Tag: animation

The Secret Life of Pets

The Secret Life of Pets dir. Chris Renaud & Yarrow Cheney (Illumination, 2016) This animated furball comedy is probably better without foreknowledge. While anticipation may have been built, much actual impact was lost through having the film cut up and organ farmed for a relentless onslaught of trailers in the months leading up to release.  

Rango

Rango dir. Gore Verbinski (2011) A surprisingly cohesive animated comedy. Johnny Depp is peerless as a chameleon who, stranded in the Mojave Desert, survives his introduction to the Wild West by impersonating (blending in by way of chutzpah and bravado!) a tough hombre by name of Rango.  

Monsters, Inc.

Monsters, Inc. dir. Pete Docter (2001) John Goodman and Billy Crystal are perfectly cast and animated as portal-hopping monsters whose night-scaring elicits the screams needed to power Monstropolis. The status quo turns to sweet crumble when their rival’s scheming brings a three-year-old human (presumed deadly) into their world.  

Zootopia

Zootopia dir. Byron Howard & Rich Moore (2016) Although it could never live up to its sloths-at-the-DMV trailer, Zootopia still hops along nicely as a prejudice-themed comedy murder mystery wherein circumstances necessitate the city’s first rabbit police officer (Ginnifer Goodwin) teaming up with a small-time con artist fox (Jason Bateman).