Ho-hum

Rating: Null/10 (20 April 1999)

I was invited to see this movie with my half-sister and her son. I decided to go but I wasn't that crazy about the movie at first. Not to say I was prejudiced from the start. I love kids movies if they are done right and have a little depth to them. I also like special effects movies if there is a worthwhile plot.
Still, I was pretty underwhelmed by this movie. I did not like the characters very much. I love Dave Foley in Newsradio and the casting of him as an ant was pretty straight on. Still there weren't any interesting facets to his character. The smallest princess ant was very annoying. There is also something about the way their faces move. I keep hearing that this film was such a landmark in computer animation. That may be true but the characters still looked like lifeless puppets. That could have been forgiven if the plot was worthwhile. It lagged all the way. The whole idea of a circus of bugs wasn't that interesting. It was just an excuse to bring in some of the more exotic type insects.
I do admit that the movie looked good, but it was all overly pastel and Disney styled. Leave the movie before the "outtakes" start. Outtakes are very tricky. Sometimes they can be funny. Most of the time they are the sort of "you had to be there" type funny. I have never managed to laugh when seeing an outtake of someone forgetting their lines. "Oh, funny, you forgot your lines, ha ha" What's worse, A Bug's Life adds fake outtakes at the end. What a lame idea!
In closing, your kids will love this movie. It's got pretty colors and occasionally breathtaking scenes, but this is all just wallpaper. It lacks energy and imagination. You will be yawning by the second or third time your kid asks to see it.