- Title: Barnyard: The Original Party Animals
- IMDb: link
Have you ever wondered what animals do when humans aren’t looking? The answer Barnyard: The Original Party Animals suggests includes quite a bit of human-style partying and misadventure.
Otis the cow (Kevin James) is the most popular member of the barnyard. His crazy antics and love of fun with his friends Pip the mouse (Jeffrey Garcia), Freddy the ferret (Cam Clarke), and Pig the, uh, pig (Tino Insana), include surfing the local hills, “boy tipping” a local young ne’er-do-well (Steve Oedekerk), and throwing huge parties every night in the barn behind the back of neighbors Famer Beady (Oedekerk) and his nosey wife (Maria Bamford).
Otis’ lack of responsibility is a disappointment to his adopted father Ben (Sam Elliot), the leader of the barnyard. When Ben is injured while fighting off coyotes Otis is put in charge. Along with his new responsibilities, Otis finds himself drawn to a new arrival in the barnyard, a pregnant cow named Daisy (Courteney Cox).
Most of the story is “borrowed” from other films like the idea of animals behaving differently while humans aren’t watching, or the story of a “hukuna matata” youngster taking up the reins for his serious father.
What the film lacks in originality though it does make up for in humor and some nice animation. I enjoyed how Otis was complex enough of a character to show off different parts of his personality depending on who he was spending time with. Kevin James makes a nice lead for this romp through the farmlands.
There are some nice supporting performances. My favorites were Sam Elliot as Ben (especially when he held his guitar), Don Irrera as Duke (especially the scene explaining why a dog could never by the leader of the barnyard), and Madeline Lovejoy as the precious baby chick Maddy (especially in her scenes with Otis).
There are a couple negatives. The story “borrows” from so many previous films that I would have preferred a little more originality. Also, the film introduces so many characters that it doesn’t have enough time to showcase and explore them in detail. Until the credits rolled I couldn’t tell you what animal Freddy was supposed to be. There are many characters here on the periphery I would have liked to known better.
And I can’t end the review without discussing the rather odd choice to put utters on both male and female cows. Although this didn’t bother me as much as some audience members, I did think the choice was strange (or made by someone that honestly knows nothing about cows).
Not in the same league with Cars, but I preferred this film to recent animated flicks such as Monster House in how it played to all ages equally. It’s a nice family flick that all can enjoy for 90 minutes. Could it use a little more originality and in-depth look at its wide ranging list of characters? Sure, but for a animated family film it delivers enough good laughs and enjoyment that even male cows with utters can be accepted (at least for 90 minutes or so).