Plot: What’s it about?
Uncle Remus has some of the most beloved stories you’ll ever hear, a magical batch of tales that involve a group of unusual animals. The stories are varied and each has a special message woven in, but that doesn’t mean they’re not a lot of fun to boot. The tales deal with animals like Brer Rabbit (voiced by Nick Cannon), a hare with a quick wit and even quicker feet. He likes to play jokes and tricks on the others, but they often do their best to keep up with his antics. The most common targets for Brer Rabbit’s hijinks are Brer Bear (voiced by Gary Anthony Williams) and Brer Fox (voiced by D.L. Hughley), with whom trouble is often found. But others in the stories include Brer Turtle (voiced by Danny Glover), Momma Mouse (voiced by Deborah Speck), Brer Wolf (voiced by Wayne Brady), and Sister Moon (voiced by Wanda Sykes), all with their parts to play in the delightful tales. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonderful adventures of Brer Rabbit.
When I think of The Adventures of Brer Rabbit, I instantly think of Disney’s The Song of the South, still mired in controversy and denied a proper release. This 2006 version is not even close to Disney’s take, it is more of a toned down, bland experience. This is a politically correct to the bone production that tries to update controversial material and remove all the offensive elements. In other words, this is as lifeless and bland as can be, I knew it wouldn’t be good, but I didn’t think it would be this uninspired. I love a lot of animated films, both classic and newer releases, but this one just stinks. The animation looks like the kind you’d see in afternoon cartoons and while the cast is impressive, the material is too dulled down to give them enough to do. If you want some bland, but inoffensive family friendly material, I think you’d love this one, but I am sure you can find better entertainment than The Adventures of Brer Rabbit.
Video: How does it look?
The Adventures of Brer Rabbit is presented in full frame, as intended. This is a solid transfer, but never stands out as better than average. There is some edge enhancement present, not too much, but enough that it warrants a mention. The print looks clean, as expected since this is a brand new release and while sharp, the visuals don’t have the depth you’d expect. This is due in large part to the simplistic animation, which pales in comparison to recent theatrical animated productions. I am also disappointed this wasn’t done with anamorphic widescreen in mind, but that is a more minor point.
Audio: How does it sound?
A Dolby Digital 5.1 option is included here, but this is a very front channel based mix, so don’t expect a world of surround presence. The music has a good sound however, so the musical numbers come to life and give the soundtrack a boost. And since those musical sequences are the driving force behind the movie and they sound good, that is the most crucial element. The dialogue is clear as can be and the sound effects aren’t immersive, but sound adequate. This disc also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes two interactive games for those interested.
