I rented this movie for my 7 year old nephew. I didn't care for it. One element that really bothered me were the use of guerilla tactics used in the movie and how no child suffered any consequences for such extreme measures.
I expected something fun yet educational regarding Owl Preservation. Instead, this movie is full of bad acting and awkward moments between cast members. The most important actors of the film are left for the ending rather than being the focus of the entire movie. I didn't want to know so much about the relationship between Roy and Mullet Fingers as I wanted to know about the Owls and their importance.
The kids cause a lot of trouble and often break the law. They are not punished for any of the major crimes--especially Criminal Mastermind Mullet Fingers. It might be a kids movie but even a kids movie should take responsibility not to advocate crime as a means of communication. No where in the movie did anyone come up with a way outside of vandalism, theft, or kidnapping to contact groups or organizations to help their problem. (I realize there would have been no "Hoot" if they did this!) Yes, you can incorporate adventure in a kids story but it's no laughing matter to tie anyone up in their underwear or hold someone hostage in order to get your point across. People like that grow up to be bank robbers. It's the same principle, "I had to do it for the Owls" quickly becomes "I needed the money".
Parents should be cautious of this movie. It's not as innocent as it appears. It was not the fun family movie I expected by any means. It's not okay for kids to break the law, even for a movie about Owls. Especially, when in the end, the kids achieve their goal without any repercussions for their actions. Hard to believe! The character Mullet Fingers is a criminal. He is a runaway, lives in a boat yard alone, and does not go to school. Yet, his character is used to defend the Owls and showcase Florida's natural beauty as if his life is dedicated to nature. He is very cautious about the environment and strongly opposes the growing tourism industry. However, Mullet does not grow and develop in this story. At the end, he returns to his boatyard living as a runway-on-the-run except now he has a male friend. I didn't buy the kid's acting or the character's passion. Mullet does not evolve from his situation nor does he get the necessary help he needs. I believe this sends the wrong message to kids. You can have passion for the environment but you do need an education, you need a home, and the know how to legally organize community support for a good cause.
Overall, I would not recommend this movie. It's all around bad. Even Jimmy Buffet couldn't rescue it. A lot of people worked hard on the movie but it just didn't hit the mark. It was a sad day for the Owls when this opened.
I expected something fun yet educational regarding Owl Preservation. Instead, this movie is full of bad acting and awkward moments between cast members. The most important actors of the film are left for the ending rather than being the focus of the entire movie. I didn't want to know so much about the relationship between Roy and Mullet Fingers as I wanted to know about the Owls and their importance.
The kids cause a lot of trouble and often break the law. They are not punished for any of the major crimes--especially Criminal Mastermind Mullet Fingers. It might be a kids movie but even a kids movie should take responsibility not to advocate crime as a means of communication. No where in the movie did anyone come up with a way outside of vandalism, theft, or kidnapping to contact groups or organizations to help their problem. (I realize there would have been no "Hoot" if they did this!) Yes, you can incorporate adventure in a kids story but it's no laughing matter to tie anyone up in their underwear or hold someone hostage in order to get your point across. People like that grow up to be bank robbers. It's the same principle, "I had to do it for the Owls" quickly becomes "I needed the money".
Parents should be cautious of this movie. It's not as innocent as it appears. It was not the fun family movie I expected by any means. It's not okay for kids to break the law, even for a movie about Owls. Especially, when in the end, the kids achieve their goal without any repercussions for their actions. Hard to believe! The character Mullet Fingers is a criminal. He is a runaway, lives in a boat yard alone, and does not go to school. Yet, his character is used to defend the Owls and showcase Florida's natural beauty as if his life is dedicated to nature. He is very cautious about the environment and strongly opposes the growing tourism industry. However, Mullet does not grow and develop in this story. At the end, he returns to his boatyard living as a runway-on-the-run except now he has a male friend. I didn't buy the kid's acting or the character's passion. Mullet does not evolve from his situation nor does he get the necessary help he needs. I believe this sends the wrong message to kids. You can have passion for the environment but you do need an education, you need a home, and the know how to legally organize community support for a good cause.
Overall, I would not recommend this movie. It's all around bad. Even Jimmy Buffet couldn't rescue it. A lot of people worked hard on the movie but it just didn't hit the mark. It was a sad day for the Owls when this opened.