What a joy. Just a fun good-hearted film. Aside from a soft start, I was giggling nearly the whole way to the end. The animation of the giraffe just kept busting my gut. It's as if the animators were so very curious with its shape, trying every which way to twist and turn and look at it just for the pure joy of it. The other animals are fun too, but that giraffe just takes the cake. And voiced very nicely, by the way, by David Schwimmer. Would have liked Owen Wilson and Chris Tucker for the leads though.

The colors are vibrant and juicy, the action well distributed, the pace clipping along with the excitement of animals in the wild. And a rich story line. Not just one, but many. You'll be compelled by the goal, complications and tickled by the dialogue.

Slow to start, slightly fishy ending -- otherwise, I haven't much negative to say about this film. It was a joy. I watched it on DVD months after its theatrical release and just three days after the 2005 Oscars. In my opinion, it's better than the five films nominated for best picture. Although, I've got one question. How is it that these animals can read English, but not speak it? Anyway, it's a cartoon -- they can get away with that sort of thing.

Free Ross Anthony Signed Book Contest!