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"Happily Never
Watch Her..." |
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Directed by Paul J.
Bolger - Written by
Robert Moreland
Starring Sigourney
Weaver, Sarah Michelle
Gellar, Freddie Prinze
Jr., George
Carlin, Michael McShane,
Patrick Warburton, Andy
Dick, Wallace Shawn
Distributed by LionsGate -
2007 - 85m - Rated PG |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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D+ |
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I have something very important to share with you.
Are you listening? |
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I mean it. This is
IMPORTANT. You absolutely MUST know this before heading out to see
"Happily N'Ever After," 2007's first animated film.
John H. Williams produced this film. THE John H. Williams...not just
any John H. Williams. No, silly, not THAT composer John Williams.
You know the one...the guy who produced "Shrek" and "Shrek 2." THAT
John H. Williams.
Aren't you much more excited now?
Those charged with marketing "Happily N'Ever After" have made a
point of boldly proclaiming the film "From the Producer of "Shrek"
and Shrek 2" in the film's advertising.
Okay, now. First, Let's face facts.
Williams is ONE of SEVERAL "Shrek" and "Shrek 2" producers AND is
ONE of SEVERAL producers on "Happily N'Ever After," a low-budget,
blue-collar, unnecessary trailer park version of the aforementioned
"Shrek" and "Shrek 2."
Sorry, I swear I didn't mean to insult those who live in trailer
parks.
"Happily N'Ever After" takes place in Fairy Tale Land, the land
where all the characters live under the guidance of the Wizard
(George Carlin). Inspired by the leadership styles of George W. Bush
(Okay, I made that up), the Wizard goes on vacation and leaves Fairy
Tale Land in the care of Mambo (Andy Dick) and Munk (Wallace Shawn).
When Frieda, the Wicked Stepmother (Sigourney Weaver), discovers she
can gain control of the land she sets out to ruin happy endings for
everyone including Ella (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Ella is to be wed
to a handsome, yet vacant Prince (Patrick Warburton), while her
perfect match is the handsome, yet lowly manservant (Freddie Prinze,
Jr.).
YAWN.
Didn't we just see this in the last year?
Twice.
Think about it.
Animated..."Hoodwinked," a MUCH funnier and more satisfying film.
Live Action..."Santa Clause 3," a film where Jack Frost attempts to
change Christmas and, well, even I'm bored now.
The only thing more difficult to understand than why real-life
lovebirds Gellar and Prinze continue making crappy films together is
why any producer, director or film professional continues casting
them at all.
Following a year in which animated films reached new heights,
"Happily N'Ever After" also arrives in the same year as "Shrek the
3rd," a flawed, yet entertaining film series that takes all these
story lines and actually turns them into an entertaining, funny and
energetic film.
With "Happily N'Ever After," the voiceover work (with the exception
of Weaver and the always reliable Shawn) is shoddy, the animation
amateurish and the storyline utterly pointless. Even children in the
viewing audience for "Happily N' Ever After" could be seen
squirming, talking and otherwise distracted.
The film is director Paul J. Bolger's feature film debut, but it's
hard to grasp whether responsibility for the film's failure lies in
his hands or those of a cast seemingly uninspired to create anything
special. Clearly, the script from Robert Moreland (writer of such
masterpieces as 2001's "Thunder Pig") doesn't give Bolger much to
work with and his production team appears to have produced their CGI
effects on one of those $100 laptop computers currently being
shipped to Thai students.
Unlike "Happily N' Ever After," though, I am pleased to report that
the film does actually have a happy ending.
Are you ready?
I'm going to spoil it for you.
The film's happy ending is...
The film ENDS.
Thus, the audience can live "Happily N'Ever After" knowing they
never have to sit through this animated tragedy again. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
Email Me! |
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How We Rated This Film
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TC Candler -
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| Richard Propes
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D+ |
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Jacob Hall
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TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Jacob Hall's
Comment
n/a
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