Antz

ANTZ

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: language

Rated:

Z is an overworked, frustrated ant with an identity crisis in therapy. He believes he's under-appreciated and misplaced as he hates being a Worker Ant and is virtually lost in a colony well over five million. His life has no meaning... until he stumbles across the lovely Princess Bala in a bar. The appreciative heir to Queendom has ventured out into "the real world" for a taste of what it's like to be born into servitude and enchants our little hero with her innocent interpretation of the "way things are." Determined to see her again, Z persuades his soldier friend Weaver to change places with him for just one day, little knowing that a war has been launched on the invading termite army and the cadet, who only wanted a look at Princess Bala at the ceremonies, finds himself in the heat of a bloody battle... as the only survivor.

Mistaken for a war hero, he is reunited to Bala only to discover that she's engaged to the unimpressionable and frustrating General Mandible. Z's true identity comes out and he finds himself in hot water for an ant with an opinion is a dead ant. Desperate, he clutches Bala for safety and is believed to be kidnapping her. In a hilarious tousle between them they're knocked out the garbage chute and into Central Park, where he sets out to find "Insectopia." Bala disagrees until fear sends her hurrying back to his side and together they make their journey -- one languid, for his return would mean death, the other livid, but slowly softening to this ant with attitude.

What lies ahead is a dangerous journey into the unknown into a world of picnic baskets and gum-layered shoes, while at home an evil scheme is cooking which will turn the unlikely pair into the colony's only hope for survival when they discover that maybe they could work together after all. An assortment of hilarious dialog and side characters as well as interesting animation, incredible proportions and an all-star vocal cast (including Cristopher Walken, Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Cosnar, and Danny Glover) make this a fun film.

Unfortunately, DreamWorks felt the need to incorporate adult language and situations into a medium directed mainly at kids, which overall makes Disney's A Bug's Life more promising family entertainment than Antz. Weaver and Z drown their problems at a bar where "aphid beer" is served. Z languidly says that he has a problem with "drinking from the anus of another creature." One bug remarks while chewing on something, "This tastes like crap," only to have another take a bite, then state, "It is crap!"

Other language and violent scenes well earn this film its PG rating. Parents may cringe at the sight of dismembered insects laying on the battlefield after the war with the termites. (One is dislocated from its body and talks momentarily to Z before dying.) The termites chomp down with their pinchers as well as spray acid on their enemies while the ants stab and bite in every direction with ruthless abandon. An encounter with a curious magnifying glass leaves several of the soldiers fatally charred. In forcing Weaver to confess the switch and in an attempt to make him tell where Z's gone with the princess, he's apparently beat up, appearing with several bruises upon his face as well as a bloody lip. Z remarks in irritation, after a fight with Bala, that he's not going to incorporate her into his "most erotic fantasies" after all.

Language is shocking for an animated film. One use of "Oh, my God!" as well as 4 damns, 2 hells, 2 craps, 1 ass, and a varying amount of terms you wouldn't appreciate the kids repeating, such as "Come hell or high water," "Bite me," "What are you b*tching about?" and "Let's kick some butt!" The animation isn't half as cute as A Bug's Life and the story something that kids probably wouldn't follow (the film seems more aimed at adults, with the various problems listed above), which is a shame. Someone needs to give Disney a run for their money. Unfortunately, with bugs such as Antz gumming up the pipelines, it's not going to be DreamWorks.