This is yet another of those recently-made animated films that is outstanding. They ("Polar Express," "Robots," "Cars," "Madagascar," "Barnyard," "Ice Age," etc.) all seem to have the following positive characteristics that I found in this movie:

1 - Fabulous colors; 2 - Great artwork; 3 - likable, humorous characters who care about; 4 - excellent jokes, both visually and audibly, many that make adults laugh; 5 - excellent surround sound that is entertaining in itself; and 6 - a nice story without a lot of sexual innuendos and other questionable (for kids) material. Like the old "Leave It To Beaver" TV show, these animated films also end with a positive message for kids and adults.

In fact, I would say that I - as an older adult - have seen more good animated feature films in the past two years than the previous 50 years put together.

The main character in this movie, "Chicken Little" (voiced by Zach Braff) has to be one of the cutest little animated figures I've ever seen. I smiled almost every time they had a closeup of his face with those green glasses.

The colors in this film are very bold and bright, sometimes making my jaw drop. Also, here's another example of a animated movie where there are so many things to see - meaning clever, funny things in the background - you can't possibly catch them all. An added highlight is that this story plays homage, or pokes fun at, previous science-fiction films. How many tongue-in-cheek references can you find to sci-fi movies?

The only complaint I have, and it's minor, is that they could have used a lull or two in the last 30 minutes of this. It's almost too much action but at an overall running time of less than 80 minutes (I'm not including the ending credits), the time is manageable.

Overall, this is another winner. Good stuff!

Chicken Little causes widespread panic in Oakey Oaks when he claims a piece of the sky fell and hit him on the head. His father Buck "Ace" Cluck passes it off as a mistake over an acorn. One year later, he's a laughing stock and there's even a movie. He is highly inventive but gets ridiculed despite being bullied by some of the kids. He's friends with the other outcasts; ugly duckling Abby Mallard, Runt of the Litter, and Fish out of Water. He finally gains his father's respect after getting the winning hit. When another piece of the sky falls into his room, he has to save the world with his friends while keeping it a secret from everybody else. The sky is electronic and chameleon.

The story is a little thin. Chicken Little and his father have a compelling relationship but it does need more layers. As for his friends, ugly duckling is a little too ugly. Runt's proportions are too wrong. I understand the idea but the design feels off. The one I love the most is Fish out of Water. It's a great design and loads of mime fun. As for the animation, it looks a bit too primitive. I didn't know that this is Disney and one can see the attempted transition. It's not the best and inferior to the Pixar of the era.

Now I really wanted to like this film. I adore Disney, but along with Home on the Range and The Wild for various reasons it is my least favourite Disney film. Home on the Range was forgettable save some good moments and The Wild while colourful had some derivative elements, but Chicken Little I feel suffered because it tried too hard. Granted, it is visually and technically accomplished, more in the backgrounds and colours than in the character designs. The animation is bright and colourful, though some of the character designs are rather forced at times. The film moves briskly, and it also does have a good idea and some above-decent voice work. However, because it tries so hard, elements get lost in the process. The film does have an uneven tone, and the storyline while trying to fit a lot in such as some references to pop culture and is unfocused unfortunately. Speaking of the pop culture references, sorry I think they are going to date, and the script was often very weak and the ending clichéd. Then there are the characters, I liked Mayor Turkey Lurkey and the title character was spirited enough, but others such as Abby Mallard verged on annoying or flimsy. I wasn't taken with the soundtrack overall either, it did have its nice spots but there are others where you are wondering what on earth? Some of it was very loud to the point it was almost intolerable. So all in all, it is spirited and tries hard, but on the whole sorry it didn't work for me. 4/10 Bethany Cox