Put Away the Spray
These Bugs Have Charm

Just in time for the holidays, Disney and Pixar bring a true family movie to the theaters. A Bug's Life is a sweet, wholesome story about ants, grasshoppers, and other assorted critters that will enrapture children and humor adults.

A Bug's Life is a computer animated tale from the same studio that created the 1995 blockbuster Toy Story. Once again, the animators have chosen to focus on the small and overlooked... but instead of toys, they're aiming for bugs. In a variation of the fable of the grasshopper and the ant, this story shows the struggle of the ants as they fight for survival while trying to appease a horde of greedy grasshoppers.

Unwilling to fight for themselves, the ants send one of their own, Flik (Dave Foley, from television's "News Radio"), on a fool's errand. To the ant colony's surprise, Flik returns with a band of "warrior bugs," who -- unbeknownst to him -- are merely out-of-work performers from a flea circus.

The story is reminiscent of The Magnificent Seven, except instead of Mexican banditos, there are grasshoppers. The "Seven," likewise, are unintentional heroes, changed by the plight of the colony and willing to help them only as far as necessary without risking their own lives.

The cast lending their voices to A Bug's Life are recognizable celebrities. In addition to Foley, other ants include Julia Louis-Dreyfus (television's "Seinfeld") as Princess Atta, Phyllis Diller as the Queen, and Roddy McDowell as Mr. Soil. The circus bugs include such notables as David Hyde Pierce (from television's "Frasier") as Slim, the walking stick; Denis Leary as the ladybug, Francis; and Johnathan Harris (Dr. Smith from television's "Lost in Space") as Manny, the preying mantis.

Perhaps the best roll falls to the grasshopper leader, played by Kevin Spacey. Spacey lends a heavy, menacing quality to Hopper that exudes superiority, ego, and evil. Hopper's half-wit brother Molt (Richard Kind) provides a necessary comic relief to keep Hopper from being too scary for children.

Nothing needs to be said about the computer animation, other than "Wow!" The ants' viewpoints of the world are reminiscent of the backyard scene in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, but better. The giant seeds, dandilions, and leaves are incredibly detailed. Perhaps the most stunning piece of animation is the bird that lives on the other side of the dry riverbed.

The humor in A Bug's Life is wholesome enough for children of all ages, but there are a lot of jokes that may go over the kids' heads. Adults will enjoy the film as much as the children. Be sure to stay through all the credits to see the "out-takes" that show the "mistakes" that ended up on the cutting room floor. I guarantee, these will have adults rolling in the aisle.

A Bug's Life is preceeded by the Pixar short film, Geri's Game, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1997.

MY RATING: 8 out of 10.

RATED: G
RUN TIME: 94 min.