Curious George Review

-Directed by: Matt O'Callaghan

Starring the voices of:
Will Ferrell
Drew Barrymore
Dick Van Dyke

Soundtrack by:
Jack Johnson

If you're like me, winter has been a long and boring season. I'm itching for sunshine and warm weather like you wouldn't believe. Well, there's no better way to swing into spring than with the help of a little monkey named George and a man in a big yellow hat. Based on the classic children's stories, this movie isn't as high tech with its animation and it really shouldn't be. Instead, it's a gently entertaining children's movie that will keep grownups entertained as well.

The movie opens with the fantastically mellow "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson, as you see what sorts of trouble George can get into. As he moves from one mischevious good time to another, you're brought through what I'm going to call color settings. Blue to green to bubbles and back again just like a true jungle. But there's still this hint of sunshine even if George is peering out from the shadows. That's why this movie worked for me in one aspect. There's no gloom and doom in this movie. Instead, it's a really clever movie about love, friendship, and curiousity being a very good thing indeed. Frankly, it's a movie we've needed for a while. For too long the box office has been full of serious dramas and grossly inappropriate films, and it was driving your intrepid reviewer a little..well...bananas. To counter it, we have a happy monkey who you won't be able to stop laughing at.

The voice casting is ideal with the man in the yellow hat being named Ted and voiced by Will Ferrell. Maggie, a well meaning school teacher with a crush on Ted, is Drew Barrymore with Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Bloomsberry and Eugene Levy as the experimenter Clovis. Each brings a uniqueness to the movie that will keep you remembering it far longer than most standard "children's" movies. Don't get me wrong though. This is a kid's movie that makes no apologies for what it is. Your brothers and sisters will enjoy it, but don't be surprised if you do too. I did, and I was the oldest person in the theater.

(Photo from Yahoo!)

Upside Down, and the rest of the Curious George soundtrack is in stores now or can be downloaded from iTunes.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn@earthlink.net
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