the real beginning of something

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2005)

I saw A BUG'S LIFE after having already become a fan of the other five Pixars, and what struck me about it was the profound sophistication, subtlety, and sheer complexity of the storytelling. It may be the studio's least immediate film, but it grows with time thanks to what amounts to a kind of minimalism. It's less flashy and bombastic that any other cartoon feature I can remember; its dramatic peak arrives with the placement of a rock on the ground.
The SEVEN SAMURAI-inspired story couldn't be farther from the Andrew Lloyd Webberish monotony of the trite Disney features that have arrived in the last few years. A BUG'S LIFE dares to be intricate and unsentimental (a welcome characteristic in most of the Pixar features), and it becomes a sweeping epic with some light but cutting humor and a sense of journey that should make repeat viewings a treat even for the parents forced to sit through it over and over.
What's more, the voice acting is terrific, with an excellent performance by David Foley and a no-holds-barred, terrifying turn from Kevin Spacey, who is far closer to his SE7EN character than to K-PAX world in this G-rated film. I haven't even mentioned the animation, which in a world of fast-moving technical advancement at this studio and everywhere still looks astounding seven years later.
All the Pixar movies are surprising, but A BUG'S LIFE has a creative spark that completely blindsides the viewer. The plotty bits can drag slightly, especially those involving the circus crew, usually far less interesting than the lead character and villain, but no matter. These vivid characters and an absorbing story make for almost peerless entertainment.