been balanced for younger ears, but the range he gets out of this work was very fun and entertaining for me.
The Action Scenes: Surprisingly, the PG rating did not dilute the action of this movie and I was impressed with how much fighting, coordination, and style they integrated into the film. Paws of Fury does not have the violence that parents may fear of blood, gore, dismemberment and the likes, but still has the stunts and fights you expect this Samurai-Western to have. Sword fights have some style of coordination in the way the opposing parties fight. Other moments are the same montage of tricks and moves that the children's animation loves to show in their fights. It all works for me in the long run and I really enjoyed combining it with the references to see the choices they made without treading into the darker levels you might fear.
The Comedy: This is of course my favorite element, and thanks to several friends of mine, this style of comedy works very well. Paws of Fury has a lot of jokes, and I mean a lot of jokes, crammed into a short amount of time. Fortunately for me, the diversity helps mitigate things and you can enjoy your preferential style of laughs to varying degrees. It's got fart humor, slapstick, catch phrases, recurring jokes, and adult humor masked in the dialogue. All of them work so well in this hodge-podge of comedic antics that you just can't help but enjoy what they have to offer. And again, thanks to my friends, I got a lot of the humor style in this film (dry sarcasm, well-timed shots, and political references) that it maximized my enjoyment. I mean pointing at how ridiculous a concept is, how something doesn't make sense in the era they are in, and even breaking the fourth wall are all in this movie and it's great for older fans like me.
DISLIKES:
The Pace May Be Too Quick: Given the treasure trove of things I was seeing in this movie; the faster pace may have been a downside to be honest. Hank's world has so much to enjoy, but you are experiencing it so quickly that you are left little time to savor the slashes they are bringing. While this will get you out of the kiddy elements faster, the other parts you might enjoy are lost to how quickly we have to get through. The movie even jokes about short attention spans, and sadly this movie is catered to the culture of paying little attention to the details.
The Emotional Depth Is Minimal: Disney may be working in overdrive to bring you touching, modern, and deep tales of characters struggling with current state problems. Hank's journey though is far shallower though, and though it might be a more fun and adventurous tale, it is still lacking that level I like in my characters. There are certainly moments that pull at relatable strings for me, that's no problem, but there was so much more that could have gone into this movie to further sink the audiences' teeth and grip on to. There is potential for more, but unfortunately time and budge seemed to direct this movie away from the heartfelt moments one might enjoy in an animated feature.
Too Many Jokes? Yes, we've seen plenty of times where too many jokes in too short of a run time can lead to burn out, fatigue, and annoyance. Paws of Fury may have crossed the line several times with several styles for older audience members, though the little ones who are targeted will soak it all in and probably imitate their style. I'll admit that some of the younger jokes are lost on me, reminding me of Modern SpongeBob episodes that are no longer clever, but just stupid and lost on me. Fortunately, there are those more adult themed jokes that will help this limitation out for audience members. A win in my book
No Stakes or Edge: Disney has in the past put stakes into their journeys to make you sit on the edge of your seat, think Lion King. Paws of Fury again took the G rated approach and the stakes are practically absent in the presentation this movie chooses to have. It's not the worse, but you bet that there is not quite as on the edge moments as you might have liked to see, which again is great for more sensitive viewers, but for those looking for that bark and bite, don't expect any in this child targeted movie.
Some Moments Last Too Little: This goes for the action scenes and exciting challenges to the obstacles put before our heroes. Paws of Fury moves briskly, and because of the lack of edge, build up, and oomph, there are moments that just feel a bit too easy and short sighted in the long run of the movie. Certainly, the comedy helps with this, but again, in the art of storytelling it feels like this film is coming up short again on the full magic they could have obtained had they put a little more time and focus on it, giving you those climactic finishes, I come to expect in adventure movies like these.
The VERDICT:
Paws of Fury is a fun little distraction from the blockbusters that have come out the last few months. Geared towards a younger audience, it serves as a good introduction movie to a young viewer for various genres and gives them a taste of what the cinematic world has to offer. It's highlight for me were: the entertaining pace, the flowing animation, the references, and the comedy that was geared to me. These moments really show the potential of the series and the studio if they have more time and money to make the piece they want. However, the juvenile nature and fast pace also get in the way of the movie on many elements, including: suspense, adventure element, and story that sort of make this tale a blander film than you hope. Though I enjoyed my viewing in the theater, I believe this is another film meant for home viewing or going out with a group or family more than seeing in a small viewing party. My scores are:
Animation/Action/Comedy: 7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0.
Not the worst movie.
phenoxrainflower24 July 2022
Had a decent amount of crude humor, but the moral was good. Good sound and acting, and decent animation. It was kind of odd how they kept addressing that they were in a movie, but overall, it's a good movie to give a go!
The bad reviews missed the point
muninwing2 September 2022
... to the point of stupidity. Really.
No, it is not a "ripoff of kung fu panda." China and Japan are actually different places with different cultures.
This was also not someone "ripping off" Mel Brooks. He directed it! He's in it! And the role he plays is the same one he plays in Blazing Saddles.
Because it IS Blazing Saddles. The writers of the original are even credited. Given how many American Westerns were redone Samurai movies, it's a pretty established pattern.
It's definitely got some tongue-in-cheek references. It has some jokes that (as Mel Brooks movies do) push the line. But it tells a good story and has solid voice acting, so I'm not sure where some of the complaints are coming from.
No, it is not a "ripoff of kung fu panda." China and Japan are actually different places with different cultures.
This was also not someone "ripping off" Mel Brooks. He directed it! He's in it! And the role he plays is the same one he plays in Blazing Saddles.
Because it IS Blazing Saddles. The writers of the original are even credited. Given how many American Westerns were redone Samurai movies, it's a pretty established pattern.
It's definitely got some tongue-in-cheek references. It has some jokes that (as Mel Brooks movies do) push the line. But it tells a good story and has solid voice acting, so I'm not sure where some of the complaints are coming from.
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