Film Reviews

Animals United

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: James Corden
• Details: Germany / 93mins (G).

American animated movies can be guilty at times of being very similar to each other. There's not a lot to separate the likes of Madagascar, The Wild, etc. That Animals United is a European venture doesn't change the fact that some of its scenes could easily slip into anything Disney or DreamWorks could conjure up, but it has a nice eco-friendly message for the kids who might happen along and it's doubtful they'll care if the story is a tad similar to others.
When the water supply to the African plains begins to run out, Billy (Corden), a plucky Meerkat, and Socrates (Fry), a vegetarian lion, rally the animals, some of whom are natural enemies, and take to the road to get to the bottom of the mystery. Along the way they team up with Jim Broadbent and Vanessa Redgrave's elderly turtles, who were forced to leave their home because of an oil spill, Jason Donvan's kangaroo, a bush fire survivor, and Bella Hudson's polar bear, who has witnessed the melting of the ice caps. The animals have had enough and they plan to teach humans a lesson on how they're ruining the planet.
Yep, it's an eco-message that's delivered without much subtlety (in fact, you're kind of beaten half to death with it) but Animals United is an animated movie that's aimed at the youngest of children, and they should find enough quirkiness here to keep interest levels high. Adapted from Erich Krastner's book, the 'four legs good, two legs bad' story is kept as simple as possible (which might bore the adults who will accompany the kids) and the characters are a tad unmemorable, but for some kids out there this will be as fresh as a daisy.
The 3D might be a bit of a let down (again) and while the animation might not reach the heady heights of Pixar (DreamWorks fail to do that too so there's no shame), the celebrity voices (dubbing the original German voices) can be fun (especially Stephen Fry) and it's a jaunty affair that ticks along nicely. After this and Niko And The Way To The Stars, European animation has shown that can play with the big boys. It just needs to iron out a few creases.

Review by Gavin Burke