“From the people who brought you ‘Madagascar’ …” OK, not exactly. Dreamworks did “Madagascar,” and “The Wild” is a Disney flick, but the similarities are so remarkable it’s hard to believe they weren’t in cahoots. Both films feature anthropomorphic New York zoo creatures whose domesticated lives are turned upside down when they venture, via boat no less, to a real jungle to rescue one of their own. The major difference between “Madagascar” and “The Wild” is that the latter is conspicuously devoid of any rascally, show-stealing penguins. And if you’re reading this, you almost certainly know about those penguins, because you are almost certainly a parent of a small child or children. Your tykes are the target audience for these sorts of movies.
“The Wild” isn’t going to make anyone forget “Finding Nemo” or “Toy Story” (or, for that matter, “Madagascar”), but it ain’t bad either. The CGI animation is impressive, though there’s something a bit off with the way the animals mouths move. The plot is silly, but then again, so was the story in “Fantasia.” The cast does a good job bringing characters to life, particularly Kiefer Sutherland playing against type as a kind-hearted lion named Samson. Eddie Izzard is a hoot as an acerbic koala bear. (RATED G. RUNNING TIME: 94 MINUTES)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 14, 2006. Read the original PDF.