“G-Force” — A FilmCritic.com Review

Reviewed by: Bill Gibron for FilmCritic.com

Director: Hoyt Yeatman Jr.
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriters: Cormac Wibberley, Marianna Wibberley, Ted Elliott
Actors: Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Penélope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan, Will Arnett, Bill Nighy, Zach Galifianakis
MPAA Rating: PG

FilmCritic.com Rating = 2.0 out of 5.0 Stars

“An awful lot of effort went into G-Force. It is technically proficient and all but exploding with kid-oriented eye candy. If value was determined in dazzle, this movie would be a billionaire. Sadly, these action-hero animals appear to need a bailout, pronto.”

Cute and cuddly, warm and fuzzy. When the family film can’t exploit children in some unimaginable way, animals — preferably wise-cracking, “in yo face” beasties — are the next best thing. From Oscar-worthy efforts like Babe to bland commercial drivel like Dr. Dolittle or Beverly Hills Chihuahua, studios regularly substitute man for his best friend, hoping to stimulate box office results. Be they animated or live action, critters definitely keep the Tinseltown money machine printing. Disney is hoping that’s true with their latest attempt at anthropomorphized profit. Entitled G-Force, it’s a combination live action and CG showcase that vies for edge-of-your-seat excitement. Instead, it only ends up trying one’s patience.

An awful lot of effort went into G-Force. It is technically proficient and all but exploding with kid-oriented eye candy. If value was determined in dazzle, this movie would be a billionaire. Sadly, these action-hero animals appear to need a bailout, pronto. There has probably not been another film this so-so summer that went so far visually for so little emotionally. Like a certain transforming robot title that came out a few weeks ago (which this story actually steals a bit from — no, really!), longtime effects wizard turned director Hoyt Yeatman Jr. can sure sparkle up the screen. There are sequences that truly shine with the seamless incorporation of animation and live performance. But like a candy-coated Michael Bay, Yeatman also confuses bombast with exhilaration, leading to 90 minutes of random chaos with some unnecessary 3D added in to throw off the more discerning viewer.

Read the full review by Bill Gibron at Film Critic.com.

You can find excellent and thought-provoking film and DVD reviews from such critics as Bill Gibron, Chris Barsanti, Sean O’Connell, Chris Cabin and more from our good friends at FilmCritic.com, one of the first places to check out for the best reviews on upcoming films and new-to-DVD.
Copyright © 2009 Filmcritic.com