By Linda Winsh-Bolard
In the spring the Forest is full of new beginnings, unbridled optimism, new chances- the time when new beginnings begin, enthuses the narration at the opening of the film.
Buck Elliot has a new rack of antlers, a rack that makes him as proud as any man can be of a physical attribute (any physical attribute). He is also getting married to Giselle. Minus the rack…Elliot is as accident prone as he is enthusiastic.
Weenie is the dashund who escaped into the wild, but like many before him gave in to temptation. The temptation changes the expectations of both of them. As Weenie crying “nein” gobbles, one by one, a dog biscuits trail unable to resist, Elliot freezes at the forest pastor’s words: for ever and ever…. At the end of the dog candy trail Weenie’s former mistress catches him. In a meantime Elliot leaves Giselle at the forest altar, and taking the excuse of friendship and rescue, runs after the fast disappearing Weenie.
The people here drive Mega RVs, communicate by radio and travel through the country on a yearly trip with their pets, who are forced to get re-aquatinted with one another, whether they want to or not. The gas is dear. The sky is high, the road is full of quasi pilgrims obsessed with technology and Wild, Wild West-names. The mountains are large and beautiful.
Giselle is the first to spot the particular Volkswagen RV where Wienie is chained to the fridge. The combined males of animal kingdom messes up the rescue, and as an unexpected result, the nearly newly weds quarrel. Elliot leaves. The rest of the animals are bend completing the rescue mission.
In the middle of the mountains, in pristine valley, a pet paradise was developed; a resort where humans, and their pets, enjoy a common luxury of fully catered holidays- with no trace of wild allowed. Among the slides, cold margaritas and toilets drinks, servants guard with machine guns as well as serve.
It suits Fifi, the proverbial poodle, who hates all that might be wild. Fifi wants to chase all the wild desires out of Weenie as well. The attempt gives Fifi the unspeakable: a pink bald spot. If only he knew what else is in the store for him…Elliot’s freedom also takes an unexpected turn, ending with remains of a large, and quite unsightly, bubble gum burst.
Watching this truly funny depiction of human comedy, I could not stop wondering if this is what Mr. Apatow hopes, and fails, to create. A merry tale of human obsession, insecurity, habits, failings and general life. Thinly disguised by animation and animal world, we watch our shortcoming on a large screen. The ridiculous without the cheap, nasty, shabby or even (how did this happen?) bodily fluids and functions.
It’s fast; the animation (done in India and New Mexico) is more than adequate, actually nicer than in the more advertised Fly Me to the Moon, because it firmly remains within the possible animated world of forest tales, and while there are few surprises, it is a solid, watchable family comedy. It’s not a great film, nor has it any pretensions in that direction, but it is also not a watered down Disney-like sentimental tale. It’s just a nice Sunday afternoon tea and scone repast. Enjoy it for what it is; there are worse things in the world than an animated jab at human hypocrisy and pretensions.
Written by David Stern, Directed by Matthew O’Callaghan and Todd Wilderman, Edited by John Persichetti, with voices of Mike Epps, Jane Krakowski, Joel McHale, Jacquie Barnbrook, Cody Cameron and others.
Columbia has a catchy, neat animation division presentation at the beginning.
Must be that the studio's press kit is lying ( per the comment). I cannot imagine why would it.