Curious
George is a sweet adaptation of the beloved children’s books. While this
gentle piece of animation is aimed directly at the kiddies, I found myself won
over by it’s innocent tone.
Museum
tour guide Ted heads off to the jungle in search of a massive idol known as The
Lost Shrine of Zagawa. During his expedition he comes across the title character,
an infant chimp with an appetite for exploration. Unfortunately, Ted’s expedition
doesn’t go as planned. It seems that the idol he’s been searching for
isn’t all it’s been cracked up to be. Before long, he’s forced
to come home virtually empty handed, but, unbeknownst to him, he has a most curious
stowaway. Leaving, Ted faced with the twin burden of having to explain the disheartening
truth about The Lost Shrine of Zagawa, and of protecting the sweet and innocent
George from the perils of civilization.
King
Kong this is not. But that’s okay. There’s plenty of room in multiplexes
for a moneky picture made on a far more simple-chimp scale than Peter Jackson’s
extravagant opus, and Curious George fits the bill to a tee.
I
enjoyed Curious George as a kid, and quite frankly, I was worried that this adaptation
would disgrace the cute little monkey’s good name. We all saw what Hollywood
did with Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat. I couldn’t handle such animal exploitation
again. And in fact, I almost didn’t go to see this movie, but seeing as how
my kids begged me to go, I couldn’t say no. After all, they put up with my
selfish, obsessive film viewing habits, so it was only fair that I made what I
surely thought would be a sacrifice for them.
To
my pleasant surprise, it wasn’t a sacrifice at all. Don’t get me wrong.
Curious George isn’t exactly groundbreaking in terms of style, but I admire
that Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, and director Matthew O’ Callaghan
have opted to remain faithful to the source material rather than altering things
to appeal to a contemporary audience. Going in, I thought for sure the monkey
would talk with some annoying voice, or that the picture would be plagued with
forgettable musical numbers. This wasn’t the case at all. The monkey doesn’t
talk, and the soundtrack is populated by Jack Johnson tunes that actually fit
the tone of the movie surprisingly well.
There
really are some wonderful sequences in this picture including a magical piece
in which Ted and George fly over the stunning city landscape courtesy of dozens
of helium filled balloons. Curious George is also quite funny. Joan Plowright
has some terrifically entertaining scenes as Ted’s wealthy, animal hating
neighbor.
Will
Ferrell voices Ted (aka the Man in the Yellow Hat). His simplistic, childlike
persona perfectly compliments the material. David Cross is a riot as the scheming
Junior, the spoiled bratty son of Ted’s boss Mr. Bloomsberry. He will stop
at nothing until his father takes notice of him. Even if it means destroying the
reputation of Ted. Rounding out the capable cast are Drew Barrymore, Eugene Levy,
the aforementioned Joan Plowright, and the legendary Dick Van Dyke.
Curious
George isn’t exactly a classic, but it’s lively and colorful, and it’s
perfect for the kids. And if your willing to let your guard down, you may just
be able to view the world through their eyes for eighty-five minutes. That’s
what I did.
