Hoot

It always makes me nervous when a film is promoted with: FROM THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU..... or IF YOU LIKED .... YOU'LL LOVE ....
In this case it is fair to let the viewer know that they can expect the same quality adaptation of the award-winning book as HOLES, BECAUSE of WINN DIXIE, and CHRONICLES of NARNIA. Hoot, like these films, is very true to the spirit of the Carl Hiaasen text and like those films is an excellent movie to see even without having read the books (if you choose THAT strange path.)

"EVERYBODY in AMERICA WANTS TO LIVE IN FLORIDA...EVERYBODY BUT ME," says Roy Eberhard, a 14 year-old who's moved around too much, this time leaving Montana thanks to his dad's job transfer. Roy (played well by Logan Lerman) is the new kid-- in humid fictitious Coconut Grove, Florida. But it's still the same routine: by himself at lunch, no friends, and thick-head, thick-necked bullies pushing him around. But if not for the bully mashing his face against the school bus window that one day, he might never have seen the barefoot running boy, who only goes by the handle "Mullet Fingers (Cody Linley) a blond streak, faster than anybody. And if he had never seen the running boy, he might never have met bully-beating Beatrice (played by Brie Larson). And if he had never met Beatrice, he might never have discovered the burrowing owls living in a nearby lot. And if not for the owls, he probably would have missed out quite an adventure. Hoot is the story of an ecological mystery, with a Florida setting and pro-environment, anti-development message made up of endangered miniature owls, heartless developers scheduled to be built over their burrows, and the owls' unlikely allies--three middle school kids determined to beat the system, getting grown-up attention and save some owls.

TV Director Wil Shriner (Frasier) keeps Hiaasen's tougue in cheek story funny and loose, thanks in part to Tim Blake Nelson as the contractor and Luke Wilson is at his dimmest as the inept cop. The films finale is predictable enough, but that is what make tweens' tales so popular in the first place. You KNOW the GOOD GUYS ARE GOING TO WIN...YOU KNOW the oh-so-cute owls will be saved...and that's ok.

"Hoot" produced by Frank Marshall and Jimmy Buffett for Walden Media, Buffett also provides excellent original music for the film, along with a role as the surfing marine biology teacher.
Buffett's love for the region makes him a natural choice for Hoot's material. Overall the film shares a conservation message and reminds kids that they can make a difference. It's sure to be a hoot...I mean hit.

We really enjoyed this great family movie. We're surprised that some critics gave it bad reviews. It was fun and funny. The kids interacted in good ways. The story was interesting throughout. We liked the cast and we found ourselves humming the music on the way home. We felt like we'd been on a vaction to Florida. The scenery was beautiful and the owls were awesome. There was no violence or swearing or special effects. Just a good story about good kids who care about the world around them. It's a good movie for all ages and our whole family (ages 8 to 51) recommends it highly! Go and see it!

What do you get when you cross an endangered species of owls, three young teenagers, and pancakes? You get HOOT!

This movie was based on Carl Hiaasen's Newbery Honor book of the same name, and was his first book for all ages. And like the book, the movie is hilarious, gross, quirky, original, and wacky all at the same time. It followed the book very closely, and even kept the funny part with the alligators in the Porta-Potty.

I liked Jimmy Buffet's music, and enjoyed seeing him in the role of Roy's teacher. If only all teachers were that cool!

And just like the book, the movie HOOT is about school bullies, greedy developers, corrupt politicians, clueless cops and middle-school screwballs of all persuasions. The movie made you feel like you were right there with the characters from the book.

And like the book, I rate this movie five out of five stars because it is so funny and so witty that almost anyone will enjoy it. Some very good friends took me to see it for my birthday the week it came out (thanks Michelle, Shayne, Kylie & Kevin), and it was one of the best I've seen this year.

I liked the movie HOOT so much that I bought the DVD here this week. Now I'll be able to see it and share it with my friends whenever I want.

I hope that I can get somebody to buy me the music CD, becasuse what I heard sounds great. My favorite songs were "Good Guys Win" and Floridays" but my Dad's favorite was "Werewolves of London".

Thanks for reading my first movie and DVD review!

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