a good idea but overall failure

Rating: 4/10 (10 October 2005)

Antz and A Bug's Life were both released in the same year, and both films competed with each other for an audience. Despite both films feature bugs as the heroes and the villains, the films are too different to really be compared. A Bug's Life is my personal favourite of the two, but it's not by much. It is simply a little more engaging. However, Antz uses a clever concept and focuses more on the world of the ant. The film can be enjoyed by adults and children, and like A Bug's Life, it is educational and entertaining.
Antz is a story of individualism, which is an unusual concept in the world of ants. In fact, it is a little bit like communism. Everyone works, but nothing brings out the individual. For the most part, all ants look and act the same... but our little ant clearly stands out. It is he who saves the day because of his individuality and his ability to think.
Although there are some good ideas and good story-telling behind this film, overall, it fails to really see it through and make a big impact. A Bug's Life was more entertaining and quickly paced, and it doesn't possess the sappy love story like Antz does. A Bug's Life also succeeds a little more with the family, whereas a lot of the story in Antz is just dull. I would recommend this film to children, but I would not bother recommending it to adults.