The Wild (2006)

Directed by: Steve ‘Spaz’ Williams | 94 minutes | animation, comedy, family, fantasy | Actors: English voice cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Jim Belushi, Janeane Garofalo, William Shatner, Richard Kind, Patrick Warburton, Greg Cipes, Eddie Izzard | Dutch voice cast: Rob Kamphues, Frans van Deursen, Johnny Kraaijkamp Jr., Lucas van den Eynde, Tine Embrechts, Vic de Wachter, Doris Baaten

When Dreamworks released the movie ‘Shark Tale’ shortly after the release of ‘Finding Nemo’ (2003), there was talk of a remake or even a copy of the successful Disney film. Fairly or unfairly? It doesn’t matter much. Where the knives were sharpened with the films about life in the great ocean, the competition has now erupted in all openness. Because besides being a hilarious family film, ‘The Wild’ is above all Disney’s answer to ‘Madagascar’, which has a clear message to Dreamworks: Disney belongs at the top of the food chain in the jungle of animated films. No wonder that the appropriate ‘who laughs last’ can literally be seen and heard…

It seems as if Disney has been sitting in silence waiting for a good opportunity after Dreamworks came out with ‘Shark Tale’. Because although the animation films of both makers have their own distinctive features, anyone who reads the synopsis of ‘The Wild’ will wonder whether the cinemas have made a mistake in the title. It is in fact almost identical to the story of ‘Madagascar’. Samson the lion leaves the New York Zoo with giraffe Bridget, snake Larry, koala Nigel and squirrel Benny to rescue his son Ryan from the wild nature to which he is transported. The journey takes them at a breathtaking pace through the sewers of New York towards the harbor, over the sea and through the jungle.

There are plenty of funny jokes in ‘The Wild’. For example, a real ‘Turtle-curling’ championship is organized by the animals in the zoo, who instead of heavy rocks bowl real turtles over the ice, and Nigel is proclaimed king by the wildebeest on arrival on the island because she is an worship a fallen koala doll as a savior. Fortunately, ‘The Wild’ doesn’t pretend to be a series of standup comedian jokes, like ‘Madagascar’ more or less did. The guys at Disney chose the wrong actors for that. Because while Kiefer Sutherland, Jim Belushi and Janeane Garofalo are as fun as animals, a cast with Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith and Ali G is simply unbeatable.

The true power of ‘The Wild’ is neither in the family story nor in the message. The animations that Disney manages to bring to the screen are particularly beautiful and realistic. Where Dreamworks makes more use of caricatures, Disney tries to represent the animals as faithfully as possible. And it absolutely succeeded. Furs, scales and beaks are indistinguishable from the real thing, as are the movements and sounds. With an exception, of course, for a snake that can wriggle into all possible shapes and a koala bear that puts on a fashion show. Fun for the kids.

No, in the end it doesn’t matter who is first or better. Both Disney and Dreamworks make their own kind of works of art. But let them have a good time. Can we continue to enjoy beautiful and comic animation films!