Way over-hyped, and not very funny

Rating: Null/10 (8 November 2004)

Pixar has seemingly regressed in its computer animation technology with this film as it had a stiff, flat, washed out, pastel look reminiscent of Toy Story many years ago. Not at all the great and vibrant colors of Finding Nemo, nor those of a competitor, Shrek 2. Maybe it was an older film just now released? ("To heck with making it great, just rake in the big bucks from the boneheads now!!!")
Anyway, the film was Hollywood animation-film formula all the way so I fell asleep, which I do in boring movies. Everything was so predictable...storyline, jokes, action, rescue, insults, ending, etc. Been there, done that many times. It was also 20 minutes overlong and dragged badly in the middle, and needed some good story editing to sharpen it up all the way through. It was very Ho-hum to me all the way and a mediocre effort at best. I generously give it a C-.
It's OK for kids and those others who think all animated films are just super great, but not much for one who thinks animation and its stories should stand up well against other film types, which this one doesn't do well.