Anthony’s notice: This review is posted during SAG-AFTRA strike against AMPTP, meaning many major reviewers (commonly on Youtube) are either in delays, halts or having a limited review. But as for me, I wasn’t part of the SAG-AFTRA, since im working on a thrift store (though my vacation will coming to an end, as im writing this), meaning im a minor reviewer in DA that i won’t be effected from the strike to call “Promoting AMPTP products” (so I thought), since reviews are meant to sharing our thoughts of any medias like movies, TV shows, video games, etc. Of course, we shall be supportive to actors and writers for their solidarity in movies and TVs industries. Thank you.
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.
Today, its my very first special request im getting for my review. This time, its from my supporter/pal in Discord named "Bailey-The-Bat", where he suggested “The Ant Bully”.
Hey what do you know, not only this is my first requested review, but its also one of those film that its all coming back to me from my childhood when I went to movie theater. You got very lucky for your pick to me, Bailey.
“The Ant Bully” is a 2006 CG animated movie that was written, produced and directed by John A. Davis and co-produced by Gary Goetzman and Ton Hanks (Yup, Woody himself is also involved in this movie, but as a producer).
The idea of this movie came from Tom Hanks, where he was interested to make an animated movie based on the children’s book with a same name by John Nickle, after reading the book with his child. After given a book copy to John A. Davis (since worked on Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius with his company “DNA Productions”) to give it a shot, though he was doubtful at first, since its been done before like The Incredible Shrinking Man from 1957, mainly the movie involving a human and ants, though the same reaction could be said to co-owner of DNA, Keith Alcorn, but they eventually give it a shot to make an animated movie out it, despite DNA Productions was on decline with the show “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius” was coming to end and probably my only belief, their money of their business is on a verge of declining with laid off employees, making this one was meant to be a last hope for its release.
But when this movie movie came out, it was so-and-so, the critics seemed to like this movie, but some audience felt otherwise with animation got improved, but aged poorly, probably not a good timing that it came out during the success of Monster House. But the box-office couldn’t help for its release, it received as low as $55.2M, sure its slightly above than the budget of $50M, but the damage was already done, not only it was considered a flop, but it was very last theatrical film from DNA Productions and they closed their doors in the same year.
As for me, I remember seeing this movie when I was a kid, I thought it was a “meh” movie that I thought to myself “Boy, does somebody out there did their job with this cheap animation or something??”. Despite my divided thought of this movie in my childhood, I eventually decided to give it a shot to see this movie.
So, with all that said, should we respect the ants, or should stay bullying at the ants?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
Like always, im not gonna compare the book and the movie, since the book version is shorter, whereas adapted into the movie is gotta be extended, but, does the story is bigger and better? Well, its kinda.
The movie begins in a peaceful ground with ants gathering stuff around, however one of the ants, names Zoc is busy making potion for his experiment as a wizard ants, though most ants may or may not care his experiment, but the ant nurse Hova likes to hanging out with him without taking his wizard with chemistry seriously. But the downside is when the ants are dealing with “Destroyer”. “Who is it?”, you asked? Its none other than the main protagonist, Lucas Nickle who’s often being bullied in small town, all because the bully leader Steve is making fun of him for being taller than Lucas (typical bullies, also mocking the sizes), causing Lucas into frustration by using his water gun to squirting at them. Speaking of Lucas, he’s left alone, not because of bully, its being neglected from his parents, despite they’re leaving for vacation for their wedding anniversary, his older sister Tiffany is being careless on him, and his grandma Mommo is being senile over the alien coming down (Yeah, somebody forgot to give her a chill pill). After Lucas got bullied and using water-hoe to nearly destroy the entire ant colony, he meets a local exterminator names Stan Beals. Stan was originally give a contract signing to Lucas’s father, but because he left, Lucas has to sign it right away based on vermin situations. But one night, Zoc and his fellow ants (with his shrinking potion succeeded) enters Lucas’s home to pour one drop on Lucas getting shrunk down… In Birthday Suit. Anyway, not only he got shrunk and nakey, but also got kidnapped to bringing him into colony for what he did to to them in court. Zoc suggested that Lucas shall be studied and gets eaten to death, but the Queen Ant, despite aware of Lucas’s massacre, she sentences him to hard labor (aka stay with ants in small size forever) until he gets a respect to them to grow back to normal. Its up to Lucas to work like an ants, as well as saving the colony and his life in order to earn their forgiveness .
