Curious George (2006) – Widescreen DVD-Video
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B- Animated Film: B-
Children’s
literary favorite Curious George is
back, this time in a new theatrical feature film. After several charming animated and art-still
works, this new 2006 film does a decent job of updating him. Will Ferrell leaves his adult humor side at
the door and plays an explorer named Ted who is encouraged by an old museum
curator (the great Dick Van Dyke) to go on a safari. That is where he crosses paths with the title
character, voiced by Frank Welker.
The rest
of the film is a simple, child-safe romp that has its moments, but has its
greatest triumph by just being quality child-friendly fare with some
good-natured humor and just enough energy not to be boring or overly
aggressive. Though I do not think it is
as good as the earlier productions, it ambitiously tries its best to bring the
classic character to a whole new generation and voice actors like Drew
Barrymore, Eugene Levy and Joan Plowright are a plus. Though it sometimes does not work, Curious George is more hit than miss
and that is the reason it was a moderate hit in theaters.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 x 1 image has some soft points, but is still newer
and a bit better in detail and clarity than the TV show we looked at. I still like the older animation as much as
this, but I give the producers credit for keeping within the spirit of the
original, though some may feel it is feigning some Disney features more than it
should. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is not
bad, but not as spectacular as it could have been for an animated feature,
though maybe a DTS option would have revealed more.
Extras
are nice and include a piece encouraging parents to read to children, learning
to draw George, a professional drawing George, vocabulary fun, 15 deleted
scenes, Jack Johnson Music Video for one of the film’s songs and a
games/activities section that is nicer than many of the children’s titles we
have seen recently. If this is not
enough George for you, you can read about the TV version on DVD among several quality
George titles on the market at:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3347/Curious+George+Rides+A+Bike...+(Children)
- Nicholas Sheffo
