 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Ant Bully
- Review Date: November 27, 2006
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Cute animated movie with a message for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that some scenes might be a little scary for very young kids –- in particular, menacing spiders, frogs, wasps, flyswatters, and bullies try to wipe out entire civilizations (the ants). Also, Lucas is in constant danger after being shrunk down to ant size. There's some name-calling, mild profanities (such as "butt"), and bodily function jokes.
What's the story?
Ten-year-old Lucas (voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen) is having a tough time adapting after a recent move. His family isn't any help and he's the number one target of the local bully. Lucas vents his frustrations by taking it out the anthills in his front yard. He kicks them, stomps them, squirts them with the garden hose, and fries them with a magnifying glass. The ants are tired of the abuse by Lucas The Destroyer and are ready to fight back! They put a single drop of their magic potion into Lucas's ear, which shrinks him to ant size. He's taken deep below the ant hill, where the Head of the Ant Council (Ricardo Montalban) proclaims him guilty of "crimes against the colony." To earn his freedom, Lucas is sentenced by the wise Ant Queen (Meryl Streep) to live among the ants and learn their ways. He suddenly finds himself in an incredible world teeming with life -- and peril -- that he never noticed or even imagined before. Nurse Ant Hova (Julia Roberts) tries to teach Lucas the ways of the colony and help him find that one special talent he has to contribute, but she has her hands full (all six of them). Eventually, Lucas's newfound "ant skills" are put to the test when he's asked to help his new friends defend the colony against certain annihilation from the local exterminator, in an epic life-and-death struggle waged on the front lawn.
Is it any good?
Guess what? It's not all about us! That's right, there are lots of other worlds out there humming along quite nicely without us, thank you very much. And with Oscar-nominated director John A. Davis (Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius) and producer Tom Hanks to remind us of that, this is a fun family movie with some great life lessons.
While most kid movies spout valuable life lessons of one sort or another, the ones that work don't talk down to kids. This movie falls into that category, using humor and grace (not to mention an impressive cast of voices) to tell a good story and remind us there's more to life than our own little world.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the importance of compassion, teamwork, and loyalty. Sometimes we try to "go it alone," but it's always okay to ask for help when we need it. How can this help us as we grow into adulthood and face new challenges? It's okay to be strong and stand up for ourselves, but is it ever a good idea to "take revenge" on someone? Also, find some examples of communities around us that we don't often see or notice. Why is it important to know about these communities, and how do they fit into our world?
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AGE
Least of all Insect Movies
My first impression of the ants left me wishing the ant bully would have been victorious in his mission. The best part of the movie was the Grandma (the deleted scenes actually gave me more entertainment then the movie itself). I just could not get "into" this movie. The moral lesson was fair, and the ideas seemed fresh but the movie was dull throughout (it was no "Bugs Life"). My rating for this movie would have to be 1.7 stars.
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AGE
maybe for kids older than eight
It mentions private parts and shows bugs dying. It also show a bug that has his head cut off it might not be for small children
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AGE
Great lessons, plot and action all rolled into a movie!
This movie has bright animation and superb action sequences. The action sequences held my son's attention and kept him interested for the entire movie, which is hard to come by.
There are lots of lessons within the movie. The boy, Lucas, who is picked on by his peers, then in turn picks on someone smaller than himself (the ants). Once Lucas becomes an ant he feels empathy for the creatures he once bullied. He also realizes that working as a team is more productive. Lucas begins to feel important and part of society.
There are some parts which might frighten some young children. Lucas is in peril when he is shrunk because he is now lower on the food chain. But, he is also in peril as a human because he is small and the target of a bully. It allows great conversation on the topic of bullying.
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Kid, 10 years old
September 5, 2011
AGE
comedy animaition
funny and some sex
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, adventures |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | John A. Davis |
| Cast: | Julia Roberts, Lily Tomlin, Meryl Streep, Ricardo Montalban, Zach Tyler |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 28, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | November 28, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | for some mild rude humor and action. |
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