Again, I know the book version is much shorter compare to version, but I think the story is fairly descent where Lucas gets himself punished by the ants and forced to work with them. I know the message of the movie is too be nice with friends based on Lucas’s struggle how to get long based on being bullied or didn’t connect well with his family. I know its a kids movie, but I find the writing to be, though understandable, but pretty cliché for this movie. But to be fair, it does have a heart moment, which il give a credit for the writing. Aside the cliché message and a descent heart-to-heart scene, the movie also has a humor and its… Well its 50/50. I did have some chuckle moments from either the actor’s delivery (mainly our old friend Nick Cage, don’t worry, we’ll get there) and maybe some dialogue humor, but the downside is that they also put immature butt jokes, I mean yes, I know its a mid-2000s movie, but even the jokes could be dated badly.
The writing is ok at best that the message is fine, despite the cliché, story is good, it has some heart that il give a credit, and the humors are rather mixed-bag for its age.
The Animation
In this DNA’s last theatrical theater, the movie’s budget costs $50M as I mentioned before, this is like two times bigger than Jimmy Neutron movie. Is the it looks good? Well, I guess you can say that.
For the background, the village looks pretty average, its a standard small that looks, even Lucas’s house is also passable. But I think the focus of the background is on the ground and even underground, specifically ants’ colony. And I will say, the background of the ground and the colony are actually pretty good. Compare to say, Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life”, where as Bug’s Life has a very impressive background to give us a nature feel with pretty good quality, here, while the cheap quality is there, but il give a credit to taking place in a rural ground, which we can see a couple of foods and junks on the ground, even though some part of background didn’t match up compare to outside of the ground in a small town. But its the inside of the colony looks pretty good, I know we can’t see what the actual ants’ colony looks like, but il give a credit for its creativity. But one part that I don’t like the inclusion is the inside of frog’s stomach, like I didn’t asking to have a vore, but this is just nearly unwatchable for its inclusion, again, I know its a kids movie that we don’t wanna character gets killed while munching, but this is just downright gross. If I prefer seeing inside of eaten to death, its definitely “Sausage Party”. Although, they also did a fascinating work of wall painting of ants’ history and even the end credit.
As for the designs, they’re more into cartoony design with some creative liberty design than realism, since I know DNA is a cartoon company that game us Jimmy Neutron, but the character designs, while in typical cartoonish design, but it feels like an upgrade compare to Jimmy Neutron. Sure, they may have a squash and stretch at one point, some are ok, but some could be exaggerated. As for the bugs, they’re good too. Sure the ants design are much more different, they’re more like a mix of centaur and ants, im not saying I hate it, im saying the ants design are passable, sure some other bugs designs are different from either typically cartoony like the fly or sorta realistic bugs like the beetle and tarantula hawks (boy they looks cool and scary).
As for the effects and quality, again, there are some are done with squash and stretch, which they’re rather fine, for mid millennium movie, but outside of squash and stretch parts, some other effects are also ok with some shiny liquid and crystals and some with smoke colors. Its mainly the quality is probably dated, I know its a vast upgrade compare to Jimmy Neutron, but I maybe see the quality is just as cheap as maybe some direct-to-video CG movies, but in fairness, the quality is good, though dated.
And as for action scenes, they’re quite good to see some either fight back from tarantula hawks to the climatic final battle in the third act. Again, I know its the limitation and dated quality rather shows, but the action scenes are good to see.
While its pretty dated to look at today, but we gotta give a credit for DNA’s updated quality and animation, for the last time, sadly…
The Characters
While the writing aren’t as perfect, you think the characters would have a fascinating development? Well, yes, but sometimes, they could be good, but sometimes either irritating or some underdeveloped.
