Chicken Little

Oh.  Hello again blogging world.  I apologize for my long absence and realize now that I should have named this blog "Two Years with Walt," but alas I am once again back on this journey through Disney films and will certainly finish by the end of year two.  :)  And away we go...

So I think I’m about to go against the grain again (apparently Emperor’s New Groove is endearing and funny to most of the population…), but I very much enjoyed Chicken Little. 

I’m not saying it’s the most brilliant film on this journey, but it definitely hit my funny bone and made me engage with and enjoy the story.  J

Chicken Little is loosely-based on the well-known Chicken Little fable (aka Henny Penny) where Chicken Little erroneously believes the sky is falling because an acorn seems to fall from the sky.  (This is why the infamous line used in the face of mass hysteria is “The sky is falling!  The sky is falling!”)  In Disney’s take on the classic tale, anthropomorphic critters live an idyllic suburban town where our hero (Chicken Little) has already earned a reputation for being overly anxious and gullible when he sends the town into a panic by declaring that the sky is falling – only it turns out to be a piece of eggshell, not the sky.

Low and behold a year later, a real "piece of the sky" hits Chicken Little in the head (due to some Earth-visiting aliens), but unfortunately, the second time around no one believes him.  And so, what's a little chicken to do?  Save the world, of course.

One of the great criticisms of this film is its use of modern-day references for humor - certain things that a younger generation will not appreciate because they simply don't understand the reference point.  (I still loved the inclusion of the Spice Girl song for karaoke!)  I admit that future generations may miss out on some of the humor included in the film, but I still enjoyed it very much.  Also, there are several classic, funny puns and gags used throughout the film as well.  The fish driving a fishbowl/car hybrid.  The goat eating grass like a lawn mower.  The chameleon changing colors to match the traffic signal signs that he is holding.  Just to name a few.

I also enjoyed the heart of the film.  Chicken Little shows persistence and bravery and really cares about the people of his town.  He has a great (albeit) quirky group of friends who help him through life's little (and large) disasters.  And finally, I also enjoyed watching Chicken Little's relationship with his dad grow and improve throughout the course of the movie.

So all in all, I liked Chicken Little.  I may be the only movie blogger to say it, but I will: I think this one's worth a watch.  Don't skip it.

And with that I will leave you with some words of wisdom from Mr. Walt Disney himself:

Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C s. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.

Coming Up Next: Meet the Robinsons