
The Animal
By Tom Cassidy,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Crass comedy has "jokes" on bestiality, race, sex, and more.

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The Animal
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What's the Story?
In THE ANIMAL, hapless Marvin Mange (Rob Schneider) succumbs to wild instincts when a scientist replaces his organs with animal parts after a car crash. His new skills help him become a police officer, but can he conquer his urges before they cause too much trouble?
Is It Any Good?
Puerile humor has a place in cinema. But the lazy, mean-spirited jokes that make up The Animal don't prove it. Schneider's silly but bad animal impressions might be OK for a movie for young kids. But the crass, awkward sex and violence -- sometimes combined -- that go with it make for grotty viewing. Maybe 12-year-olds of 2001 loved it, but time's not been kind to this problematic and unfunny comedy. The role of the only speaking female character appears to simply be on the receiving end of sexual advances, some of which are aggressive in tone. But it's not just her behind getting slapped by the beastly Marvin. The goat Marvin wants to have sex with also gets it. Non-speaking female characters, including the one whose short dress makes Marvin hump a mailbox, are just sex objects.
Worst is the movie's take on race. Declaring in 2001 people of color have "reverse racism" privilege is a nasty watch, even if it is in some poor attempt at satire. Most surprising is that a movie about a man who is made up of animal parts is so dull and predictable. It's a series of skits; now he's a cat, now he's a goat, etc. All the characters are tuned to mean and while a couple of surreal gags raise a smile, this is a product of a time best left in the past.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the gross-out humor in The Animal. Was it well done? Which bits did you like? What makes a joke gross and funny rather than just gross?
How was sex depicted in the movie? How were the female characters treated? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Talk abut the movie's "joke" about "reverse racism." What do you think the filmmakers were trying to say with this attempt at humor? Were they successful or did it feel in bad taste?
How were the female characters portrayed in the movie? How do stereotypes in movies and on TV impact kids' development?
Talk about the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the film?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 1, 2001
- On DVD or streaming: October 30, 2001
- Cast: Rob Schneider , Colleen Haskell , John C. McGinley
- Director: Luke Greenfield
- Studio: Columbia Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Horses and Farm Animals , Science and Nature , Wild Animals
- Run time: 84 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some crude and sexual humor
- Last updated: April 4, 2023
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