A fable for contemporary neuroses

Rating: 9/10 (3 May 1999)

"Antz" is an enjoyable, engaging contemporary fable that gracefully illuminates the value of group cooperation as well as personal individuality and integrity. The voice casting is gleefully on target; you can't help but love a movie that includes both Woody Allen and Sylvester Stallone. The computer animation is absolutely first-rate, drawing the viewer into the story rather than calling attention to itself; the individual characters voiced by Allen, Stallone, and Sharon Stone are especially effective. In its heart of hearts, this is a Woody Allen picture--the situations, humor, and neuroses are all classic Allen. The opening and closing panoramas make it clear that the movie itself knows that it's a Woody Allen picture. The movie may be a bit too intense in places for extremely young children; one battle scene, featuring an assault upon the ants by monolithic termites, bears more than a passing resemblance to the "bug attack" sequences featured in last year's "Starship Troopers." DreamWorks is to be especially commended for resisting the marketing temptation so eagerly embraced by Disney in "A Bug's Life."