A BUG'S LIFE A film review by David N. Butterworth Copyright 2000 David N. Butterworth
**** (out of ****)
From its opening frames of a fallen leaf settling on a pool of water, it's clear that "A Bug's Life" is no ordinary kiddie cartoon. The attention to detail in this scene is extraordinary and, fortunately for the viewer, that level of detail is maintained throughout the entire production. Not just in terms of the animation which--from Pixar, the studio that previously brought us "Toy Story"--is nothing less than amazing, but in terms of the writing, the characterizations, the music--in fact, the whole kit and caboodle. "A Bug's Life," no more a kid's film than "Toy Story" was a kid's film, has it all: a clever story (a misfit ant tries to save his colony from despotic grasshoppers by rounding up some "bad bugs" but accidentally recruits a bunch of inept circus performers instead); strong characters voiced by skilled performers (Kevin Spacey is perfect as Hopper, the evil grasshopper leader, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is Princess Atta, and Dave Foley (TV's "NewsRadio") plays the hapless Flik); a rousing musical score by Randy Newman; a wry, irreverent, and often-times hilarious script by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton that caters to grown-ups as much as it does children; and unsurpassed computer animation. In fact, there is so much to take in on a first viewing that "A Bug's Life" is the kind of film that benefits from its home video release, with the opportunity to rewind and replay favorite bits (no doubt including the end-credit "bloopers"). "A Bug's Life" also features the vocal talents of Phyllis Diller, Denis Leary, Bonnie Hunt, Roddy McDowall, John Ratzenberger ("Cheers"), "Fraser"'s David Hyde Pierce, and the late, great Madeline Kahn, to name a few. Highly recommended.
-- David N. Butterworth dnb@dca.net
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