HOOT

US, 2006, 91 minutes, Colour.
Luke Wilson, Logan Lerman, Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson, Cody Linley, Clark Greg, Robert Wagner, Jimmy Buffett.
Directed by Wil Shriner.

Hoot is based on a novel by Florida novelist and conservationist, Carl Haiaasen. (The only other Haiaasen novel to be transferred to the screen is the Demi Moore, Striptease.)

The film is a family film and designed for teenage audiences. It is a film about standing up for beliefs, the environment.

Logan Lerman (The Number 23, My One and Only, Percy Jackson and The Olympians) is fourteen-year-old Roy who moves from Montana to Florida with his parents, his father working for the Justice Department. He is bullied at school, makes a number of friends – and is intrigued by a boy who can run very quickly. He finds that this boy is involved in sabotaging the turning of the Earth for the building of a new pancake franchise because of the protected owls who nested there. Luke Wilson is a slow but pleasant but slow local policeman. Tim Blake Nelson is the foreman of the site. Clark Greg is the executive from the pancake franchise, the villain of the piece. Cody Linley is the running boy and Brie Larson is his sister. Robert Wagner has a cameo as the local mayor.

Jimmy Buffett, who supplied the musical score and the songs, appears as a teacher at the school.

The film is young teenage audience-friendly – and parents will find it a very acceptable film for their children, both in the presentation of the teenagers as well as the themes.

1.The impact of the film? For teenagers? For families?

2.The conservation message? Carl Haiaasen and his work as a conservationist? Exposes of exploitation of land, government, documentation? The conservation of the owls – and the final gift of the property as a wildlife sanctuary? Solution to conflicts between business expansion and the environment?

3.The opening, the voice-over of Roy, his love for Montana and the mountains – and the transition to Florida, the coast, the beaches, the sun? The use of the Florida locations – and the boat ride through the ocean and the Everglades at the middle of the film? The feel of Florida?

4.Jimmy Buffett, the songs, the musical score? His appearance as the teacher?

5.Roy, his relationship with his parents? His mother’s concern, his father’s justice work? His going to school, immediately getting the nickname Cowgirl, his being bullied? His reaction to Beatrice? Her dominance? His noticing Mullet Fingers’ running? Going to find out, the confrontation with Mullet, with Beatrice? His reaction to the bully? Breaking his nose, being suspended? The discussions with his parents, writing the letter of apology – and the difficulties of delivering it, the bully’s mother?

6.The encounter with Sergeant Delinko? Delinko and his job minding the building site, the interactions with Curly? His commanding officers? The night vigil, Mullet painting the car windows black? His being demoted, the small vehicle? Giving Roy a lift and his bicycle? The continued encounters with Roy? The snakebite and his hearing Roy was in hospital, telling his parents? The truth? His going to the school, seeing Roy and his looking for the official documents about the owls? His pursuit, discovery of the truth, the document, the confrontation with Muckle and arresting him? His reinstatement – and the postscript that he backed his new car into the water? The comic touch?

7.Curley, in charge, his exasperation, the incident with the dogs, the snakes biting the dogs? Muckle and his reprimands? The encounter with Kimberley? His reaction against Muckle, taking the side of the children? The happy ending and Kimberley?

8.Beatrice, her explanation of the family situation, Mullet having to go to military school, escaping, hiding out, his campaign for the owls? His sabotage, the snakes? Roy and his experience of the bag and the snakes? Befriending Beatrice, speaking directly to her? The ride on the bike, the escape in the boat? Their joining forces in the protest?

9.Muckle, his office, the hundredth franchise? Kimberley and her television performance, Mother Paula? Her reactions against Muckle? Her speech at the opening, her giving the land as a wildlife sanctuary?

10.Mullet, his background, his earnestness? The sabotage? The encounters with Roy, the help from Beatrice? His being bitten by the dog, Beatrice getting Roy, Roy helping him, going to the hospital, leaving? The final sabotage?

11.Advancing the date of the turning of the sod, the children doing the PR work? The people visiting, the mayor, the media? Tying up Muckle? His being freed – and getting on the bulldozer? His sabotage, the arrest?

12.Roy asking everybody to be quiet, the owls coming out?

13.Everybody being converted? The happy ending?

14.The portrait of the teenagers, as children, as earnest? A satisfying film for young teenagers and their parents?