Curious George

In a market crowded with CGI-laden animations, this 2D family feature certainly stands out. It is, quite literally, an echo of a bygone era, based on the children’s books that Margret and HA Rey launched in the 1940s. A mischievous prankster, chimpanzee George is lifted out of his lonely existence in the African jungle when mild-mannered explorer Ted (voiced by Will Ferrell) comes looking for a famed giant idol to save the fortunes of his beloved museum in New York. Complications ensue when the idol Ted returns with is tiny, and George’s presence in New York does little to help – initially, at least. The plot’s slightly dull, but George provides light entertainment for young kids eager to live out their fantasies (flying over the city hanging on to balloons, etc). This, along with a catchy soundtrack from Jack Johnson, should endear parents to ‘Curious George’: it’s good old-fashioned family entertainment. The fact that it only pays lip service to the knowing humour typical of the ‘Ice Age’ and ‘Shrek’ franchises may or may not detract from its appeal.