Enchanting, but conflicted

Rating: 7/10 (21 May 2001)

The good: DreamWorks has pushed the envelope even further, somehow. The characters feel like they've popped right off the fairy-tale page, though a few of the drawn "extras" feel a bit cardboard-ish, given what we now know of digital capability in the animated realm. There are some breath-robbing humorous scenes and stand-on-the-table musical numbers (a remake of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" will stick with you), which will keep the turnstiles clicking. Kudos to the writers for going to the edge for hilarity's sake. It pays off well.
The bad: At times the pace is slower than Lord Farquaad's wit and there are too many run-of-the-mill references to bodily functions. The film tries too hard to please all of its too-wide demographic, and at times pleases no one. There were more than a few restless tykes at the theater. When they're not happy, few others are. And Eddie? We've heard that voice before. You mean none of the voices from either of the "Nutty Professor" movies was available, you had to go with (albeit far less raw) stand-up tones? Irritating, given the fact that Donkey is chattier than all combined on "The View."