Review: The Wild Thornberrys Movie

Despite the 2D animation, the film makes for a surprisingly cinematic experience.

The Wild Thornberrys Movie
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Non-fans of Nickelodeon’s “The Wild Thornberrys” need not worry: The Wild Thornberrys Movie begins with an efficient recap for those unfamiliar with how 12-year-old Eliza Thornberry (Lacey Chabert) came to communicate with animals and travel the world with her family. When poachers kidnap a baby cheetah named Tally, Eliza almost loses her life and is subsequently shipped off to a boarding school in England by her grandmother Cordelia (Lynn Redgrave). Hellbent on reuniting Tally with his mother, Eliza returns to Africa and discovers that poachers are planning to kill a horde of elephants during a solar eclipse. Though they’re not quite as cynical and subversive as the Rugrats clan, the Thornberrys are still every bit as charming and wholesome. In order to save her airhead sister Debbie (here, the film’s screechy Achilles’ heel) from death, Eliza sacrifices her magical powers. A defeated Eliza is haunted by the fact that she and chimpanzee best friend Darwin had a falling-out before she relinquished her powers. The young girl must now learn to save a jungle with compassion alone. It must count as a small miracle that a film so drunk on family values never succumbs to mawkishness. Though Eliza defies her family in returning to Africa, her act of retaliation is both a means of asserting her power and keeping all sorts of families together. The film’s folksy, independent spirit is heightened by a charming soundtrack that features original compositions by Drew Neumann (“Aeon Flux”) and songs by Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel. Despite the 2D animation, The Wild Thornberrys Movie makes for a surprisingly cinematic experience, so much so that some of the film’s more suspenseful sequences may be a bit inappropriate for younger children.

Score: 
 Cast: Lacey Chabert, Jodi Carlisle, Danielle Harris, Tom Kane, Lynn Redgrave, Marisa Tomei, Alfre Woodard, Tim Curry, Flea, Rupert Everett  Director: Cathy Malkasian, Jeff McGrath  Screenwriter: Kate Boutilier  Distributor: Paramount Pictures  Running Time: 85 min  Rating: PG  Year: 2002  Buy: Video, Soundtrack

Ed Gonzalez

Ed Gonzalez is the co-founder of Slant Magazine. A member of the New York Film Critics Circle, his writing has appeared in The Village Voice, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.