HOOT

US, 2006, 91 minutes, Colour.

Luke Wilson, Logan Lerman, Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson, Cody Linley, Neil Flynn, Clark Gregg, Kiersten Warren, Robert Wagner, Eric Phillips, Jimmy Buffett.

Directed by Wil Shriner.

Hoot is not quite an accurate story but it suggests a noise made by owls – and owls are the threatened species in this film.

The film is based on a young adult novel by prominent crime writer, Carl Hiassen (who appears momentarily giving a message to the company boss). It is very much geared to younger teenagers who can identify with the characters and the cause. The film also plays to the younger audience by making some of the adults comic figures, especially in Blake Nelson’s Curly, the supervisor at the site of a forthcoming pancake parlour and Luke Wilson as the local policeman.

Logan Lerman, emerging as a strong screen presence at this time, the Percy Jackson films…, Is the sympathetic Roy. Cody Linley is the tearaway, Mullet Fingers, responsible for the campaign against the building of the pancake parlour. It is a surprise to see Brie Larson as Beatrice (some years before her Oscar for Room). Robert Wagner has a few moments at the end of the film as the local Mayor.

The film has sequences at school, on the school bus, geography classes. It also shows young protest, Mullet Fingers and his sabotage, his personal problems, yet his vision of the Florida environment.

Which means that the film is a blend of the serious and the comic, some comments treating the film as an adult film and finding it wanting. Younger audiences will enjoy it – and find some motivation for environmental concern.

1. Young adult story? For younger teenage audience? Environmental message? Protest? Achievement?
2. The Montana opening, the vistas? The contrast with Florida, flat, towns, schools, tourists, the beaches, the waterways? The musical score?
3. Roy and his story, his age, relationship with his parents, love of Montana, moving to Florida, his first day at school, the bullying by Dana, the next day Roy punching him and breaking his nose, having to write a letter of apology, Dayna and his mother and their squabble, further threats? Beatrice and her dominating Dana? Dana and his pursuit of Roy, the snake traps? Arrested, interrogated?
4. Roy, his family, his father and justice work? His seeing Mullet Fingers from the bus, getting out, the attack by Beatrice? Finding him, the snakes, sending him off? The further explanation of the story, Mullet Fingers and the protest, the site, the family story, Beatrice, friendship with the Roy? The cause?
5. The situation, and Paula’s Pancakes, the hundredth shop, the land, the owls, protection, the fraud with the environmental report? Curly, on guard at the site, the sabotage, his desperation, the phone calls to Muckle, Muckle, the insensitive boss, Kimberly, her performance, the threats, going to Florida, the bulldozer, the seat missing, Muckle and his desperation, bringing the opening forward? Curly and his reaction, the snakes, the traps, teaming up with Kimberly?
6. The police, Lincoln, the touch of the stupids, working by the book, on the site, the discussions with Curly, the regulations, on guard, sleeping, the mud and the scratches? The chief, his demotion, the little vehicle, giving Roy a lift? His suspicions, pursuit of Roy? Telling Roy’s parents about the dogs and the bite? Pursuing Dana, interrogation? The finale, getting the documents, getting the new car – and still bumping it?
7. Mullet Fingers and Roy, the explanations of the environment, on the boat, the fish, the exhilaration?
8. Mullet Fingers, the sabotage, Curly bringing the dogs, fear of the snakes, Mullet Fingers being bitten, hospital, Roy giving his name, Mullet Fingers escaping, Roy and his parents?
9. The three overhearing Muckle, the flyers, rounding everyone up for the opening, the school class, tying up Muckle? Getting the documents? His father’s advice?
10. The mayor, the opening, the bulldozer, the noise of the owls, the one-minute silence, their appearing, television cameras, Kimberly speaking, donating the area for our Park? The company having to follow through? Muckle arrested?
11. Happy ending, Beatrice and Roy and their friendship? Dayna and the tough coach?
12. A film designed for younger audiences, based on the novel by Carl Hiassen, the message?