Little for Grown Ups
When Chicken Little sounded the alarm bells when he was convinced the sky was falling he ended up becoming infamous for causing panic when there was nothing going on. A year later and with his father still annoyed because of his son's infamy Chicken Little has a close encounter with something not of this world. But because of what happened a year earlier no one will listen to him when he says an invisible spaceship is over the town. It means that along with his friends Abby Mallard, Runt of the Litter and Fish Out of Water they set about saving the day and restoring his reputation in the process.
I guess that for the right age group Disney's "Chicken Little" is entertaining, it looks like it hits the mark but I am clearly not in the movie's intended age group. You see whilst "Chicken Little" is an animation I wouldn't call it a real family movie as the humour is all at a young child level with no real clever references to make it work for adults who are stuck watching it with their children. There is no clever pop references, no sly dialogue which will fly over children's heads but make grown ups smile and as it is a long time since I was at the age this movie is aimed at I found it hard work.
But in truth I can see how it would appeal to young children with various visual elements from the characters to the sight of a fish driving around in the equivalent of a motorised fish tank. There are lots of these visual elements including one involving getting stuck on bubblegum on the road which are in fairness nicely executed. In fact the visual gags end up a lot stronger than the actual story which seems like it is a weak vehicle for lots of set pieces. It also feels like it is a vehicle for one pop song after another which simply did my head in.
What this all boils down to is that "Chicken Little" is not a great animation and offers little in the way of entertainment for grown ups. But for young children the various comical set pieces should distract them for a little while.
