USA 2013
Starts February 6, 2014
Directed by: Jimmy Hayward
Writing credits: Scott Mosier & Jimmy Hayward
Cast: Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler, George Takei, Colm Meaney, Keith David, Dan Fogler; German Dubbing: Rick Kavanian, Christian Tramitz, Nora Tschirner, Oliver Kalkofe, Thomas Fritsch
Length: 91 minutes
This film features animated turkeys. Their special plight is that they are being raised for consummation on Thanksgiving Day – an American holiday where turkey is the required main course. But, being turkeys, they are stupid and happy with their lives. Naturally, two turkeys, Jake and Reggie, are perfectly aware of their situation and undertake a rescue. They board a time machine which takes them back to 1621, when Thanksgiving originated. Once there, the plan is to speak with the original pilgrims and Indians and eliminate from the original celebratory menu, so that their ancestors will never suffer again. The basic idea is reasonable, although non-Americans might not understand the connection and adults might not understand much, period, since irrelevant subjects pop up for no perceptible reason, e.g., the president of the U.S. or the president’s daughter or amnesties for turkeys, or carry-in pizza, a turkey love story, etc. Still, three-year-olds will be happy with such nonsense, and they can watch it as a video. The rest of us can wait and give director Hayward a second chance for something better; after all, he did a very successful Horton Hears a Who, so we know that there is hope. ()