The Wild
Well, I saw "The Wild" tonight. In short, I liked it. It's not a knock-it-out-of-the-park homerun, but it's a good solid film.
I had read all the talk about how it was a cross between "Madagascar" and "Finding Nemo", so I wasn't sure what I was going to get. I had also seen some screen shots and wasn't too impressed with the character design and rendering. It seemed like it was venturing into Uncanny Valley territory.
I liked the story. It wasn't like "Mad" or "Nemo" at all. There were some superficial similarities, but the movie quickly veered into different territory. It was much more about being true to yourself and your nature. This theme was shown in several different ways by different characters. It also didn't feel like it was riding on pop culture references or celebrity voices. They used top-flight vocal talent, but not those that were instantly recognizeable (except for Eddie Izzard, who I think I recognized instantly because I'm such a fan).
I must say I found the art direction a bit uneven. The main characters were realistically rendered, but then would have cartoony squashing and stretching. I think I would have preferred a different, less-realistic artistic choices.
Still, an enjoyable movie. Except the other guy in the theater kept talking. The one other guy kept talking. To himself. During the movie. Loud enough for me to hear half a theater away.
"The Wild" is a good movie; the folks at C.O.R.E. should be congratulated. I hope it's box office picks up or at least doesn't fade quickly, though I don't hold much hope. Go see it; take the kids.