Lived up to expectations - But then again I wasn't expecting much

Rating: 5/10 (21 July 2005)

As others have already pointed out, this is an occasionally funny but overall a disappointing film (Although I wasn't expecting much to begin with). Chris Rock (the best of the main characters), Jada Pinkett-Smith (who has hardly any input), Ben Stiller & David Schwimmer (primarily a one joke character) all struggle with underwritten roles. Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen - Mr. Ali G) & Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer - Not a character name!!) are very enjoyable, but it is the Penguins who, without a doubt steal the movie. The (all too) brief flashes to the penguins are an adrenaline shot in the arm of a flagging movie. This film is only slightly better than the truly awful Sharks Tale, and both films despite having some fantastic set pieces, in-jokes, visual gags & snappy lines, suffer from a lack of emotional investment as we the audience never truly care for the characters, like we did of Woody, Buzz, Nemo, Marlin & the Incredibles. If Dreamworks Animation are really serious about being an equal contender in the 3D (& to a lesser extent 2D) animation market they have got to start spending a lot more time on writing & developing both the story & especially the characters, before throwing (& waisting) wonderful talent & fantastic visuals & occasionally clever gags at these rather lazy, paper-thin stories. I have no doubt that the younger kids will be kept amused and the older crowds should enjoy the odd moment, but your better off waiting for the DVD. Long Live Pixar!