The "Great Escape" -- with chickens

Rating: 9/10 (24 June 2000)

That's how the creators of this film described it when pitching the idea to the production company. And there are some references to the classic movie, most of them in the first ten minutes or so.
But they don't keep that up for the whole movie, fortunately. For one thing, this is a much funnier movie. And,even though you see Ginger in doing some stuff like Steve McQueen did in the original, she doesn't ride a motorcycle.
The stakes are higher in this one, too. The worst the prisoners in TGE could expect if they stuck around was really bad food. But when Mrs. Tweedy found that there was more money to be made in chicken pot pies than eggs, Ginger knows that they have to get out. She's told that it's a million-to-one shot.
"Then we've still got a chance", she replies.
When Rocky the Rooster (Mel Gibson) drops in on them, Ginger feels that they have a chance. If Rocky can just teach them to fly, they might have a chance.
To reveal anymore would be spoiling the fun. This is indeed "fun for the whole family", with funny characters and scenes from beginning to end. My favorite characters were the two packrats, but the dim-witted chicken was a hoot as well.
Two clucks up. Uncle Steve says check it out.
And take the kids.