“Chicken Little” (Walt Disney Pictures)
The Disney Studios are at it again, bringing us an animated movie that is full of charm and cuteness. The new product’s name is “Chicken Little” and it is a fun film that should keep the younger kids fascinated. But in order to make it big as an animated movie you have to entertain the adults as well and “Chicken Little” doesn’t deliver there.
Chicken Little (voiced by Zach Braff) is the only child of Buck Cluck (Garry Marshall), a widower who is trying to do right by his son. It gets trying however when Chicken Little alerts the city via the tower bell that the sky is falling. When everyone finds out it is a false alarm, Buck feels disgraced and Chicken Little is a pariah.
Little’s true friends Abby Mallard (Joan Cusack), Runt of the Litter (Steve Zahn) and Fish Out of Water all stand by him. Later they learn the sky was falling, so to speak, as aliens are up in the sky and make it look like the sky is falling.
The whole premise of the movie is the alienation between parent and child and how love and trust have to exist side by side. This message is delivered in a sweet fashion but somehow the heart of the story never comes across enough to get the audience involved emotionally.
Nowadays just being a sweet and funny movie is not enough for an animated film. All must operate within the shadow of “Toy Story,” “Shrek” and “Finding Nemo.” That is pretty heavy competition and few films can live up to those standards. “Chicken Little” certainly can’t.
Nothing in this movie is unusual for a film of this type. The voices are good; the animation is okay; the storyline is interesting – in parts; but nothing makes you sit up and marvel at what is happening onscreen.
The film is rated G for all audiences.
‘Chicken Little” isn’t a turkey but it isn’t a smash either. Little kids will laugh along with the adventures of Chicken Little and his friends but other members of the audience will not be so easily satisfied.
I scored “Chicken Little” a not so big 5 out of 10.
