CHICKEN LITTLE

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Rated G. Good for kids 4 and up. 83 min. Released in theaters Nov. 4, 2005.

Chicken Little is an inventive little chick who sends the town of Oakey Oaks into a panic after broadcasting that the sky is falling. The town scoffs at the notion, believing it was just an acorn. What's worse, Chicken Little's widowed dad (Garry Marshall) keeps apologizing for his son, believing that he's just crying wolf.

Chicken Little (Zach Braff) is determined to restore his reputation and, more importantly, earn his father's trust again. But just as things are starting to go his way, another piece of the sky lands on his head! Chicken Little and his band of misfit friends, The Ugly Duckling (Joan Cusack), Runt of the Litter (Steve Zahn) and Fish Out of Water (Dan Molina), attempt to save the world without sending the town into a whole new panic.

Rounding out the cast are Don Knotts as Mayor Turkey Lurkey, Amy Sedaris as Foxy Loxy, Fred Willard and Catherine O'Hara as an alien dad and mom, and Harry Shearer as a play-by-ply canine commentator.

By the way, the first version of this tale appeared on film in 1943 – an 8-minute short produced by Walt Disney during WWII, warning audiences not to believe anti-American propaganda. Originally, the film was to have more direct references to the war (Foxy Loxy would have read from "Mein Kampf" and the chicken's graves would have been marked by swastikas!) But Walt Disney decided to keep the film generic so that it wouldn't become outdated after the war.

PRE-SCHOOLER (ages 2-5): The colorful characters, fun music, and freewheeling storyline will keep kids 4 and up intrigued from start to finish. And at just 83 minutes, they won't have a chance to get too bored or restless. When we saw it in the theater, little kids were dancing down in front of the screen.

GRADE-SCHOOLER (ages 6 - 10): This movie has some wonderful lessons about believing in yourself – even when no one else does. If your grade-schooler is lacking in that department, this is a great confidence-booster and a fun one, to boot. My 11-year-old son loved the characters – especially the neurotic Runt of the Litter.

TWEEN / TEEN(ages 11+): This modern version of the classic fable is smart, funny, and delivers lots of laughs for all ages (despite Disney's insistence on keeping that pesky dead-mother syndrome alive!) While this movie lacks a bit in the plot department, it more than makes up for it with everything else.

Jane's Reel Rating System:

One Reel – Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it.

Two Reels – Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.

Three Reels – Thought-provoking. Something to talk about.

Four Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

E-chat with me at jane@reellifewithjane.com - I LOVE to talk about movies!

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