credit: www.impawards.com
New Line Home Entertainment presents Hoot. Written by Wil Shriner. Based on the Novel by Carl Hiassen. Running Time: 90 minutes. Rated PG for mild bullying and brief language.
Director:
Wil Shriner
Cast:
Logan Lerman……….Roy Eberhardt
Brie Larson……….Beatrice Leep
Cody Linley……….Mullet Fingers
Luke Wilson……….Officer David Delinko
Dean Collins……….Garrett
Tim Blake Nelson……….Curly Branitt
Robert Wagner……….Mayor Grandy
Jimmy Buffett……….Mr. Ryan
The Movie:
You’d think that since Jimmy Buffett produced this film it would be about saving endangered parrots instead of owls… oh wait…
This film starts out pretty much just like ever kids movie. Roy moves to a new school where he is instantly hated by most the kids. He does, however, eventually make friends with a couple of other outcasts who band together to form a bond that will last a lifetime… or something like that.
Meanwhile local bonehead cop, David Delinko, played by Luke Wilson, is investigating a series of vandalism attacks on a construction site. A Mother Paula’s Pancake House is being built out in the Florida swamps and everything from flattened tires to alligators in the port-o-potties (you know that classic) is tormenting the guy in charge, Curly Branitt, played by Tim Blake Nelson.
It turns out this land where the much anticipated pancake house is going up is where a bunch of endangered burrowing owls live. A series of events leads Roy to getting involved in saving the owls.
Problems with the film: 1) A character named Mullet Fingers!!!!! 2) I know Jimmy Buffett produced the movie, and his little cameo in the film is fine, but did he really have to put his crappy songs in the film? Songs with lyrics like “Flori-days,” uh….. 3) Seriously, who cares about a stupid pancake house?
This film is, in every way, a kids film. The kids are the heroes (except the token bully) and the adults are the villains (until the scrappy kids show them the truth). And frankly, I don’t understand the importance of pancake houses. That aspect of the film is pretty ridiculous. But when you get right down to it this film has a good message. And isn’t that what every parent wants for their kids?
It’s not a perfect film by any stretch of the means, but it’s fun. It might not be for adults or even teenagers but I can see kids really enjoying this. And as stated above, it does have a good message for the little ones. Hell, the message is great for anyone really.
As my grandma said when the movie over: “That was cute.”
STORY: 6/10
ACTING: 7/10
LOOK/FEEL: 7/10
ORIGINALTY: 8/10
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 7/10
FINAL SCORE: 7.0/10
Roy Eberhardt and Mullet Fingers… MULLET FINGERS!!!!!!!!
The DVD:
The Video:
This film is widescreen, 1.85:1. This film looks just fine. There’s a lot of beautiful footage of Florida wildlife in here, even a manatee!
The Audio:
This film is presented in Dolby 5.1 and Stereo surround. The sound is fine. All of Jimmy Buffett’s crappy er… I mean smooth, laidback songs come through loud and clear.
Extras:
Here’s the quick breakdown: The featurettes that focus on the animals are fascinating and the ones that focus on the film range from mildly interesting to boring.
I’ll lay out the extras the way they are on the back of the DVD.
WATCH a group of owls migrate to a safe new home: This featurette focuses on Habitat for Humanity and the work they do for the owls.
BUILD an animal sanctuary in your own backyard: This one talks about what you can do to help the birds and other wildlife in your area. The message here: If you build it they will come.
MEET the kids in the cast. These are some pretty good interviews with the kids in the movies. You also get to see how they got their parts. This is a good little behind the scenes featurette.
TEACH owls, snakes and alligators to be movie stars: This is great cause you get to learn how they worked with all the animals and got the performances they needed.
DISCOVER the people who care for sick and endangered birds: This is a neat little featurette that focuses bird rehabilitation centers where hurt birds, wild or otherwise, can be brought to be taken care of.
HANG with Jimmy Buffett as he prepares for his close-up: This one, as you can imagine, focuses on Buffett and how he got involved in the project as producer and actor. Of all the featurettes on the film this is the most interesting one.
SNEAK behind the scenes with the director of HOOT: This one is just what it seems. It focuses on the director and how great he is.
LAUGH along with the blooper reel: it’s a blooper reel. I didn’t laugh though.
SEE more of HOOT through its deleted scenes: These deleted scenes are the type you watch and say “I see why this was deleted.”
PLAY 3 fun DVD-ROM games: Fishfood, Monkey See, Monkey Do & Treefrog: I have a Mac so I couldn’t play these games. As a mac user I am highly offended that they would not make this DVD-ROM so it could play on any type of computer. It’s bias I tell you! BIAS!!!!!!!
| InsidePulse’s Ratings for HOOT | |
