A Bug’s Life
Brief Description:
A misfit ant, looking for “warriors” to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.
(from IMDb)
Date: 1998
Genre: family American animated adventure comedy film
Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Cast:
Dave Foley (Flik)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Princess Atta)
Hayden Panettiere (Dot)
Phyllis Diller (The Queen)
Kevin Spacey (Hopper)
Richard Kind (Molt)
David Hyde Pierce (Slim)
Joe Ranft (Heimlich)
Denis Leary (Francis)
Jonathan Harris (Manny)
Madeline Kahn (Gypsy)
Bonnie Hunt (Rosie)
Michael McShane (Tuck and Roll)
Brad Garrett (Dim)
John Ratzenberger (P.T. Flea)
Roddy McDowall (Mr. Soil, the resident thespian)
Edie McClurg (Dr. Flora)
Alex Rocco (Thorny, Atta’s assistant)
David Ossman (Cornelius, the very old ant)
David Lander (Hopper’s enforcer, Thumper)
Rodger Bumpass (Harry Mosquito)
Ashley Tisdale (the Blueberry Scouts leader)
Jan Rabson and Carlos Alazraqui (Axle & Loco)
Bob Bergen (Aphie the aphid)
Jack Angel (Thud the horsefly)
Director: John Lasseter
Production company: Walt Disney Pictures & Pixar Animation Studios
(film starts at 9:17)
Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5
I have always been fascinated with small worlds—dolls, insects, etc. The POV of the ants is really fascinating and I love how tied to nature it is… I don’t know, just reminds you of the beauty of creation somehow. Also, the Bug City is super cool ;)
Characters: 5/5
So, Flick. He’s so humorous and sweet and hardworking and oblivious. And I really, really relate to his struggles with insecurity and wanting to be loved… just as he is. Atta is such a great Queen, and her mother is hilarious. Dot is adorable, as all her friends; and the other ants with personality were all enjoyable sidekicks. The circus group are especially fun—Slim, the long-suffering stickbug; Heimlich the caterpillar and his German accent; beautiful Gypsy, mysterious Manny, tactful Rosie, and Francis who keeps ending up in the very place he doesn’t want. I love them all. ;) Hopper is a wonderful villain, and Molt is just somehow likeable in his helpless stupidity.
Plot: 5/5
I love the plot! Starting off with Flick fighting to help the ants improve their life, and Atta trying to keep everything stable, we then see the grasshoppers arrive and tax the ants with a bigger, more impossible burden. When Flick is banished to get rid of his awkwardness and unrealistic impulsive ideas, he leaves under the delusion that he must bring home warrior bugs. The misunderstanding and how it comes about is a fun bit of storyline, and then once the circus group gets to the ant hill, the comedy doesn’t stop. The small veering off into Hopper’s territory is quite fun, and then the ending is just a series of twists… The suspense in this film isn’t huge—it’s a kid film—but it’s enough to be really enjoyable for me :) and the tiiiiiiiiiny hint of romance is pretty cute.
Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5
Besides the humour, my favourite thing about this film is the themes. Atta’s anxiety and overwhelm and struggles with responsibility speak SO much to me, and so does Flick’s battle to earn respect and love from the other ants. The message of the rock and tree are spot on, and I really like the mini theme about letting go of traditions and implementing better systems when they’re applicable.
Content: 5/5 (low)
Maybe a few euphemisms; a scene shot in a bug bar; a constant joke of Francis being mistaken for a girl since he’s a ladybug.
Violence: 5/5 (low)
Mild violence towards the ant; a brief death scene in the end for the villain.
Overall: 5/5
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