Overrated and overhyped

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002): Dir: Cathy Malkasian, Jeff Mcgrath / Voices: Lacey Chabert, Tim Curry, Rupert Everett, Marisa Tomei, Lynn Redgrave: Why are the noses of the father and grandparents the length of the head of other characters? Not only is this question not answered but the film fails to even provide decent animation. Threadbare plot has the Thornberrys posted in Africa where they study and protect wildlife. The hero is a girl who can understand animals but fails in preventing poachers from nabbing a cheetah cub. An unnecessary subplot has her and her chimpanzee companion sent to a boarding school. The second and third act work well enough but the whole issue of magical powers doesn't. Directed by Cathy Malkasian and Jeff McGrath but characters are divided. The young heroine is appealing enough for the target audience but other characters are not so broad. The parents are typical with kind orders to do chores and go to school. The poachers are typical villains who will be brought to justice. There is some decent voice talents by Lacey Chabert, Tim Curry, Rupert Everett, and Marisa Tomei, and despite all this, none of these characters remotely come to life. While there exist a wildlife theme it is largely bypassed for program promotion. The result is a film that isn't half as interesting or entertaining as Animal Planet. Score: 2 ½ / 10

The Wild Thornberrys (as a show that is) is better than the Rugrats, in my opinion. This movie is beautiful, and in my opinion, the best of the nickelodeon animated movies. I think the rating of 4.6 is just ridiculous, it's a kids movie, and an extremely good one at that. I wasn't expecting another Beauty and the Beast, I was expecting a film that was faithful to the show yet still was engaging for kids and adults, and The Wild Thornberrys Movie for me did that, and be thankful that the animation is so good, and the plot as simple as it was. It certainly isn't the best movie ever made, but I have seen much, much worse movies, honestly I have.It tells the story of Eliza (who you should never judge by her appearance), who tries to save a cheetah cub, and sets out to find him. The film was both funny and moving at the same time. The soundtrack was moving and beautifully sung by Paul Simon. The humour comes from Darwin and Nigel(wonderfully voiced by Tim Curry) who are both hilarious in the movie and the TV show. All the characters add something to the film, and I am sick of people dragging it down through the mud. The other voice talents are very good, a standout being Rupert Everett as Sloan who is a villain through and through, and can people stop associating villains as evil sorcerers bent on revenge! Honestly, even Disney are straying from that tired formula. I recommend this film, 8.5/10. Bethany Cox

As we all know, Eliza was blessed with the gift of talking to animals when she freed an injured animal who turned out to be a shaman. On safari with her family, she goes out to play with her lion friends when poachers pounce and steal one of the cubs. Eliza is determined to get her friend back but first has to escape from the English boarding school that her Grandmother has insisted she attend to make her more ladylike.In my defence it is my inability to sleep on airplanes during the day that led me to watch this film – not just my desire to see a cartoon. I am vaguely aware of the series but have never cared enough to actually ever watch an episode – nor will I ever be likely to! However, as a way of passing 90 minutes, I was happy to have it and quite surprised to find that, although not aimed at adults, I was not put to sleep by it. The plot is very simple but has enough going on to keep the interest and keep the screen busy. It is rarely funny but it is quite amusing all the way through. It is simple stuff but I did enjoy it.The animation is not that impressive but it is professional and colourful and I never felt that corners had been cut – it all looked big and fun. The cast and characters are good – hardly difficult or complex but still good enough to do the job. The main family are funny enough with their mix of accents (love that monkey!) from Curry, Chabert, Kane etc and the support cast is good with enjoyable little roles for Woodard, Redgrave, Tomei and Everett- who takes to the role with a bit of relish and his tongue in his cheek.Overall, hardly a great film but one that I'm sure many parents will have to watch due to their kids watching the series. As such it is actually OK. The plot is simple but not simplistic or dull, the film is busy with a good amusing tone and the whole thing works well throughout. Young children will enjoy it and, while there is not much for adults in the way that Pixar delivers the goods, parents will not be bored senseless by it and may, if they are in the mood find it enjoyable if childish.

I read a lot of reviews from people that seemed underwhelmed by this film. I wonder really what movie they were watching or if they went into the cinema with their bias against animated stories firmly in place.We just watched this film and my daughter (8 going on 18!), my husband and I all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The story was interesting and didn't rely too heavily on prior knowledge from the show (if anything, the story ignored the show to the point of forgetting about an episode where Debbie tried boarding school and hated it). The writers also didn't rely too much on Donnie-antics to carry the story. The little there was didn't seem offensive or over the top to us. The soundtrack was terrific, especially the song "Father and Daughter" by Paul Simon and the music by Peter Gabriel. The animation was "Klasky/Csupo" style, but was smoother than the TV version is.All in all, it was a fun and even (dare I say it?) thought provoking way to spend an afternoon. The discussions that we have had today about how some families are different from others, the environment and the poaching of animals and "daddies and daughters" were worth the price of admission alone. Add to that a good, fun film that didn't bore either the grownups or the daughter, and "The Wild Thornberrys" gets added to the "Must Buy" DVD list in our house!