THE NUT JOB 2: NUTTY BY NATURE

US, 2017, 91 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, Bobby Cannavale, Bobby Moynihan, Isabella Moner, Peter Stormae, Gabriel Iglesias.
Directed by Cal Brunker.


This animation feature was a surprise. The original film, The Nut Job, seemed conventional enough entertainment for young children. This sequel is much better – and quite entertaining for adults, even for reviewers.

The animation was done in South Korea for this American production. The animation is fairly straightforward, the setting in Liberty Park and the background of the city, but the action is mainly in the park. The main time outside the park is spent in the office of the avaricious and corrupt Mayor, seen with his cronies, a drawer full of bribes (‘political contributions’, of course), envious of the park which does not produce any revenue. Plan: destroy the park, build a theme park, rake in the cash.

However, the main attention, of course, is on the animals from the park, mainly squirrels, a mole, a rat, some groundhogs, dogs… And they all have very entertaining voices. But, at the opening, they are all indulging in an abandoned nut shop, greed galore. However, Andy, a very nice squirrel, is advocating the traditions, instincts, collecting nuts, storing them for the winter. She doesn’t have a chance, even as she appeals to the leader, Surly.

Clearly, there is going to be a confrontation between the Mayor and the animals. It should be noted that the Mayor has a most horrible daughter, Heather, spoilt and aggressive, attention-seeking who must inevitably get her comeuppance (as she and her father do).

In many ways, as with so many animation stories, there is a bit of moralising. Andy makes a great appeal to the animals not to take the easy way out, but to rise to challenges. And this is the case when they face the demolition of the park and decide to move into protest mode and to sabotage. And, when the theme park opens (with a lot of shoddy work to cut costs), they go to work with demolition. The point being made is that all individuals can take a stand, but when they collaborate, they can be very effective.

So, there is a lot of action throughout the film to keep the young audience attentive – with enough, characters and physical comedy. This is particularly the case with a group of mice, ousted from the park but deciding to get training in martial arts as well as Eastern meditation techniques – with the leader voiced by Jackie Chan (and a nice little bonus during the final credits when Chan himself is photographed recording his voice).

Will Arnett is very strong as Surly, a leader yet a bit on the lazy side, challenged by Andy (Katherine Heigl) to be his better self, be a role model, caught in an adventure which has its ups and downs. Maya Rudolph and Bobby Cannavale enjoy themselves as the two romantic pugs, Precious and Frank.

Adult audiences will enjoy the verbal humour, puns, jokes and parodies.

1. An entertaining animated feature? Sequel to The Nut Job? Many of the characters and their voices appealing?

2. The target audience? The children’s audience? The adult audience? Action and pratfalls and jokes for the children? Verbal humour, social causes, protests, uncovering of corruption for the adults?

3. The animation style, the work in South Korea? The settings, the city and the Park and its details, the nut shop, the mayor’s office, the demolishing of the park, the setting up of the theme park? The action sequences?

4. The characters, the variety of park animals, squirrels, groundhogs, moles, rats, dogs…? Their life in the park, the threats, their collaboration, the fighting of the Mayor, the demolition of the theme park? The musical score?

5. The voice cast and the comedy talent?

6. The squirrels, Surly, Andy? From the original film? The other characters like Buddy and Precious from the original?

7. The nut shop, abandoned, food forever, the squirrels and others and self-indulgent, overeating, competition, taking life easy? Surly as leader and everybody looking up to him? The contrast with Andy, still searching for nuts in the park, building up a store for winter, her dismay at everybody taking it easy? Against the nut shop? The training the young squirrels, her exercising and the tree and getting the nut, her falls, going to the shop? The mishap in not fixing the boiler and the shop exploding in the building collapsing?
Everybody having to go back to the park?

8. The Mayor, physical appearance, bribes, corruption, making money, his entourage and advisers, wanting the park? The decision to develop? Demolish? Build the theme park? His press conferences, turning the sods? Heather, spoilt and obnoxious, aggressive, with Frank? Her wanting the limelight, posing for pictures, making demands – and then her demure poses?

9. The demolition of the park, the bulldozers? Gunther and his being hired to get rid of the animals? The sadistic touches? Going about his work, the capturing of the animals?

10. Surly, Andy, her appeal to him to be a leader, role model? Their experience of the attack of the developers? The little one saying that everyone would die? The various tactics, the dangers, the machines, the holes, explosions?

11. The encounter with the mice? The leader, resenting the use of the word cute? Martial arts? The encounter with Surly, confrontation? His going back to them, appeal for help, the background of their being expelled from the park, their training in eastern martial arts and meditation? Their coming to the rescue?

12. The opening of the park, the mayor and his cronies, Heather? Frank and the encounter with Precious, falling in love, Precious being captured – and Surly and Buddy coming to the rescue? Buddy and his fall, being licked back into revival? The flashback to Surly and Buddy and their meeting, the wins, saving each other?

13. The grand climax of the collaboration, the destruction of the theme park? Everybody captured, the tranquilizing darts, Andy in the cage?

14. The mice, the confrontation, the complete demolition, the arrival of the police, Gunther and his running away, the Mayor and Heather, their downfall, being taken by the police?

15. Morale re-established amongst the creatures in the park, their not losing their instincts or tradition? (But always the temptation for easy fast food!).