Lets start off with the main kid, Lucas Nickle (voiced by then young Zach Tyler Eisen, aka Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender), he’s an uneasy kid for two things, being bullied over the size and probably being an outcast kid from neglected family, but im not so sure for the latter, maybe he’s started for being a brat at his parents, I mean I know he’s being careless by his older sister Tiffany, but I feel like neglecting himself for being a selfish brat at first. But sure, he does gonna learning his own lesson when he’s in ants size after being a “bully” at the ants. I find him to be passable, even if he could be troublesome for being a bully to ants or possibly being a brat to his parents when his older sister is careless on him, but then again, he’s gonna learn his lesson for what he used to. Though to be fair, il give a credit for then young Zach Eisen of his performance.
Next up is Zoc (voiced by our old friend Nicholas Cage), he’s the wizard ant and probably being a gate-keeper of the colony. While he likes to focus on his chemistry in wizardry way and cared so much his fellow ants, including Hova, but he’s rather taking too seriously, like being over-protective of his people against Lucas that he’s seeing him as a menacing Destroyer, which clearly made him look like an A-Hole. But to be fair, despite taking seriously, he might be likable, sure its not the most method or overactive of Nick Cage’s voice performance, but he still did a fun work of his role.
After that, we have Hova (voiced by Julia Roberts) a nurse ant who believes that not all ants colony aren’t seriously or even want to bring peace both human and ants, despite it won’t be as easy for human and nature connection, but later on not only befriend with Lucas, but also acts like a mentor how to be like ants. I find her to be a well-written character to have a heart-to-heart at Lucas, even if the relation between of two isn’t as easy, but then again, despite Lucas got himself a punishment, she’s the exception to comfort him to teach him how to be an ant and showing the life of ants. Again, despite the flawed writing, but at least Hova is pretty good character and Julia Roberts did a good work of her role.
Next, there’s Kreela (voiced by Regina King), who’s the ant forager, but we never see her searching for foods, but rather first being a teacher with the kids when Lucas has gotta learn, but after that’s she’s pretty being the underdeveloped riffraff member of Lucas and his friends. Yeah, even though she’s meant to be forager to telling him to find the food for ants, but pretty much sees her being underdeveloped in my take. No offense for Regina, cause I think she did a fairly descent role, but its just the writing she gave to her is forgettable.
Speaking of forgettable, we have Fugax (voiced by Bruce Campbell, aka Ash Williams from Evil Dead series, aka the same guy who likes to appear cameo in nearly every Sam Raimi movies), he’s a scout ant that not only he always wanting to attaching at Kreela, but also a comedic role, but he’s unfortunately the one that irritating us the most with his poor and cheap humors what he’s trying to be “Funny”. Sure, he might have some chuckle moments, but I find him to be annoying, specially with his constant attention seeking at Kreela. Once again, I’ve nothing against Bruce Campbell, he’s still a great actor for his humor and being badass, but its just that he way he’s given in this movie is just irritating, I mean come on, Ash, you deserve better than Fugax.
Finally, we have the main villain, Stan Beals (voiced by Paul Giamatti), a local exterminator who’s been in vermin situation back then with Lucas’s family, even if he’s kinda being a dick to Lucas. He’s yet another one of those villains with a lackluster appearance, even if it was just a setup for his threat against ants after the contract has signed, which is something Lucas should’ve think twice. Though I find him to be kinda over-the-top that he cares so much of clean up against vermins without making him looking like an A-Hole too, kinda. But to be fair, he does have some delivery that made me chuckle, specially with fun performance of Giamatti.
As for the rest of the casts, they’re aren’t much to say other than appearance for plot convenience or waste opportunity.
