This is one of those rare movies parents and children can enjoy together -- but it is not a laugh-out-loud fest, either. In fact, the family who sat behind ours -- with a three-year-old boy -- got bored fast, and I listened to a chorus of, "Can we leave yet?" until finally the dad relented and they did indeed leave. The humor depends on your quickly processing and appreciating improbable sights like a pile of hens after a fight. And it doesn't hurt if you have a pretty good base knowledge of old-movie lore, particularly The Great Escape (love that baseball bouncing against the prison cell wall!), Stalag 17 (or hen house 17), and Rebecca (note the wicked one's resemblance to Mrs. Danvers). In many ways, this movie reminded me of Bug's Life -- just as high quality and witty, and they share a soaring finale. But it is literally and figuratively darker, and there is something British, which is to say subtle, about the humor. I just now asked my six year old what he thought, he said: Funny. He especially appreciated the leading hen and leading rooster's repeatedly thwarted attempts to kiss. However, younger children -- like the three year old sitting behind us -- would have to be exceptionally patient to sit through this.



Recommended: Yes