The Adventures of Brer Rabbit Review
Reviewed by Dotty Winters
Starring: Monica Allison, Wayne Brady, Rhyon Nicole Brown, Danny Glover, D.L. Hughley, Wanda Sykes
Directed by: Byron Vaughns
Certificate: U
Running Time: 173 minutes
Format: DVD
Release Date: 27 July 2015
This is the UK DVD release of a 2006 Universal Studio’s computer animation, based on the popular The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit by Julius Lester. Set in the Deep South, the story follows the adventures of a feisty, waist-coat wearing rabbit as he outwits other animals with his smarts and sass.
The stories and dialogue have been unmistakably modernised and made significantly more politically correct that some of the earlier incarnations. The impressive voice cast (including Nick Cannon, Danny Glover and Wanda Sykes) give this a distinctly modern feel, which is slightly at odds with the retro animation style. Whilst the film was made 9 years ago, the animation is a little more 1970s (think Disney’s Robin Hood). In fact, although this film is from Universal Studios, it has a defiantly early-Disney feel about it. Children who have been raised on the shinier, slicker modern computer animations may not find this as visually engaging as some of the films they are used to.
As a grown-up viewer I enjoyed the comfy familiarity of the animation style, and the slightly slower pace of the storyline (there are no car chases, alien battles or space-blammers in evidence, which in my book is a welcome relief). After some initial fidgeting whilst they adjusted to the style and tempo, the kids settled into the film. The 3 year old, wandered off after a bit, but the 6 year old enjoyed the whole film. The story is divided into mini-tales, like chapters, and watching it in these shorter formats may be more suitable for younger viewers.
The mix of retro and modern continues with the occasional musical interludes which mix funk, soul, gospel, rap and a bit of scratch DJ-ing for good measure. The music is definitely more sound track than plot central, so no fear of ending up stuck with a “Let it Go” sized ear-worm.
As you might expect given the stories it is based on, most of the tales have a moral attached but unlike its predecessors, don’t look here for analysis on racial dynamics and the slave-trade. That said, perhaps children’s bunny-based animations shouldn’t be our go-to source on American history. On closer examination it’s not always clear that how useful the morals which they include are. For example Brer Rabbit’s assertion that:
“The problem with that fella is that he was concentrating on the wrong end of the bull”
We’ve all been there.
Or, when Jessica, the human character questions why Brer Rabbit and Brer Wolf are fishing together after Brer Wolf tried to eat Brer Rabbit, the wise tortoise responds:
“It’s hard for you people-folk to understand, but that’s just the way of us animals. We might try and eat each other one day, then go bowling the next”.
I think we can all agree that is a useful life lesson that we can all apply to our daily realities: always go bowling with people who try to eat you.
Aside from some of the accidental humour in some of the dialogue this film is refreshingly kid-centred, almost entirely free of adult-aimed truth-bombs and innuendo. The concepts are simple and providing children are comfortable with the basics of animals trying to eat each other, this film is unlikely to frighten even more timid children.
This is a gentle, family-friendly animation, which will ensure a bit of peace and quiet without prompting too many difficult conversations. The 6 year old said he’d definitely watch it again.
Suitable for ages 3 to 12.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £9.99
Available to buy from Amazon here.
