An epic of miniature proportions.

Starring: (the voice talents of:) Kevin Spacey, Dave Foley, Julie Louis-Dreyfus, Haden Panettiere, Phyllis Diller, Richard Kind, David Hyde Pierce, Joe Ranft, Denis Leary, Jonathan Harris, Madeline Kahn, Bonnie Hunt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You let one ant stand up to us, then they all might stand up! Those puny little ants outnumber us a hundred to one and if they ever figure that out there goes our way of life! It's not about food, it's about keeping those ants in line." - Hopper

Why watch this? A cartoon about bugs should not be this funny and entertaining... but it is.

Plot Summary: In a much smaller world, "Ant Island" is ruled by the Queen and her daughter Atta. Every summer, the ants must supply food to the grasshoppers, led by the merciless Hopper. When Flik, a well-meaning, creative ant accidentally ruins the current year's tribute, he's encouraged to go on a journey to find other bugs to help the ants stand up to the grasshoppers. Flik encounters several Circus Bugs that he thinks are warrior bugs. He brings them to Ant Island, planning to trick Hopper and his gang, and drive them away. Hopper, however, is one smart jumper himself.

Dad's Preview: The follow-up to Pixar's Toy Story (1995), would always fail by comparison. However, this worthy film more than held its own at the box office. Furthermore, it is a very good flick for both children and adults. It has tons of slapstick laughs, and a pretty heavy villain (superbly voiced by Kevin Spacey). I really enjoyed the eight Circus Bugs. Their various personalities and gags cracked me up constantly, and this cadre of Vaudeville players serve a key role in the film's plot. Flik, the film's chief protagonist, despite several failures, keeps humming along, using his mind to solve the colony's pressing issues. This CGI adventure will bug you, and that's very much the point.

  
Pixar Animation Studios; Buena Vista Pictures Distribution