CHICKEN LITTLE

US, 2005, 81 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Zac Braff, Garry Marshall, Don Knotts, Patrick Stewart, Amy Sedaris, Steve Zahn, Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, Harry Shearer, Fred Willard, Catherine O’ Hara, Patrick Warburton, Adam West.
Directed by Mark Dindal.

Definitely one for children to review to tell us whether it is funny, whether they liked the story, whether they liked little Chicken Little, his father and the other characters in the town. They would have to be film buffs to tell us whether they appreciated the references to science fiction movies and parodies of Close Encounters and, especially for 2005, The War of the Worlds.

While the film is geared to children, it is one of those raucous entertainments with a lot of shouting, a lot of misunderstandings as well as expecting children to be more knowing in their behaviour, more than a touch worldly-wise, in their response to characters rather than respond with a more child-like simplicity and delight.

For a while, it looks like a small domestic comedy with poor Chicken Little mocked by everyone and judged badly by his father when he makes a fuss and causes disaster claiming that a piece of the sky has fallen. However, he makes good in a heroic run in a baseball match.

But, then come the aliens!! And the tone of the film changes considerably.

This reviewer was reminded of Lilo and Stitch, another Disney animation that eluded his wavelength but was popular with the children.

1.An entertaining animation film? For young audiences? Adults?

2.The style of animation, the drawing of the characters, animals – but the humorous caricature touches? The parallels with human behaviour? The comic voices? The amusing situations – the blend of realism with aliens?

3.Chicken Little, the little person? The town of Oakey Oaks? The inhabitants? Chicken Little and his place, Buck his father? His claim that the sky is falling in? His being hit on the head by an acorn? His being exposed to ridicule? The town’s animals laughing at him? The year passing? His hope to become a hero? Playing baseball? The irony of his victory and score? His actually becoming a hero? The repetition of his being struck? The alien technology? The spaceship taking Fish Out of Water? The comedy of Fish Out of Water in his diving helmet? Chicken Little and his pursuit? His friends, Runt of the Litter and Abby Mallard? Abby and her devotion to Chicken? The discovery of the flying saucer? The robots? The rescue of Fish? The discovery of the plans – and their thinking that they were to destroy the earth? The return to Oakey Oaks, pursuit of the robots? Chicken and the alarm? The spaceship disappearing? Everybody laughing at Chicken again? His father’s disbelief? The discovery of the child alien (and its three eyes), the parents returning, wanting the child? Chicken and his reconciliation with his father? The happy ending?

4.The supporting characters, the visuals, the voices, the comedy? Fish Out of Water, Runt of the Litter, Abby Mallard? The other animals in the town? The mayor? Buck Cluck and his relationship with his son – and his reconciliation? The principal of the school? The Dog Announcer? Foxy Loxy?

5.The outer space story, the aliens, the robots, the taking of Fish, the pursuit by the friends? The seeming plans for destruction? The reality? The return of the parents, the spaceships? The upset to the town? The discovery of the truth – and the aliens wanting acorns?

6.The parody of human behaviour, the town, the baseball team, the principal, the various characters? Family relationships – and Chicken wishing that he had a family like those he observed? The scene of reconciliation with his father?

7.The aliens, the robots? The visitors from outer space – benign? The parody of War of the Worlds?

8.The blockbuster movie, everybody going to see the film, the film within a film, Mickey Mouse and his cameo?

9.A light-hearted animation film, drawing on many genres?