Click Poster to Purchase
Review #45 of 365
Film: Doogal [G] 85 minutes
WIP: $9.00
When 1st Seen: 24 February 2006
Where Viewed: United Artists Twin Peak Mall 10, Longmont, CO
Time: 2:50 p.m.
Review Dedicated to: Carrie H. of Chicago, IL
 |  |
DVD | soundtrack |
After some ‘exhaustive’ research, I was able to ascertain that the film, Doogal, is based on what was originally the creation of French author Serge Danot. According to Magic Roundabout.com the animated series was created in 1965 as the Le Manège Enchanté (The Horse-gear Magic) with a production life in excess of 500 tiny episodes. Again, according to Magic Roundabout.com these episodes were broadcast later by the BBC nightly where they became a huge hit with British children. When you see this film, you will probably be amazed that these are the same characters that debuted in the original series, though now animated brilliantly in CGI so that every hair on Doogal (formerly Dougal) the dog’s fur coat flows like silk. Brought to the US by Pathé Pictures with USA-based jokes-and-puns-a-plenty and the vocal talents of Chevy Chase (the Train), Dame Judi Dench (Narrator), Jimmy Fallon (Dylan—the Spacey Rabbit), Whoopi Goldberg (Ermintrude—the Diva Cow), William H. Macy (Brian—the fearless snail), Sir Ian McKellen (Zebedee—the good wizard), Kevin Smith (Moose), Jon Stewart (Zeebad—the bad wizard), and Daniel Tay (Doogal), the film will likely find mass appeal among young children and their parents—though I would argue that some of the humor and some of the message may differ from what British Prime Minister Tony Blair and most traditional USA parents might want for their children today. Chiefly, I refer to the use of a flatulent moose for humor, the fact that Doogal is selfish, impish, and demonstrates only modest growth in the story, and somewhat offbeat style of the rabbit Dylan and the Diva Cow Ermintrude. In any case, there is less harm done here than in much of the other traditional animation violence that’s been on the screen for decades. In some screenings, the film may be preceded by a bonus animated short called “Gopher Broke” which I found particularly unappealing—not like the Pixar® shorts that often precede their films which are often hilarious and delightful in message. Perhaps, I am sounding a bit harsh when it comes to Doogal. Actually, I quite enjoyed the film. When looking at what’s coming down the road in the animated film world there seem to be many hybrids and crossovers from the soon-to-be-released Disney’s The Wild that is vaguely reminiscent of Madagascar and The Ant Bully—weren’t there already two animated films about ants? (A Bug’s Life and Antz), at least Doogal was different. There are enough inside jokes and references to other films (my favorite were the Matrix references—has any film been referenced more since it was released?) to keep the parental units’ minds engaged. I would just caution parents and guardians alike that this film might be a bit too much for younger children. I thought the voice actors did an outstanding job, as did the animators in breathing life into this imaginative, colorful, world.
Now Available for Purchase on DVD
Doogal [DVD] (2006) DVD
| Soundtrack | DVD | Related Film |
| Related Item | Related Item | Related Item |
No comments:
Post a Comment