The Wild Thornberrys Movie (film)
From AwardAnnals
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| Director(s) | Cathy Malkasian, Jeff McGrath |
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| Distributor | Paramount |
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| This charming movie version of the Nickelodeon cartoon centers on Eliza, youngest daughter of the Thornberry family, whose parents Nigel and Marianne travel the world to create a nature program for television. But Eliza, thanks to a mystical encounter, has the power to talk to animals—a power that leads her on the hunt for poachers in Africa who have captured a baby cheetah. Eliza’s best friend, a chimpanzee named Darwin, is along for the ride, while her resentful teenage sister Debbie is trying to bring her back to their parents. The characters in… | |
Reviews
Amazon.com
This charming movie version of the Nickelodeon cartoon centers on Eliza, youngest daughter of the Thornberry family, whose parents Nigel and Marianne travel the world to create a nature program for television. But Eliza, thanks to a mystical encounter, has the power to talk to animals—a power that leads her on the hunt for poachers in Africa who have captured a baby cheetah. Eliza’s best friend, a chimpanzee named Darwin, is along for the ride, while her resentful teenage sister Debbie is trying to bring her back to their parents. The characters in The Wild Thornberrys Movie are well-defined and delightful, the well-written script zips along, and the animation is visually dynamic; all in all, an excellent animated feature. Featuring the voices of Tim Curry, Lacey Chabert, Rupert Everett, Marisa Tomei, Alfre Woodard, and Lynn Redgrave. —Bret Fetzer
Barnes and Noble
Add Nickelodeon’s The Wild Thornberrys to the short list of popular animated TV series that have successfully made the leap to the big screen. In this entertaining wilderness adventure, the Thornberrys criss-cross the African continent in their Winnebago. Nigel (voiced with true Brit by Tim Curry) and his American wife, Marianne (Jodi Carlisle), make wildlife television documentaries. Their elder daughter, Debbie, is a sarcastic, self-absorbed teen who would be more at home in a mall than the veldt, while the younger daughter, Eliza (Lacey Chabert), is, thanks to an African shaman whom she saved, an adolescent Dr. Dolittle. Eliza can talk to the animals, and her best friend is a stuffy, loquacious chimp named Darwin. If Eliza reveals her secret power, though, she will lose it. The most untamed member of the Thornberrys is the adopted Donnie, a feral child whose grunts are supplied by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. Eliza embarks on the adventure of a lifetime after poachers snatch a cheetah cub entrusted to her. Her parents ship her off to a very proper girl’s school, but Eliza is determined to rescue the cub and runs away. She crosses paths with two veterinarians (voiced by Rupert Everett and Marisa Tomei) who may not be what they seem. Before the sun sets on the African plains, Eliza will have to foil a plot to trap a herd of wild elephants for their valuable ivory tusks. With its authentic soundtrack (which includes Paul Simon’s Oscar-nominated song, “Father and Daughter”), a sophisticated script that supplies wit for the adults and some mildly rude humor for the kids, eye-popping animation, and truly exciting perils for plucky Eliza, young and old will be wild about the Thornberrys. Donald Liebenson
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The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Music from the Motion Picture
Eliza Thornberry and her simian pal Darwin take on an African safari, evil poachers, and a London boarding school in Eliza’s big-screen debut. That’s quite a tall order for a 12-year-old—and a movie soundtrack—to handle, but like the dynamic tween, The Wild Thornberrys Movie delivers. Youssou N’ Dour and Sting, Angelique Kidjo with Dave Matthews and Las Hijas del Sol contribute world music celebrations flavored with exotic percussion and soulful vocals, while Baha Men skid around on the manic pace of reggae-pop with “Accident.” Paul Simon’s…
