(Don't) Take a Trip To 'FernGully'/Grade: C-

I was excited to check out this 1992 Fox animated feature, but boy, was it a disappointment!

Recently, I got a chance to check out FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992). It was, to be blunt, a complete letdown. I surprisingly didn't mind the obvious environmental allegory. The film is breathtakingly animated (I would've loved to see this on a big theater screen), with incredibly rich detail in the titular rainforest where our heroes live. Tim Curry is an over-the-top delight as Hexes, the villain of the story who wants to destroy FernGully, though I felt he had insufficient screen time to feel like an active threat. He also had the only memorable and pointed song number, with 'Toxic Love'. The main character, Crysta, is a likable heroine who I enjoyed following.

But that's where the positives stop. The majority of the songs range from pointless, to incredibly annoying. Heck, one of the song numbers is from a character who appears out of nowhere, and who's never seen again! also, aside from Crysta and Hexxus, all the characters are forgettable. None of them have identities that stand out. Even Batty (Robin Williams), a bat who's been experimented on by humans, exists purely to offer some comic relief occasionally. Also, without spoilers, I found the final showdown incredibly anticlimactic. Even the climax of Avatar (which I strongly dislike, and which definitely ripped this picture off) had a more fulfilling finale. It may not be the worst animated movie I've ever seen, but if you're looking for something to watch with the family, revisit Wall.E (2008) instead.