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Curious George
 Remember that adorable chimp from your childhood – the one who was always getting into all kinds of mischief? Now he’s back in this new animated feature produced by Ron Howard.
It all begins with Ted, a.k.a. The Man with the Yellow Hat (voiced by Will Ferrell), a tour guide at the Bloomsberry Museum who’s never explored anything beyond the cafeteria. But when his boss, Mr. Bloomsberry (Dick Van Dyke), the kind old curator of the museum, realizes he may have to sell the landmark due to declining attendance, he asks Ted to embark on a quest to find The Lost Shrine of Zagawa, in a last ditch effort to save the museum. It’s Ted’s first big adventure, and while in Africa, he discovers more than he bargained for -- in the form of a curious little chimpanzee who stows away in his pack and travels back to America with him. There’s nothing the spunky monkey won’t try, which, of course, lands him in all sorts of hot water. Enter Maggie (voiced by Drew Barrymore), a cute schoolteacher who brings her class to the museum every week because she has a big crush on Ted (a fact which is completely lost on him). With the help of George, Maggie helps Ted break out of his shy exterior to discover friendship, adventure, and a whole new world of fun. Meanwhile, Mr. Bloomsberry’s sleazy son, Junior (David Cross) is plotting to turn the museum into a parking lot to make money. When he finds out about Ted’s journey, he’s more determined than ever to ruin his father’s hopes to save the museum. Other characters include Clovis (Eugene Levy), the museum’s nutty inventor whose shop is overflowing with wild contraptions; Ivan (Ed O”Ross), the doorman at Ted’s apartment building, which has a strict “no pets” rule; and Miss Plushbottom (Joan Plowright), a snooty socialite and opera singer who lives in the penthouse above Ted’s apartment. This movie is based on the children’s books by husband-and-wife team Margret and H. A. Rey. The curious little chimp has been around for 65 years -- can you believe it?! -- and seeing him on the big screen is a wonderful way to re-live your childhood and share him with your own kids. Oh, and here’s a little tip: tell your kids to look closely at the name of the ship bringing Ted and George to America (hint hint). PRE-SCHOOLER (ages 2-5): Whether your preschoolers are already friends with Curious George or meeting him for the first time, they’ll love this innocent movie filled with bright colors, cute sounds, and most of all, G-rated content. It’s also the perfect opportunity to introduce your kids to the books, including several new ones tied to the movie (a sticker book, picture book, and touch-and-feel book, to name a few). As a bonus, a new TV show based on Curious George will air this fall as part of the preschool block on PBS KIDS. Narrated by actor William H. Macy, the show will focus on math, science, and engineering concepts revolving around the comic adventures of the little chimp. GRADE-SCHOOLER (ages 6-10): This movie is best suited for younger kids, but even grade-schoolers will get a kick out of George, especially if they’re familiar with the books. There’s a reason why more than 25 million copies of the Curious George books have been sold and continue to thrive generation after generation -- they’re fun! TWEEN/TEEN (ages 11+): Although most tweens and teens will probably think this movie is too kiddy-ish for them, the young-at-hearts might get a kick out of it -- especially the soundtrack, which includes original songs by Jack Johnson, the musician at the moment. And there’s a little romance between Ted and Maggie. Maybe kids this age can get around the “kiddy” factor by taking their little brothers and sisters to see it! ________________________ Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance writer specializing in the television and movie industry. Her syndicated column, "Reel Life With Jane," is published in papers throughout the country. Email her at jboursaw@charter.net. |
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