This is an insect adventure about a 10-yr-old boy who mistreats ants and pays for it. Lucas suffers at the hands of a local bully (mulitple bullies in the film). So he takes out his anger the only way he knows how - and on the only ones he thinks won't fight back - by tormenting a colony of ants. Little does Lucas know, the ant colony isn't going to 
let him get away with it. They magically shrink him to their size and then put him to work. Lucas learns about teamwork, community and friendship while there and helps them save their ant colony. Lesson learned, the ants change him back to his regular size. Then they help him stand up to his own bully (bullies) too.
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The Ant Bully (2006) - Rated PG - 88 minutes
Starring: Zach Tyler Eisen, Julia Roberts, Lily Tomlin, Paul Giamatti, Meryl Streep, Bruce Campbell
Directed by: John A. Davis Screenplay by: John A. Davis
Genre: Kids/Family, Animation
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The Ant Bully (1999) - 32 pages
Author: John Nickle
Style: Third Person, Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Genre: Fiction, Juvenile, Picture Book
Althought the critics reviews for the book don't make me want to run out and get it, the customer reviews are great. Most people seem to like the life lessons taught by the book. One critic complained that the book didn't let the main character prove himself at the end but one of the customer reviews (from a teacher) mentioned how she used that as a great story starter for her kids. Let them finish the story. How do they think Lucas will handle the bully now? Find out what lessons your kids have really learned. Brilliant!
So I'm feeling better about the book, but what about the movie? It definitely supercedes the book in overall story. It has to! It takes a 32-page book and expands it into an 88 minute movie. They embellish and expand a few things, to say the least. They bring the story to life. At the end though, it appears that both book and movie teach a lot about ants in a way that teaches us a lot about us.
The movie reviews were mixed but good overall. The animation looks nice (personally I'm glad they didn't go with the books style of illustration) and the movie had good energy. Most of the negative reviews appeared to be from critics that don't have kids - or haven't watched a movie with one in a while. They referred to it in adult terms when in reality I think any of us that go to a kids movie take the movie for what it is - a kids movie. Don't expect it be what it's not. An animated film will hardly ever be the same caliber as some silver screen epic - and I don't think it's makers ever intended it to be. Don't expect it to appeal to adults on a level of any depth. I would hope that no one is watching it hoping for that either!
Bottom line - is it fun and nice to look at? Did it make the kids laugh and maybe you every once in a while - at least a smirk? Did it throw some things in there for the parents to appreciate? Then enjoy it at that. It's a good kids flick.
After all, high caliber stars like Julia Roberts, Lily Tomlin, Paul Giamatti, Meryl Streep, Nicolas Cage, Regina King and Bruce Campbell wouldn't have signed on as voice talent (and Tom Hanks as a producer) if it weren't at least a little bit good.
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