Barnes & Noble

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Barnyard? This is easily the rowdiest of the 2006 computer-animated features starring anthropomorphic animals, but its animals-gone-wild hijinks threaten to overwhelm the film’s positive messages. Otis (voiced by Kevin James) is a slacker bull who acts like a real party animal. His father, Ben (Sam Elliott), patiently tries to instill in him a sense of leadership and responsibility. "A strong man stands up for himself," he tells Otis, "a stronger man stands up for others." But Otis is more the every-animal-for-himself type, until his father is killed while protecting the farm against attacking coyotes (a tense and sad scene). Ben’s death leaves Otis in charge, and the film becomes a tale of redemption in the Lion King mode. Written and directed by Steve Oedekerk (Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius), Barnyard has a fun Far Side sensibility with its animals: They act like animals in the presence of humans, but then carouse like humans when no one's watching. In one extended sequence, Otis and friends turn the tables on a bratty kid who engages in cow-tipping. The film does contain some barnyard humor, but it also sports some more sophisticated visual gags, such as a "mechanical man" ride, and a dart board with Colonel Sanders' face. Parental advisory: The bulls unaccountably sport udders. Oedekerk has assured interviewers that this was intentional and done for a laugh. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

A cow learns to walk like a man, both literally and figuratively, in this computer-animated comedy written and directed by Steve Oedekerk, the creator of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Ben (voice of Sam Elliott) is a cow who for years has been the leader and sober voice of reason among the animals at a farm where the critters are a bit unusual -- they can walk on two legs, talk, swim, and act like humans, though they have the good sense to avoid doing these things while humans are around. Ben has long dreamed that his son Otis (voice of Kevin James) would someday take over his duties on the farm, but Otis is a carefree and irresponsible type who would rather party with his friends and hang out with his girlfriend, Daisy (voice of Courteney Cox). Ben and his friend Miles (voice of Danny Glover), a wise and patient mule, wonder if Otis will ever make anything of himself, while Dasiy's best friend, Bessy (voice of Wanda Sykes), is convinced she can do better. However, one night Otis decides to do something about an obnoxious kid who enjoys tipping his fellow cows, and for the first time in his life he gets a taste of leadership -- and he likes it. Barnyard also features the voice talents of Andie MacDowell, Maria Bamford, and Maurice LaMarche. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 097363431244
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Language: English
• Time: 1:29:00
• Sales Rank: 14,225

Features:

DVD MENU