Woody Allen Makes Antz.

Rating: 7/10 (16 November 2015)

Antz (1998): Dir: Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson / Voices: Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Sylvester Stallone, Gene Hackman, Christopher Walken: Entertaining computer generated film about an ant with high hopes. The "z" in the title regards individuality as a worker ant convinces a soldier ant to switch places so that he may experience adventure in the outside world but he is thrown into the midst of a termite war. Z emerges from hiding and is celebrated as a hero until his worker title is revealed. To avoid punishment he flees with the reluctant Princess. While typical, co-directors Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson highlight with excellent detail particularly during a picnic sequence where the Princess is concealed in bubblegum on the bottom of a shoe that clothes in upon Z. Z is voiced by Woody Allen complete with posturing and personality. Sharon Stone voices the Princess who is at first seen as a hostage until she realizes what Z is. Sylvester Stallone voices the good-hearted soldier ant who switched places with Z. Gene Hackman voices the villain and despite his talent the role is standard issue and too familiar. Christopher Walken appropriately voices a sniper ant doing the obvious. We know how this will end but it is the celebrity personalities that prevail. Parents be warned of hinted sexual innuendo however triumphant images prove that more than just the colony put in hard work. Score: 7 ½ / 10