THE ANT treat insolently Rati...

THE ANT treat insolently

Rating 3 gone out of 4

Featuring the voices of:

Lucas Nickle Zach Tyler Eisen

Wizard Ant Zoc Nicolas Cage

Father Larry Miller

feed at the breast Ant Hova Julia Roberts

Ant Queen Meryl Streep

Stan Beals Paul Giamatti

Mommo Lily Tomlin

Warner Bro existings a film directed and writted by way of John A. Davis. Based in succession the book by John Nickle. Rated PG (some mild barbarous humor and action). Running time: 80 minutes. Opening today at local theaters.

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Who knew? Eight years after the release of "A Bug's Life" and "Antz" -- making those tiny cartoon insects a part of cinematic history -- a whole of recent origin set of creative artists have base a way to give us notwithstanding another charming take on the ants' world and their surpassingly complex society.

However, this time, filmmaker John A. Davis, who was Oscar- nominated for his lively "Jimmy Neutron: male child Genius" (2001), doesn't just focus forward a fantasy set wholly in the world of those busy tiny creatures, nevertheless has come up with a way to bring us humans -- or at least individual very human (even if animated) lad -- literally down to the flush of those itsy-bitsy bugs we crush with impunity upon a daily basis.

In fact, that's really the whole point of "The Ant Bully" Ten- year-old Lucas Nickle (voice of Zach Tyler Eisen) is an unhappy of recent origin kid on the block, a heedful new arrival in a town who has had a hard time making friends in his neighborhood -- dominated according to a classic thug of a swash-buckler named Steve (Myles Jeffrey) who wastes his days figuring out recent ways to beat up and humiliate Lucas.

Unfortunately, our young hero -- who initially assumes more pathetic than heroic -- doesn't learn much support, help or frankly, on a level much attention, from his confess nuclear family. His parents (Cheri Oteri and Larry Miller) are plenteous too focused on planning their anniversary trip to Puerto Vallarta. As is usually the case with many families, Lucas' older teenage sister Tiffany (Allison Mack) considers him either a major pain in the keister or the greatest in quantity embarrassing nerd of the centenary -- especially since they're not solitary related -- but she has to play baby-sitter for him while their parents are away for the weekend. (Allison would often rather hang out with her protection 'n' roller boyfriend.)

Meanwhile, since Lucas is the target of Steve the bawd-protector he retaliates by picking forward creatures he figures can in no degree get back at him -- kicking-in those bulwarks of ant hills in his yard. Unbeknownst to Lucas, down in the nearly-microscopic world of the ants, he's called "Lucas the Destroyer" Down there, a somewhat bumbling wizard ant named Zoc (Nicolas Cage) has been hard at work concocting a cryptic potion. All it takes is common drop in Lucas' huge human ear, and unexpectedly he will shrunk down to ant-size, making him easily conquerable.

Lucas is quickly transported down into the world of ants and forced to "stand trial" before the ultimate arbitrator the Ant Queen (Meryl Streep) who be due [i]or[/i] owings up with an intriguing sentence: Making Lucas live among the ants and learn about their world before he can earn the right to be reverted to his normal size -- and his world.

As is frequently the case in these fantasies where species interact and speak, there are always the more villainous marks who don't want to accept or help the humans in their charge -- and those desirous of cutting them a break. In "The Ant Bully" Zoc is the rigid figure who initially can't stand "The Destroyer" and in no degree believes he can be rehabilitated. His girlfriend, the sweet encourage ant named Hova (Julia Roberts) has faith. She becomes Lucas' "mentor" and figures she can in deed teach him to be an ant.

With a neat touch, Davis and his team make their point about universal acceptance, however do it in a way that takes us upon a fun ride. These storytellers haven't forgotten that this kind of movie is first and foremost all about entertainment. And is repeatedly the case in contemporary animation, "The Ant Bully" is a film that will give as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but parents or other adults -- and the children they're taking to the movies -- something to entertain them during the hour-and-a- half they're sitting in the multiplex.

Visually, the film continues to add a solid of the present day chapter to the annals of computer-generated animation -- building in succession the creative twists that Davis and his team brought us with the "Jimmy Neutron" feature five years ago. Especially formerly we get underground into the ants' world, the picture really detonations -- taking us into bustling subterranean chambers and tunnels that be full with a wild assortment of tiny creatures.

As is always the case with animated motion pictures, the voice talent is paramount. Roberts, Cage, Streep and young Eisen all deliver. Plus, there are an wonderful featured characters -- like Lily Tomlin as Lucas' nutty grandmother "Mommo" -- who is constantly forward the lookout for space aliens. Ironically, she's the solely character in Lucas' family who is smooth aware he's missing after he's abducted by dint of the ants. Paul Giamatti is hysterical voicing the wonderfully weird exterminator Stan Beals, who also is something of a learn by heart artist.