Der tierisch verrückte Bauernhof

BARNYARD

For severe lack of options currently in theaters, I found myself seeing a movie I thought you wouldn't have been able to pay me to see... BARNYARD. I couldn't have had less interest in seeing this movie, however a friend of mine swore that when they took the kids they were babysitting, they laughed so hard they snorted. So I figured, why not.

I can honestly say the film is enjoyable, and I'll get to the reasons why later on in this write up. But their are some glaringly bad qualities to these movies that need to be mentioned. The animation is simply not up to par for what other studios are offering right now. It all feels non-dimensional and simple. Character designs lack creativity and the execution could have been much better. Also, the voice work does little to improve the material (with the exception of David Koechner as the villainous Coyote). To be honest, people like Courtney Cox have never been worse or less engaging.

I would describe the plot here, however it's easier to say watch THE LION KING. Except here, the film tries to mix the most dramatic elements of THE LION KING with slapstick/crude humor that doesn't mix. THE LION KING's humor had some class to it which allowed the drama to feel real. However, when BARNYARD attempts to be dramatic it just feels awkward because two seconds before you watched a mouse crap pellets onto the head of a pig. Not only are main plots stolen from THE LION KING, but the villains are painfully reminiscent of the Hyenas in that better film.

Nonetheless, BARNYARD has some genuinely funny moments. While other family CGI films seem to excel at balancing wonderful storytelling with intelligent humor and social commentary (Pixar for example), this film simply goes for the laugh at all costs. This takes away virtually all artistic merit for the film. But then again, it's not as if BARNYARD was ever aiming for artistic merit. BARNYARD was gunning for mindless humor that would appeal to kids and adults, and it succeeds to great extents in some sequences. In particular, there is a scene in which the farmer witnesses the other life his animals lead and they hilariously try to convince him it was all a hallucination.

While this works well for kids, I couldn't help but want a more engrossing plot. The plot is too familiar and the animation does nothing to enhance it with a visual flair. Though the film kept me laughing, anytime I wasn't laughing at some stupid joke I found myself anxious for it all to be over. In general, BARNYARD is good for a hearty laugh, but not as a full movie.

... C ...

I find it hilarious that so many people are gnashing their teeth and saying,"it's just a copy of The Lion King". This type of story didn't start in 1994 - the plot is ancient, with even Disney admitting that it was based on some of their earlier films, Hamlet and - get this - Exodus from the Bible (not including the fact that it was alleged that the whole movie was stolen from "Kimba the White Lion, but that's another matter). So, the genre is several millennia old. If people are going to accuse "Barnyard" of plagiarism, they should at least check the original source material before throwing stones.

Anyway, onto the film. I thought it was lightweight, but had some very funny parts. Thankfully, my children (13 and 8) are able to separate fact from fiction, so the images of bulls with udders, getting loaded on milk, stealing a car and evading the police whilst joyriding probably won't have too much of a negative impact on their lives. However, if, when they're older, they fall into the company of a gang of cows with attitude and a propensity for car theft, I'll know who to blame.

Some people really need to lighten up.

To the lady who wrote the first review, get over it! This is a movie, one with talking animals, and you are worried about the udderly silliest things. So what? Did you want to see the big male organs on the male cows? I think that is why there is an udder on all the cows, to avoid this uncomfortable situation. Or maybe it was just something silly to do, at any rate if you had to have a heart to heart with your kids about male and female animals, I am sorry for them. They need parents who can relax a bit.

The film is OK. My two boys liked it and I did too. It is not a classic, but a good film. Overall a barnyard remake of Lion King with a lot of the same plot elements. Kevin James character is great and there is a lot of good humor for much of the film.

This film at sometimes feels like as if it were made by the Farrelly Brothers.It's slapstick humor and it's wildly nutty behaviour that makes it look like a R-rated comedy,makes it all the while more funny The story is sort of like a parody of Lion King.Farmers on a farm are keeping animals under their eye and well protected.And animals pretty much behave like,well,animals.But what happens when the farmers out.Well,the party begins,as these animals somehow behave more like humans,crazily partying around with the rest of the animals.And a carefree cow is held responsible for whatever goes on.He's in charge.And he needs to protect the farm from their enemies,the Coyotes.Otis the carefree cow,pretty much don't take it seriously.Ben ,a cow who takes it very seriously is giving advice to Otis to grow up and all that.When Ben is no longer able to lead, Otis tries to keep order but the role of leader does not come as naturally for him. Without Ben to keep everyone in line, absolute mayhem breaks loose and it isn't long before the farmer begins to get to the bottom of the animals' secret--and the scheming coyotes begin to think that the farm could be theirs for the taking.

Just don't take this film seriously,especially not the story.The problem with the film is that ,we've seen it all before.Especially the recent animated films that are flooding cinema's.They are either about animals,or insects,or well CARS.And this film has similarities with many animated films.The story is nothing new at all.And that is its drawback.And it's approach is rather conventional with dumb looking characters that are half baked.But there are sweet moments that don't get too sentimental.Another weakness is its weaker than expected animation.It's not fair to have such an average animation to a funny movie.If the film's animation was heighten to a better quality,it would've been better than it already was.

However,I really liked the jokes,which seem to have been aimed at adults.But the animation was passable.The film has some really outrageously hilarious moments,giving you snort out loud laughs.The animals are more human-like than actual animals,and they love partying around,all night.They behave like those characters from Ace Ventura films or other Oedekerk films.

In short,it's simply a mindless comedy with a lot of great laughs.I would take this any time over the disappointing Talladega nights.

You gotta moo at least once!What happens in the Barnyard,stays in the Barnyard.

Barnyard is another in the entertaining animated films that attempt to please all audiences. There's much good humor in this film and many sight gags as well as the usual shenanigans. The film is well put together technically, but there are some things about the film that just don't hit the spot. I didn't have any sympathy for the lead character Otis. Perhaps it was just the mood I was in, but the characters just didn't come through and I didn't feel much of an emotional response through most of the film. I think it was a little too teen for me. If you want some good teen-ish laughs, this is for you. Otherwise go with Cars or Over the Hedge.