At the end credits, I was still trying to get the plot.
Take the concept from 'Over the Hedge' - brilliant! Take Brendan Fraser, big name from several really good action films. Good idea, but this isn't an action film. Add several plot elements and then forget to use them. Ah. Oops.
For some reason, my teenage kids loved this. But then they've never seen the slapstick of Laurel and Hardy.
If the CGI was closer to 'Over the Hedge', or the animals talked, rather than those ridiculous thought bubbles, this could have been so much better. If the plot about the new family in town, making connections along the way, had been explored, and the really embarrassing sub plot about the old teacher with a poor memory had been scratched, it would have been far better. The strange sub plot about the deranged forest ranger was even more of a waste of space. He just didn't fit in.
Oh, and if you're going to use a CEO character who looks Chinese, and seems to come across as that, PLEASE don't give him a western name - either a Hong Kong Chinese or a straight Chinese one.
I'm sure young kids will love this, as its all about the series of slapstick scenes that don't need to hang together with a plot.
Making a great slapstick though, you need to learn the techniques of the masters (L&H). Never reuse a joke. Its funny the first time, and after that makes it look like you've run out of ideas. And, make the slapstick work with the plot, not the other way around !
Take the concept from 'Over the Hedge' - brilliant! Take Brendan Fraser, big name from several really good action films. Good idea, but this isn't an action film. Add several plot elements and then forget to use them. Ah. Oops.
For some reason, my teenage kids loved this. But then they've never seen the slapstick of Laurel and Hardy.
If the CGI was closer to 'Over the Hedge', or the animals talked, rather than those ridiculous thought bubbles, this could have been so much better. If the plot about the new family in town, making connections along the way, had been explored, and the really embarrassing sub plot about the old teacher with a poor memory had been scratched, it would have been far better. The strange sub plot about the deranged forest ranger was even more of a waste of space. He just didn't fit in.
Oh, and if you're going to use a CEO character who looks Chinese, and seems to come across as that, PLEASE don't give him a western name - either a Hong Kong Chinese or a straight Chinese one.
I'm sure young kids will love this, as its all about the series of slapstick scenes that don't need to hang together with a plot.
Making a great slapstick though, you need to learn the techniques of the masters (L&H). Never reuse a joke. Its funny the first time, and after that makes it look like you've run out of ideas. And, make the slapstick work with the plot, not the other way around !