Inside Out (Animation) (2015)

Disney Pixar, should do something really special for Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen for coming up with a concept like Inside Out – something like a lifetime retainer.  Docter made Up in 2009 but first time director, Carmen, does not have too much to catch up with from the looks of it.

Free Birds

And after all kinds of animals have been utilized and probably even done to death, it had to be the turn of the humble Turkey (the bird) to be part of an animation.  And with Thanksgiving somewhere in the near future (28^th November 2013 in the US) and in the not so distant past (14^th October 2013 in Canada), it was an opportune time to release a Turkey animation movie.

Alvin and the Chipmunks – The Squeakuel

It doesn’t take much to figure out that you are in for a really corny movie if you decided to pick up Alvin and the Chipmunks – The Squeakuel. Now which movie maker would in his right sense of mind name a movie The Squeakuel??? Now I am surprised that after the near disaster of a first movie, the makers actually went ahead with a sequel. And as we are all well aware, there is also a third one released quite recently. Aaargh. It is true that there is no dearth of suckers in this world. Especially suckers with children aged between 3 and 8 probably. Who else would be the target for a concept such as Alvin. I mean first of all, they are all squeaky squeaky. And not a nice squeaky like Chip ‘n Dale were but a very irritating squeaky like Chip n Dale but with a hint of chalk rubbing against a black board. Could not think of any other metaphor honestly. In a nut shell, really corny and really squeaky I must say. I guess I was kind of hoping against hope that the makers would have learnt from their previous mishap and improvised significantly on this one. Sadly not to be.
And then there is this aspect of changing directors. At least think about having some consistency people. You have a rep to protect and a brand to build. Unless you made all of the series together, you are going to be losing a ton of money because there is a distinct break in the chain when you change directors. Lets for a moment agree that there is no way you could have continued with Tim Hill. To begin with, he was indeed not much to look up to. So you had to pick up someone else. But did that someone else have to be Betty Thomas? Of John Tucker Must Die fame… or should I say infamy? The same Betty Thomas who gave us 28 Days and Doctor Dolittle? Please Madams and Sirs – Corny is what you should have expected I say. Not corny in an endearing sort of a way. But corny in an extremely irritating kind of way. Should I comment about the direction – forget it. No point really.

Add to the tacky direction a really sensational combination of an inhuman acting attempt in the form of Zachary Levi, Jason Lee and David Cross who continue to keep you on tenterhooks and if society had permitted it, you would have jumped onto the screen and torn it to shreds. Even the attractive female star cast cannot save the day. And if 3 chipmunks didn’t get to your nerves in the first part, you have to deal with 3 more in this one. And that too female chipmunks – The Chipettes – Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette. But then if all of the above coupled with really slapstick American humour with some chipmunky romance thrown in for garnish is up your alley then you must watch this vastly over rated franchise again. I wouldn’t bother going down that road. 3 on 10.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi441844249/