Curious George
Starring: Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore, David Cross, Eugene Levy, Joan Plowright, Dick Van Dyke, Ed O'Ross
Directed by: Matthew O'Callaghan

Released in the US: February 10, 2006
Released in the UK: TBA 2006

Reviewed by: Adam Mast, ZBoneman.com

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.

Grade: B-