Neil Young’s Film Lounge – The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
THE ADVENTURES OF ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE
6/10
US 2000
dir Des McAnuff
scr Kenneth Lonergan
cin Thomas Ackerman
stars Robert De Niro, Piper Perabo, Jason Alexander, Rene Russo
91mins
Not long ago, every new De Niro movie was a potential Event – now it seems each one is a potential Embarrassment. In this updating of the anarchic sixties cartoon he’s Fearless Leader, whose dastardly plans bring the titles squirrel/moose combo out of retirement into the 3-D present. Not hard to see why this big-budget production bombed in the States – its being mistakenly sold as a childrens movie, but most of the gags fly way over kids heads, and few adults will be lured in by fond memories of the original.
Bobby even gets to parody his own You talkin to me? speech, in a chillingly how-the-mighty-have-fallen moment. But, mainly thanks to screenwriter Lonergan (You Can Count On Me) the film as a whole isn’t bad at all. Its an easygoing, quite inventive romp, much closer to Austin Powers than George of the Jungle, with goofy laughs, a satirical edge, and relentless self-mockery. And, its nice to report, Bullwinkle still sounds like Donald Sutherland doing a funny voice…
31st January 2001
by Neil Young
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