This is one of those films that could have been something absolutely wonderful but fell somewhat short. Luckily, there were enough positive notes circling the film that I felt it was definitely worth seeing.
I must admit that when I had heard it was in production a while back, I was very excited because I grew up with the Curious George storybooks. They were often checked out by my friends and I in elementary school and I think it'd be safe to say that I've read every single Curious George storybook that has ever been published. I even own a VHS tape of all the Curious George cartoons from back in the early 1980s. So please take my comments with the knowledge that they come from someone who truly appreciates what Curious George is all about.
First things first, the animation is absolutely brilliant. Thankfully, they did not succumb to this new fad of abandoning classic animation and sticking only with computer animation. Classic animation is, in no way, dead -- and furthermore, will never be dead. Just as I still appreciate silent films and the good ol' black-and-whites, I will always appreciate hand-drawn animation. It made me so happy that they stayed true to the feeling of the storybooks and presented it in this format and they should be commended for it. Thank you so much. You made me a very happy camper.
My problems with the film come primarily from the fact that I am not a young child and that I did, in fact, grow up with the storybooks. Sadly, Curious George has been somewhat updated to be friendly to the younger audience that they targeted. There are references to video games and the internet... and cellular phones and laptops play a significant role in the plot of the film. You will also see many unique inventions from robotic dogs to "magnificators" to a giant rocket ship. This, to me, was very depressing because it took away from the Curious George that I know and love that just did more simpler things (like flying kites). I definitely understand why they went the route that they did, but it still saddens me as they took away from what I loved most about the storybooks.
There's a scene where George is floating above the city by a handful of balloons and it was probably the most magical moment of the film. That's the Curious George that I know and I wish they would have stayed more true to that.
Instead we get a very epic storyline where "the monkey" (I guess he's no longer a chimpanzee) doesn't even enter the storyline for the first twenty minutes or so. It seemed like they tried too hard to create a conflict, a climax and a resolution. But it's Curious George! They needed to realize that they didn't necessarily need to do it in that fashion. To me, it just bogged a lot of things down.
I wish it would have started out with Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat (who, ahem, now actually has a name -- can you say sacrilegious?) together and just going on an adventure and George getting into mischief. The film rather takes a different direction and explores more the life of The Man in the Yellow Hat (I refuse to call him "Ted") and his romantic subplot. Again, it should have been about the adventures of Curious George and not The Man in the Yellow Hat's career and love life.
As for Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore and Eugene Levy providing voices. I was, admittedly, somewhat weary to begin with because I couldn't attach their voices to the storybooks -- but kudos to them because they actually did a very good job and fit the film very well.
And last, but most certainly not the least (in fact quite the opposite), the thing that had me absolutely captivated by the film. You all know what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Jack Johnson. His original songs are probably the most amazing compositions for a film I've seen in quite some time. Not only "Upside Down" (the best song of the collection), but all of the songs... they are amazing. Absolutely amazing. They not only fit the film, but they also fit the storybooks. You could sit down and read Curious George while listening to the soundtrack and it would just be heaven on Earth.
So in conclusion... as a Curious George fan, the film had its disappointments -- but overall it was actually very enjoyable. It made me feel like a kid again and I could just feel my young heart about to burst with joy when I was watching Curious George get into some of the mischief he was creating. I suppose that's why I wish I could have seen more of George finger-painting on the walls and less of The Man in the Yellow Hat (whose name still isn't "Ted" in my mind) trying to save his job.
It's definitely a film geared more towards children and, with that, I understand the choices that they made. I still got a very warm, fuzzy feeling watching George while listening to the brilliant Jack Johnson. I hope you'll get the same warm, fuzzy feeling as well.
David, The Studly Duckling
I must admit that when I had heard it was in production a while back, I was very excited because I grew up with the Curious George storybooks. They were often checked out by my friends and I in elementary school and I think it'd be safe to say that I've read every single Curious George storybook that has ever been published. I even own a VHS tape of all the Curious George cartoons from back in the early 1980s. So please take my comments with the knowledge that they come from someone who truly appreciates what Curious George is all about.
First things first, the animation is absolutely brilliant. Thankfully, they did not succumb to this new fad of abandoning classic animation and sticking only with computer animation. Classic animation is, in no way, dead -- and furthermore, will never be dead. Just as I still appreciate silent films and the good ol' black-and-whites, I will always appreciate hand-drawn animation. It made me so happy that they stayed true to the feeling of the storybooks and presented it in this format and they should be commended for it. Thank you so much. You made me a very happy camper.
My problems with the film come primarily from the fact that I am not a young child and that I did, in fact, grow up with the storybooks. Sadly, Curious George has been somewhat updated to be friendly to the younger audience that they targeted. There are references to video games and the internet... and cellular phones and laptops play a significant role in the plot of the film. You will also see many unique inventions from robotic dogs to "magnificators" to a giant rocket ship. This, to me, was very depressing because it took away from the Curious George that I know and love that just did more simpler things (like flying kites). I definitely understand why they went the route that they did, but it still saddens me as they took away from what I loved most about the storybooks.
There's a scene where George is floating above the city by a handful of balloons and it was probably the most magical moment of the film. That's the Curious George that I know and I wish they would have stayed more true to that.
Instead we get a very epic storyline where "the monkey" (I guess he's no longer a chimpanzee) doesn't even enter the storyline for the first twenty minutes or so. It seemed like they tried too hard to create a conflict, a climax and a resolution. But it's Curious George! They needed to realize that they didn't necessarily need to do it in that fashion. To me, it just bogged a lot of things down.
I wish it would have started out with Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat (who, ahem, now actually has a name -- can you say sacrilegious?) together and just going on an adventure and George getting into mischief. The film rather takes a different direction and explores more the life of The Man in the Yellow Hat (I refuse to call him "Ted") and his romantic subplot. Again, it should have been about the adventures of Curious George and not The Man in the Yellow Hat's career and love life.
As for Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore and Eugene Levy providing voices. I was, admittedly, somewhat weary to begin with because I couldn't attach their voices to the storybooks -- but kudos to them because they actually did a very good job and fit the film very well.
And last, but most certainly not the least (in fact quite the opposite), the thing that had me absolutely captivated by the film. You all know what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Jack Johnson. His original songs are probably the most amazing compositions for a film I've seen in quite some time. Not only "Upside Down" (the best song of the collection), but all of the songs... they are amazing. Absolutely amazing. They not only fit the film, but they also fit the storybooks. You could sit down and read Curious George while listening to the soundtrack and it would just be heaven on Earth.
So in conclusion... as a Curious George fan, the film had its disappointments -- but overall it was actually very enjoyable. It made me feel like a kid again and I could just feel my young heart about to burst with joy when I was watching Curious George get into some of the mischief he was creating. I suppose that's why I wish I could have seen more of George finger-painting on the walls and less of The Man in the Yellow Hat (whose name still isn't "Ted" in my mind) trying to save his job.
It's definitely a film geared more towards children and, with that, I understand the choices that they made. I still got a very warm, fuzzy feeling watching George while listening to the brilliant Jack Johnson. I hope you'll get the same warm, fuzzy feeling as well.
David, The Studly Duckling