Curious Monkey: A Very Monkey Christmas – Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (2009)

Directed by: Scott Heming, Cathy Malkasian, Jeff McGrath | 55 minutes | animation, family | Original voice cast: Frank Welker, Jeff Bennett, Rino Romano, Jim Cummings, EG Daily, Gray DeLisle, Debbie Derryberry, Clyde Kusatsu, Lex Lang, Annie Mumolo, Rob Paulsen, James Sie, Susan Silo, BJ Ward, Rolonda Watts

Curious monkey or Curious George is a charming invention of the German couple Margret and Hans Augusto Rey. The first acquaintance was in the book “Raffy and the Nine Monkeys” (1930s), but soon the Jewish couple, who had moved to Paris in the meantime, decided that the curious monkey was too nice not to have adventures of his own. experience. When the Reys had to flee Nazi-occupied Paris, they had little baggage, but their manuscripts, including that of Curious Monkey, went with them on their journey through Spain, Brazil and eventually New York, where they established themselves as children’s writers. The first book was published in 1941. Decades later, the merry adventures of the cute monkey and his owner, the man in the yellow hat, still prove their appeal to young children and their parents. The first animated film appeared in 2006, ten years after Margret Rey died (her husband died in 1977). ‘Curious Monkey’ was a sweet and entertaining film, which was well received by critics and audiences. It was not a big crowd puller, the story is too specifically aimed at young children for that. Nevertheless, after the success of the cinema film, there was enough to see in a sequel: ‘Curious Monkey’ got a TV series in America (also well received) and a film that was immediately released on DVD (‘Curious George: Follow That Monkey!’ 2009). . As it is almost mandatory these days, ‘Curious Monkey’ also gets a Christmas episode. ‘Curious Monkey: A Very Monkeyy Christmas’ is a Christmas special from the TV series in question.

Once it’s December, George is terribly excited about the approaching Christmas. Every morning at five o’clock he jumps on the bed of the Man in the Yellow Hat to ask if it’s Christmas yet. The Man in the Yellow Hat has had enough and makes a check-off calendar for George so that George can see how long it will be before December 25th. At first it seems George still very far away, but then he finds out that he still has a lot of preparations to make with the Man in the Yellow Hat. For example, a Christmas tree has to be decorated, there has to be a performance with Christmas songs, and last but not least: presents have to be exchanged! George can make a wish list and the Man in the Yellow Hat wants to help him with that. But if George has already drawn a picture of his dearest Christmas wish, he doesn’t want to offend the monkey by admitting that he has no idea what it represents. George doesn’t have it easy either: the Man in the Yellow Hat asked him to make something nice to surprise him, but George has no idea what his best friend likes! Thus the days pass and Christmas is getting closer and closer. Will they both be ready with their presents on time?

The entertaining story of ‘Curious Monkey: A Very Monkeyy Christmas’ will undoubtedly resonate with young children, especially if they have seen the first film and know the characters (although prior knowledge is not necessary in this case). What is striking is that the setting has changed: where the cinema film was still set in the years when computers and cordless telephones were still distant future, the Christmas story is set in the present time. That’s a shame. Furthermore, the animation (“”old-fashioned”” cartoon style) is fine. Not too much detail, but for a Christmas special it is fine. There are worse ways imaginable to entertain your child in the exciting days before Christmas!