Norm of the North: Family Vacation

Forget that polar bear. Fantasia 2000, Dinosaur, The Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis The Lost Empire, Monsters Incorporated, Lilo And Stitch, Treasure Planet, Brother Bear, Finding Nemo, Home On The Range, The Incredibles, Chicken Little, Cars, Meet The Robinsons, Ratatouille, Bolt and Wall.e are so many times better.

This latest "Norm of the North" entry I would place a couple of notches above the previous two. Really, I scarcely think any of the series' entries are ones I'd give a "good" rating-they all have such contrived storylines, with plotholes big enough to drive a dozen semis through. They do everything to masquerade the fact they're just marking time. I was enamored enough of the title character to go for every single sequel, but I learned quickly to expect fairly little from any of them.

This fourth episode deals with a subject I wished the second film would dive right into-Norm's family. Indeed, if that movie had eliminated half the gags involving the lemmings farting to make room for our hero's loved ones, it would already have been significantly improved. Norm's eldest son Quinn is the only one seen in the third film, and then only as a minor supporting character.

So the present entry finds Norm busy doing anything but paying attention to his kingly duties--he's always gotta be the "regular guy". But his family coaxes him into a vacation, so off they go on a boat and in no time at all they're on a faraway terrain, with his spouse/queen Elizabeth taking selfies every inch of the way. They spend time at an amusement park, and get mixed up with a family of white tigers whose monarchy is threatened. They're likable enough characters, but having so many characters with white fur (and blue eyes) threatens to give this film an unimaginative look, but thankfully never does so. The movie's a bumpy ride like the others, but it has its moments. My favorite gag is the two kings crying, with Norm blowing his nose into the main tiger's fur.

I enjoyed the original Norm of the North, but this film is an absolute monstrosity.

The film does very little to improve on the last three films.

Voice performances can range from sub-par at best and even dreadful at worst.

This film had so many plot-holes such as characters knowing that Norm had a crown and while it was seen in the previous movies, it never has any significant importance and the Ice Boat from Harbin China to the Arctic Ice Circle, and so on.

There is some crude humor that some adults may not find appropriate for children, such as Norm kissing a child on his and Elizabeth's bed, which gives off pedophilia implications in a family film. (Keep in mind that Norm is a polar bear, so this also counts as zoophilia as well.)

There are also loads of other Plot-Holes that are never explained.

Unlike the previous films in the Norm of the North franchise, Norm of the North: Family Vacation is entirety a bottled film, as most of it takes place in both the Arctic and the Harbin, thus making this film visually boring.

Misleading title: Despite being named as Family Vacation, the family does not take a family vacation in the actual movie. What a waste of potential.

There is a scene in this film on the underwater that looks like it's copied from the hit Pixar film Finding Nemo.

Like the previous films, the characters are still unlikable, especially Norm himself.

Tiny is an extremely annoying character.

The "main villains" of the film, who are revealed to be the Fu's twin kids, are lame, and as stated in #6 of the plot-hole segment, their motives don't make sense.

Surprisingly enough, characters such as Olympia (tolerable character in the previous films) and Vera Bright, who have been there since the first film, do not return, nor are they even mentioned.

At least the lemmings appeared much less than the previous Norm of the North films. There can be some admittedly funny moments here and there.

Overall, Norm of the North: Family Vacation is an absolute disgrace to animation. Please stick to way better animated films, such as those from the likes of Pixar, DreamWorks, Blue Sky, and Illumination.

Disgusting sequel to an already repulsive franchise the animation is as bland as ever and the jokes are as bland as molded cheese that had been left out for 30 days. Just don't watch not worth your time.

Norm of the North: Family vacations may entice you with images of adorable animals having fun, but be prepared for a mediocre trip to the north. Even though the animation is marginally better than in previous iterations, this unmemorable movie cannot be saved.

The plot is as thin as polar bear fur in summer. Norm, the self-proclaimed "King of the North," struggles to juggle his royal duties with quality family time. This flimsy setup leads to an uninspired "vacation" that's actually a quest to recover his stolen crown.

Here's where things get icy. The humor falls flat more often than it lands, relying on tired puns and childish gags. The new characters, including a family of white tigers, blend into the background, failing to add any spark. Even the environmental message, a staple of the series, feels phoned in.

Norm of the North: Family Vacation isn't very objectionable, but it doesn't have enough charm or humor to hold the interest of adults above the age of eight. This icy journey is best left on the iceberg if you're searching for an animated film that is actually really entertaining.