Contributed By Lim Bijia
Gather a scatter-brained meerkat with a heart of gold, a philosophical lion, a Gallic cockerel, two wizened Galapagos turtles, a gentle polar bear, a happy-go-lucky kangaroo and a wild Tasmanian devil, and the stage is set for a predictable but rollicking good time.
In the African savannah, a sudden drought leaves the animals wondering why the water that normally streams through a valley from the distant mountains has dried up. Billy the Meerkat decides to march down to the valley to investigate. He is joined by Socrates the Lion and the rest of his motley crew who have gathered from the far corners of the earth, driven from their lands by pollution.
To their horror, a huge dam has been constructed to form a lake around a new gleaming resort. Chaos ensues as the animals wreak havoc at the resort, but things come to a head when Socrates is captured. The rest of the gang flee to the savannah to round up the rest of the animals for back-up, and then, real pandemonium breaks out.
At its heart, Animals United is a film with a strong ecological message on how the actions of human beings have a direct impact on the earth’s ecosystems. As for the story arc, we’ve been there and done that too many times to keep count. Although some might find the admonishment and warnings preachy and overbearing, the beautiful visuals and the film’s delightful sense of humor more than makes up for it.
All in all, a likeable film that’s perfect for this school holiday season.
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