Are you looking for an entertaining little animated flick with ants in it? Well good news! A Bug's Life is available on DVD. If you're looking for similar fun in The Ant Bully then you'll be staying in the theater long after the credits roll still fruitlessly searching.
Typically, when I've failed to laugh within the first 10 or 15 minutes of a supposed comedy, I know it's going to be a long night. In an effort to keep my attention focused on the movie, I take note of how many times I actually laugh - this is always a good gauge of how ineffective the jokes are. The grand total of laughs during The Ant Bully? Four. That's right; four clever, genuine laugh-inducing moments.
Everything else is a mere exercise in "how can we make little kids chuckle?" I'll give the movie credit - it will definitely play well with 5-year-olds, but that's because it feels like it was written by one. No offense, but the problem with that is 5-year-olds just aren't that funny or creative. Their stories are really only gonna be tolerated by their peers or those who love them most.
Here's just one painful example of my experience with this film:
"Curse upon your children," Nicholas Cage's character exclaims towards a couple of rocks.
"I don't think rocks have children," replies his Julia Roberts-voiced wife.
"They won't now," Cage yells as he throws them on the ground.
The kids in the audience howl with laughter. Johnny rolls his eyes and looks at his watch.
There you have it. Expect 90 minutes of THAT. Throw in a completely unfunny grandmother who believes in aliens, and you've got a long night at the theater.
I also have a bit of a problem with the villainous portrayal of the pest control man. What are we teaching our children? That people who work in pest control are evil and their jobs aren't worthy of respect? Terrible message. Insects ARE pests, and though they do have their place, there comes a time when some of them must be killed. It's a little thing I like to call a fact of life. What's next; an animated film about how humans must learn to live with termites?
The Ant Bully really beats us over the head with its messages on teamwork, family, and the abuse of power. Here, I'll teach you that lesson real quick - it's good to work as a team, family is important, and try not to abuse power. I just saved you $8 a pop and 90 minutes of your time. All I ask in return is a check or Paypal payment for just half of what you would've paid for the entire family to see this. Thanks, and you're welcome.
Come on, a movie where a kid finds his inner ant? And this is supposed to play well with adults? Seriously?
Sure, the sound and visuals are fine, and things pick up a bit at the end, but so what? Don't care. That doesn't make up for the weak jokes and the "ants are heroic and humans are evil" themes. All it did was make me want to go step on some ant hills.
The Ant Bully? More like The Ain't Funny.
Accuse me of taking this too seriously all you want, but as long as there are kid's movies that refuse to give adequate entertainment to the adults who are forced to sit through them for the sake of their children, there's going to be Johnny Betts standing up and harshly putting them in their place.
THE GIST
The Ant Bully is just another example in a long line of animated movies that don't know how to appeal to both children and adults. Quit using the ol' "but it's a kid's movie" excuse because Pixar has proved that it can be done. Just watch A Bug's Life like I mentioned earlier.
Typically, when I've failed to laugh within the first 10 or 15 minutes of a supposed comedy, I know it's going to be a long night. In an effort to keep my attention focused on the movie, I take note of how many times I actually laugh - this is always a good gauge of how ineffective the jokes are. The grand total of laughs during The Ant Bully? Four. That's right; four clever, genuine laugh-inducing moments.
Everything else is a mere exercise in "how can we make little kids chuckle?" I'll give the movie credit - it will definitely play well with 5-year-olds, but that's because it feels like it was written by one. No offense, but the problem with that is 5-year-olds just aren't that funny or creative. Their stories are really only gonna be tolerated by their peers or those who love them most.
Here's just one painful example of my experience with this film:
"Curse upon your children," Nicholas Cage's character exclaims towards a couple of rocks.
"I don't think rocks have children," replies his Julia Roberts-voiced wife.
"They won't now," Cage yells as he throws them on the ground.
The kids in the audience howl with laughter. Johnny rolls his eyes and looks at his watch.
There you have it. Expect 90 minutes of THAT. Throw in a completely unfunny grandmother who believes in aliens, and you've got a long night at the theater.
I also have a bit of a problem with the villainous portrayal of the pest control man. What are we teaching our children? That people who work in pest control are evil and their jobs aren't worthy of respect? Terrible message. Insects ARE pests, and though they do have their place, there comes a time when some of them must be killed. It's a little thing I like to call a fact of life. What's next; an animated film about how humans must learn to live with termites?
The Ant Bully really beats us over the head with its messages on teamwork, family, and the abuse of power. Here, I'll teach you that lesson real quick - it's good to work as a team, family is important, and try not to abuse power. I just saved you $8 a pop and 90 minutes of your time. All I ask in return is a check or Paypal payment for just half of what you would've paid for the entire family to see this. Thanks, and you're welcome.
Come on, a movie where a kid finds his inner ant? And this is supposed to play well with adults? Seriously?
Sure, the sound and visuals are fine, and things pick up a bit at the end, but so what? Don't care. That doesn't make up for the weak jokes and the "ants are heroic and humans are evil" themes. All it did was make me want to go step on some ant hills.
The Ant Bully? More like The Ain't Funny.
Accuse me of taking this too seriously all you want, but as long as there are kid's movies that refuse to give adequate entertainment to the adults who are forced to sit through them for the sake of their children, there's going to be Johnny Betts standing up and harshly putting them in their place.
THE GIST
The Ant Bully is just another example in a long line of animated movies that don't know how to appeal to both children and adults. Quit using the ol' "but it's a kid's movie" excuse because Pixar has proved that it can be done. Just watch A Bug's Life like I mentioned earlier.