Curious George (2006)
Directed by Matthew O'Callaghan
Written by Ken Kaufman
Starring Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore, Billy West, David Cross, Eugene Levy
Release Date February 10th, 2006
Published February 12th, 2006
Curious George is a wonderfully imaginative children's classic. With his wide eyed wonder and his incurable imagination George inspired small children to investigate the world around them with a similar abandon. Now on the big screen for the first time, the curious little monkey and his friend in the bright yellow hat are as imaginative and inquisitive as ever.
The man in the bright yellow hat aka Ted (Will Ferrell) has some big trouble. He needs a new attraction at the museum where he works or his new boss (David Cross) is going to fire him. Sending him on a trip to Africa to find this new attraction, Ted returns with big ideas and a brand new little friend. George, as the little monkey comes to be known, is an imaginative little primate whose inquisitive nature leads both he and Ted to some unique adventures.
Curious George director Matthew O\'Callaghan is a former Disney animator whose love of water colors made for the lovely, warm tones of Mickey' s Twice Upon A Christmas. directs Curious George with the same warmth and joy. O\'Callaghan has respect for this character and while there are updates that are necessary but they are never overdone or precious.
The voice cast of Curious George is a wonderful mix. Will Ferrell strikes just the right flummoxed, earnest and patient tone as Ted and Drew Barrymore is in lovely voice as his love interest Maggie. Comedian David Cross is appropriately sniveling and conniving as the villain of the movie and Futurama star Billy West is almost unrecognizable as the benevolent boss who supports Ted but must also listen to Cross's Junior, his son.
Another draw of Curious George is the throwback hand drawn animation. Perfectly capturing the water color aesthetic of H.A Rey\'s legendary book series, Curious George is one of the loveliest looking animated features of this decade and the rare hand drawn feature that is as visually vibrant as any computer animated feature in the business, even the Pixar stuff.
Curious George was sadly overlooked when it was released in theaters in early 2006 but it\'s out there on DVD and the perfect gift for any child who loves a great cartoon. Wonderfully imaginative and artfully, crafted, Curious George should be an animated classic and a staple of all children's DVD collection. If you don\'t have it, run out and get it for your child, or the child in you.
