Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a pushover for animal movies. I cried at "Old Yeller" and bought "My Dog, Skip", when it was first released on DVD. In many ways I love animals more than most people (with the exception of my family) and while I'm not as obsessive as the people at PETA, generally applaud their not so wacky efforts. So when a movie like "Hoot" comes around I'm always sure to check it out to see if is something I want my family to see. I love movies that teach values, and those come around too far and few between. "Hoot" is an excellent family film, which focuses on the efforts of three school age kids, Roy (Logan Lerman), 'Mullet Fingers (Cody Linley) and Beatrice (Brie Larson), who take it upon themselves to save some endangered burrowing owls from land developers. After all, everyone knows that the homes of burrowing owls are far more important than idiot developer's plans to house people. I'll grant you that some of their ideas to stop the construction get a little far-fetched, but after all they are kids and their hearts are planted firmly in the right place.

How I hope my little girl will grow up respecting the rights of animals, and not just spend her time bopping her head along to some MTV music like most of today's kids.

Now here's where I get a little political, which some may say is not the place of a critic. However, when the movie in question raises its own political issues, it's entirely the place if one is to understand the reasons for the critics like or dislike of a film. I have no problem for the most part with land development, but its beginning to go too far. Every time I see a patch of land along the highway being flattened to make room for a strip mall, car lot or (God forbid) a Walmart, the first thing that comes to my mind is, "Thank goodness someone is getting rid of those ugly trees." Yes, it's sarcastic… but warranted. I'm also reminded of the comments made by the fictional Agent Smith in "The Matrix", where he refers to people as a 'virus.' There is sadly, a lot of truth to that sentence.

But the biggest pet peeve I have comes from the news, when I hear of new neighborhoods being built around Dallas. That pet peeve comes in the form of complaints by residents that the coyotes or other forms of wildlife are encroaching on their homes. Give me break people!! They were there first. If anything, YOU are encroaching on their homes. If you are going to live in the 'wilderness', expect to live WITH the wilderness. We get the occasional coyote in our area, and I welcome their existence.

So anyhow, now I'll sit back and wait for some yahoo email me and tell me it is not my place to make such comments. But I hold them no ill will. I'm an equal opportunity kind of guy… even yahoos are allowed an opinion, no matter how misinformed it might be.

Having meandered far from the point of this review…."Hoot" is a wonderful little film, devoid of bad language or excessive violence. This of course chased it out of theatres fairly quickly, so I wasn't able to watch it until New Line was nice enough to send me out a DVD to watch. The quality of which was very nice. The film's story takes place in Florida, and the cinematography offers us a look at the state that is quite exquisite. The video transfer successfully captures the lush detail of the cinematography.

The DVD also has its fair share f extra features, including a feature length commentary by Director Wil Shriner, who co-produced the movie with singer Jimmy Buffett, and Carl Hiaasen. Hiaasen, by the way, was the author of the original novel, "Hoot." There are also a handful of featurettes, some of which focus on the director working on the set as well as Buffett's work in the feature. There's also a look at the animal actors and trainers, a feature on the Arizona Owl Habitat Restoration and the Backyard Habitat, and an interview with Hiaasen. Finally, there is a funny blooper reel and a couple of games for the kids.

Regardless of what your politics might be, there is no denying that "Hoot" is a great family film. My little girl is a little too young yet to see it (and understand it), but you can bet when she's old enough it'll be on the menu.

Directed by: Wil Shriner
Starring: Logan Lerman, Brie Larson, Cody Linley, Luke Wilson, Eric Phillips
Extras: Audio commentary by director Wil Shriner and Carl Hiaasen, Jimmy Buffett: Filmmaker in Paradise, Director on the Set, Meet the Kids in the Cast, Animals in Action, Meet the Creator of Hoot, "National Wildlife Federation” – a look at the Arizona Owl Habitat Restoration and the Backyard Habitat, Blooper reel, Three fun animal games
Specifications: Widescreen (1.85:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound
Studio: New Line Home Video
Release Date: 8/15/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG
Website
Website

We'll give Hoot a B+.