Antz

MPAA Rating

Theatrical Release Date

Oct 01, 1998

Genre(s)

Fighting the System
Accidental Heroes
Opposites Attract
Unlikely Heroes
Woody Allen
Dan Aykroyd
Animation
7-9 Years
10-12 Years
Comedy
Family Films
Computer Animation
Feature Films
DreamWorks

Rating (Stars)

Description

Woody Allen as a worker ant with an inferiority complex? Sylvester Stallone as an affable soldier ant who discovers that digging tunnels is cool? The animation playground we all knew so well is turning into a theme park full of in-jokes for grownups. Antz explores age-old topics (one person--err, insect--can make a difference, individuality and social responsibility must exist side by side, war is hell) with comic asides and Woody Allen's funniest quips this side of PG (adults will chuckle at the socialist slogans bandied about as he campaigns for workers' rights). Sharon Stone voices the rebellious princess with a fun-loving streak that doesn't quite overcome her royal bearing and court training, but she can learn. Gene Hackman is all teeth (ants have teeth?) and menacing grins as the Army general plotting insect-icide. This bug's-eye view of life on Earth gives Allen's neurotic nonconformist an epic adventure of microscopic proportions: a devastating war with a termite colony, an odyssey to the fabled land of plenty (a picnic ground), and a race to save his fellow workers from certain death. Other voices include Anne Bancroft as the Queen, Christopher Walken, Jennifer Lopez, Danny Glover, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and John Mahoney. The computer animation isn't exactly realistic but feels as solid and contoured as puppet animation with the smoothness and slickness of traditional cel cartoons, and the character designs and animation offer a marvelous range of expressions. The PG rating includes a gritty battle sequence that may frighten youngsters. --Sean Axmaker

Director

Eric Darnell/ Tim Johnson

Stars

Woody Allen
Dan Aykroyd
Anne Bancroft
Jane Curtin
Danny Glover

Running Time

83 minutes

Original Price

$12.99

Current Value

$5.90

DVD Features

Anamorphic
Animated
Closed-captioned
Color
Dolby
DVD-Video
Live
Widescreen
NTSC
1.85:1