There’s the Ant Queen (voiced by Meryl Streep) who’s the ruler of the colony though have a peaceful decision for Lucas (maybe she could also be a mentor, since she’s the queen, but that’s just me), Mommo (voiced by Lily Tomlin, yup, her again since my hatred review of 80 for Brady) Lucas’s grandmother who’s pretty much in senile over alien coming down, which we all know it has nothing to do with a plot that, again, she’s pretty much in senile, Tiffany (voiced by self-destructed Allison Mack) who’s Lucas’s careless sister, Doreen and Fred (voiced by Cheri Oteri and Larry Miller) who’re Lucas’s parents, whether or not they have a neglectful relation with Lucas before leaving for vacation, Steve (voiced by Miles Jeffrey) who’s a typical bully who likes to be taller, the head of council (voiced by the late Ricardo Montalban) who shown in court but also concern feeling for Zoc, along with nice work from Ricardo’s final role of his life before his passing in 2009), and a beetle and glow worm (played by Rob Paulson and S. Scott Bolluck) who’re the extra characters for either comedic purposes or helping out our main heroes.
The list of the characters are above average at best from either likable or forgettable, though il give a credit for their nice performances.
SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t seen a movie or don’t care
The climatic on the third and final act is pretty straight for say the least, even if with the weird execution.
After a harsh banish and reconciled after escaping from a frog, Lucas is alerted that the exterminator (aka Cloud-Breather as the ants called), is coming, along with realization he called the wrong number while attempting to canceling Beals’ extermination, along with admit of his action, but instead of taking to the colony’s cell, he took the plan to using worm’s substance gun thingy with a mix of shrinking potion to defeating Stan, but the downside is they gotta talk to the flock of Tarantula Wasps, after one of the nest is ruined, the wasps agree the teamwork to battling against Stan, also, how did they going to the desert part out of nowhere is just beyond me.
While they look they look they’re having a promising start, but the bad news is Stan wearing earbuds to listening music while killing bugs, after Lucas and Hova crashed down from a smack, Lucas is able to save Hova from pesticide (with weirdly a strength with carrying knocked down wasp at the same time, sounds like he wanna be the next Ant-Man), and making a Plan B by using wasp’s stung with shrinking potion. Meanwhile, an unusual beetle and a glowing worm goes inside Stan’s pants with an unexpected bite on the downstairs (How did they coming in without acknowledging the help, is also beyond me, lets just continue to finish without a filler question), with a buttcrack shows (ah-ha, ah-haha), Lucas flies with a wasp to stung Stan with a shrinking potion, but instead of shrinking, Stan got shrunk a bit and get cartoony disfigured from a harsh stung, leaving him running away in defeat and probably in pain. Lucas is brought to celebration the colony, with the queen congrats him with a new nickname “Rokai” as an honor, however with his success to be like ants, Lucas chooses its time to say goodbye, thankfully Zoc brought his antidote to him. After a take a drop of antidote, he grows back normal and once again, nakey (Damn Lucas, back at it again with Birthday Suit since the first act!).
Anyway, he eventually coming to see his parents again to apologize to bury the hatchet of the past situation, gets a new friend against his bully Steve by saying he’s not the only small kid than Steve to scare him off, and finally, sharing jellybeans as a gift to ants, roll the credits.
Like I said, its pretty straight forward that its nothing special, no twisted ending, just a typical “Happily ever after”.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, The Ant Bully is a good movie that I can say.
The Story is good, it has a nice message and heart-to-heart moment, the animation background are nicely done, the quality is improved after Jimmy Neutron, though dated, the characters are averagely good and some voice acting are good and some chuckling.
However, while I appreciated the film’s idea, the writing isn’t as good, while I like the idea, but the writing could’ve done better with part that didn’t make any sense or even some jokes that could chuckle, but others felt flat with dated and irritating jokes, the animation can look back then, but its dated for some designs and some cheap ways with squash and stretch, and some of the characters are either forgotten or annoyingly bad.
Though im not saying its the worst, I’d say its an ok film that it deserves to be a pass, though its a damn shame that this is the last film that DNA Production was ever done, which like I said before, because of the flop and their decline, they closed their doors in the same year as the film’s release. Its dependable to recommend this movie, I’d say watch it one for yourself, whether you love it or not. For me, I’d say its a passable film for say the least to looking it back after first seeing it from my childhood.
For my rating, im giving it a 6.5/10.
So this ends of my review, I wanna give a shoutout to "Bailey-The-Bat" for this Movie Review’s request, if you guys wanna hand me a free request per-month or not, let me know by hit me on Note in DA, but of course, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
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