London Film Festival was great, as was Kevin Smith chatting away at the Indigo 02
London Film Festival was great, as was Kevin Smith chatting away at the Indigo 02
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Curious George is a cheeky little monkey with an big grin and a knack of getting himself into trouble with the other animals because of his curiosity. They say Curiosity killed the cat, well if George isn't careful any number of animals on the jungle where he lives may just do the same to him!
Ted is an intelligent man, a curator at a museum he knows everything there is to know on many different subjects, he just hasn't ever experienced live. He is stuck in his job and the world of exhibits and the past.
Unfortunately for Ted the museum he works for is going to be closed, attendances are closed and the son of the owner wants to turn the land into a much more profitable enterprise… a car park! There isn't enough money to keep the museum open unless they can foind some incredible new exhibit. The only thing ted and his boss can think of is to find the lost temple of Agawawa, something
his boss nearly discovered many years ago when he was an explorer. Before he realises what he is doing Ted volunteers to go find the temple and bring it back to the museum, thereby saving the museum from closure.
Upon arriving Africa and traversing a thick jungle Ted and his guides rest. George spots Ted's big yellow, banana like hat and chases after him. So ted and the cheeky monkey first meet. A bonding game of peek a boo with Ted's hat starts of a friendship that will lead both of them into adventures in Africa and back in New York
Curious George is based on the books by Margaret and H.A Rey (look at the name of the ship Ted sails to Africa in!) and is a traditional, old style 2d animated film aimed squarely at the kids. Unlike a lot of recent 3d animated fare, Shrek for example, this doesn't really have the secondary level of jokes just for the adults, maybe because it is taken from an already established medium and the creators didn't want have their story altered. Because of this Curious George comes across as a curiously (sorry!) old style family cartoon like the old Disney ones were, the best way to describe it would be lovely! It is such a lovely little film, full of child like naiveté and innocence as George discovers a new world and explores it just like a young child would.
There is nothing really spectacular about it, no particular part of it will stick in your mind or make you go wow!, but the story is solid, will bring a smile to your face and is nice and straight forward. It is predictable, but at the same time fun, it is very linear but at the same time very enjoyable!
I found myself charmed by George and his antics and against my expectations discovered that, although Curious George is and out children's film, I was laughing and smiling a lot while watching it. It is a reminder of how animation used to be, that classic style of flat animation that enchanted us as children. There is a childish nature to Ted that George brings out, that breaks him out of his structured and ordered life and makes him realise there is more to life then just work. Something we all need to come to terms with more I think. George unleashes the child inside of Ted that we all need to release every now and then.
Curious George is full of bright vibrant colours that explode into your eyes, there are no dull colours in George's world. Your focus is on the colours bursting from the screen, all yellows, greens and reds that will keep the attention of any young child.
Will Ferrell is the voice of Ted and surprises me by reigning in his normal over the top persona to do a very good job of voicing the quiet shy and unconfident man. I would never have guessed it was him! The other voices are all minor really, even Drew Barrymore as Maggie, Ted's potential girlfriend, and Eugene Levy as Clovis, a mad inventor, aren't used that much, but then George is the star of the film really!
If any adult needs more of a reason to go along and see this film with their kids then lets not forget the absolutely wonderful soundtrack by Jack Johnson. His laid back, surfer rock stylisms are just perfect. They fit the film like glove, blending in with the film rather than standing out like songs do in most films these days. This really is noticeable, especially in the jungle when George first meets Ted, perfect music for the film!
If you have young children you should take them to see this, the younger ones will love it I am sure. If you haven't then find some to take, you will enjoy it, I certainly did!
Pictures of Curious George (DVD)
Ted and George
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Your favourite little monkey, Curious George, comes to life for the first time in an ... more
all-new animated movie featuring the voices of Will Ferrell and Drew Barrymore.Discover how George, the inquisitive little guy with an insatiable taste for adventure, ...
![Curious George [DVD] [2005]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78471554.jpg "Curious George [DVD] [2005]")
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