Buy the book on Amazon (paid link)
Written by: Aaron Blabey (based on the books by), Etan Cohen (screenplay), Yoni Brenner and Hilary Winston (additional screenplay material by)
Directed by: Pierre Perifel
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer
Plot
Several reformed yet misunderstood criminal animals attempt to become good, with some disastrous results along the way.
Verdict
It's a kids' movie with a message. It doesn't try to do much more. The message is basically don't judge people and that anyone can be redeemed. As a kids' movie it's perfectly serviceable, but an adult is going to be left wanting more out of this.
Skip it.
Review
A group of anthropomorphic animals live in a world alongside humans. How that works isn't explored. A group of predators consisting of Wolf, Snake, Tarantula, Shark, and Piranha are considered inherently bad because of their species, and it's implied that's why they're criminals.
Wolf becomes conflicted when a pickpocket attempt turns into saving an old lady. That praise made him feel good and he reconsiders not only an upcoming heist, but his life. His crew don't understand, and want to continue with the heist. While a doctor tries to reform them, only Wolf understands the concept of empathy.
 |
| The Bad Guys - Tarantula, Snake, Piranha, Shark, Wolf |
This is about whether a person can change their natural tendencies and inclinations. That can alienate your friends as they see you not only as becoming a different person, but leaving them behind. This change is completely binary as in this movie it's a choice between being a criminal or not. Real life is full of choices much more subtle than this, but similar.
Through this redemption are there are plenty of twists, turns, and reveals to keep the plot lively, but this is a kids' movie and it never held my interest very long. This is based on a book series, and the end of the movie certainly leaves this open for sequels where "the bad guys" fight crime instead of committing it.
No comments :
Post a Comment