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Sometimes the universe has an uncanny sense of irony. I cannot think of a better match than the new DreamWorks Animation film Home for me to review this week. You see, I’m feeling a bit displaced at the moment. I’m in the process of moving all my earthly possessions in a very short timeframe, but I’m moving out of a nightmarish roommate situation of epic proportions to my own place. I’m very excited about having a fresh start and a new outlook on life. I’m looking forward to making new friends and embarking upon new adventures. In short, I’m feeling a bit like Home’s main character Oh.
The Boov do not “take time to stop and smell the roses.” tweet
Oh is a lovable alien voiced by The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons. He is a bit of a misfit in that the other Boov (the name of his alien race) do not seem to like him very much. His enthusiasm and willingness to make new friends is often overshadowed by his clumsiness. He’s prone to make mistakes, and in Boov culture, mistakes are very much frowned upon because they reduce overall productivity. The Boov are a unique purple-colored species that is always on the go. They do not “take time to stop and smell the roses.” In fact, if they were presented with a rose bush in their path, they would likely deem it as not important to their way of life and immediately erase it with their fancy ray guns.
The Boov are a nomadic, highly intelligent, logical species that always weighs the probability of any given situation before making a decision. If it doesn’t have an over 50% probability of being successful, they abandon the notion and go off in pursuit of something else that will likely produce a more favorable outcome. In other words, they’re quick to give up when the odds are stacked against them. The Boov are mostly nomadic because they’re constantly on the run from the evil Gorg (their formidable-looking arch-nemesis species). While running away from the Gorg, the Boov decide to inhabit the Earth. It’s almost frightening the speed in which they take over the Earth and relocate all the humans, who are clearly beneath them in intelligence.
The Boov’s leader, Captain Smek (voiced by Steve Martin), is a bit of a bumbling boob himself. He rules with a bit of an iron fist, but he is a coward through and through. In fact, the entire Boov way of life – running away from things – can be indirectly traced back to him and his decision to run away from the Gorg while at a peace negotiation that otherwise might have proven fruitful.
Oh learns that humans actually learn from their mistakes. tweet
The other major characters in the film are a 13-year-old girl named Gratuity Tucci (“Tip” to her friends, voiced by Rihanna) and her chubby cat aptly named Pig. When the Boov invaded the Earth and relocated all of the humans, Tip and her cat were mistakenly left behind. Now Tip wants nothing more than to be reunited with her mother. In an unfortunate chain of events stemming from Oh’s ineptitude, Oh finds himself as an unexpected Boov fugitive. Their paths cross and each uses the other to get closer to what they want – Tip gains insider knowledge about where the humans were relocated and Oh catches a ride away from the Boov who are looking for him. Along the way, they learn from each other. Oh learns that humans actually learn from their mistakes, and what it means to have reliable friends and family in your corner when you do make a mistake. (The irony of that statement is not lost on me in my present situation.)
Based on the children’s book The True Meaning of Smekday written by Adam Rex, Home features the unmistakable voice talents of Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, Matt Jones, Brian Stepanek and Jennifer Lopez. You can find both Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez on the soundtrack. J-Lo’s new song, “Feel the Light,” has a positive message and nice melody to it overall, and she looked nothing short of stunning when she performed it on American Idol a few weeks ago.
The official website for the film is http://www.meettheboov.com. Be prepared to meet and embrace the Boov. They may not really be invading our planet and kicking us out of our homes just yet, but they’re sure to invade your hearts with their zany antics and undeniable cuteness. You and your children will enjoy the way they change colors depending upon which emotions they’re experiencing – yellow for fear, pink for love or happiness, blue for sad, red for angry, etc. I can only hope they release an Oh doll that also changes colors! If they didn’t, that was definitely a missed marketing opportunity.
The animation is bright and colorful, although the 3D effects leave something to be desired. tweet
The animation is bright and colorful, although the 3D effects leave something to be desired. My favorite thing was the flying car that was modified to run on slushie drinks from the gas station, including the delightful pun Busta Lime. My one major complaint was with the casting choice of Rihanna as Tip. Her voice sounded too mature to be believable as a 13-year-old girl. However, I believe Jim Parsons and Steve Martin were so perfectly suited for their roles that they more than made up for it. Martin is always a vibrant standout in his roles, and Parsons has a certain exuberance about him that naturally lends itself to voiceover work. He embodied the personality of Oh in what otherwise might have been a mediocre film. It feels like Home had more than a few hiccups getting to us on the big screen (the title was changed at least once and the film was also pushed back at least once), but it was worth the wait for diehard DreamWorks fans.
While I wouldn’t say it was their best animated feature film to date, Home is animated brilliantly with a story told with a lot of conviction that’s comparable to the other DreamWorks fare. I cannot wait to see what they come up with next. And like Oh, I cannot wait to fast-forward to my own Moving Day this weekend, which is sure to be the “best day” ever full of “best days ever” from then on out, as I once more surround myself with friends who don’t let off a toxic vibe. We all deserve to find a home – a place where we truly fit in and are accepted for who we are by the others around us and a place in which we can be comfortable in our own skins. Home is wherever you make it.
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