The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002): Dir: Cathy Malkasian, Jeff Mcgrath / Voices: Lacey Chabert, Tim Curry, Rupert Everett, Marisa Tomei, Lynn Redgrave: Why are the noses of the father and grandparents the length of the head of other characters? Not only is this question not answered but the film fails to even provide decent animation. Threadbare plot has the Thornberrys posted in Africa where they study and protect wildlife. The hero is a girl who can understand animals but fails in preventing poachers from nabbing a cheetah cub. An unnecessary subplot has her and her chimpanzee companion sent to a boarding school. The second and third act work well enough but the whole issue of magical powers doesn't. Directed by Cathy Malkasian and Jeff McGrath but characters are divided. The young heroine is appealing enough for the target audience but other characters are not so broad. The parents are typical with kind orders to do chores and go to school. The poachers are typical villains who will be brought to justice. There is some decent voice talents by Lacey Chabert, Tim Curry, Rupert Everett, and Marisa Tomei, and despite all this, none of these characters remotely come to life. While there exist a wildlife theme it is largely bypassed for program promotion. The result is a film that isn't half as interesting or entertaining as Animal Planet. Score: 2 ½ / 10
Review of The Wild Thornberrys
