Epic (8/20/2013)

Rated PG for mild action, some scary images and brief rude language.

Starring the voices of Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Beyonce Knowles, Colin Farrell, Jason Sudeikis, Aziz Ansari, Christoph Waltz and Johnny Knoxville

Directed by Chris Wedge (Ice Age and Robots)

Just another liberal message packaged in a kid’s animated film.

EPIC tells the story of an ongoing battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and the forces of evil. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she must band together with a rag-tag team of fun and whimsical characters in order to save their world… and ours.

This is Chris Wedge‘s third animated film (Ice Age and Robots) and once again there is a strong save the planet/the humans are the bad guys message (I would suggest that the message gets stronger with each film).

I can appreciate the irony of a film called Epic that has a cast of bugs and “Leaf Men,” but I would have appreciated a good script even more. Instead there is a mix of Mother Nature fantasy and Dad-a-dope jokes. Neither of which I enjoy or find entertaining.

Not to mention that a lot of it feels like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and FernGully: The Last Rain Forest – neither of which younger viewers have seen.

Other things, though, are a bit muddled. The scale sometimes seems a bit off, and there’s no real reason or even backstory to the central conflict — there are bad guys, who want the forest to die, and good guys, who want to keep it green. Got it.

None of the characters are particularly engaging. The voices follow certain adventure-genre clichés — the “German” villain (Christoph Waltz), the Irish father-figure (Colin Farrell), and the bland, forgettable young hero and heroine (Josh Hutcherson and Amanda Seyfried). Not to mention Beyoncé playing the forest queen — and singing over the end credits.

I didn’t really care enough to care about this movie and I went home and cut down a tree. I say “Skip it.”

No I didn’t really cut down a tree…but I did cut my grass.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This film is rated PG and has nothing offensive in it, and as far as the beliefs expressed, the “green message” of the film – most younger viewers will totally miss.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. What happens between MK and her dad because of her epic adventure?


2. How did you feel when they reconciled?


3. When was the last time you reconciled with someone? What lead to the reconciliation?


4. Read Ephesians 4:32
   
   Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
   
   
5. How is Christ forgiving you?


6. How has he forgiven me, you all of us?


7. How can you forgive someone who has hurt you that same way?