Rating of
3/4
Loved the Science Jokes
Franz Patrick - wrote on 12/13/08
This is a cleverly written animated film about ants and I actually prefer it over “A Bug’s Life.” Even though its main target are kids, it doesn’t leave adult audiences in boredom. It successfully highlights the message regarding acceptance, the similarities and differences between the human world and the ant colony, and how to balance self-reliance and asking for help–all without forcing them down our throats. The images are pure eye-candy and there were scenes that surprised me because the colors, tone, and movement fit so perfectly. I love the scenes where the audiences get to see the inside of an anthill, the frog’s throat, and the human scalp; while some get pretty gross, it’s so entertaining to the point where I thought, “What are they going to show next?” The voices distracted me at first but as the picture went on, I barely noticed the voices of Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti, Bruce Campbell, and Allison Mack. I also thought there were brilliant jokes about science such as went the ants were surprised that the skeleton of humans are on the outside (ant skeleton is outside), an ant’s heart is located in the thorax (or is it the abdomen?), how glowworms only live for two weeks, and how humans can’t climb vertical surfaces as easily as ants. I enjoyed the film that much more because the jokes are in their universe (unlike some of Dreamworks’ animated flicks) and the undertones are present. From the moment the picture started until the credits started rolling, I had a big silly smile on my face while feeling like I was still eight years old.
