Barnyard DVD Review

Dec 27, 2006

Old MacDonald had a farm - but the cows said a lot more than "moo." These big-mouthed bovines snowboard, sing, walk on two legs and talk - but do they say anything worth listening to? Kidzworld investigates!

Barnyard - The Cow King

Right off the bat, something seems a little fishy down at the barn. A deep-voiced, somber father cow (Ben) protects his fellow barnyard creatures from the fearsome coyotes and tries to instill a sense of responsibility in his young son (Otis). When he dies protecting the barnyard, his son is racked with guilt that he is unable to live up to his father's expectations. He plans to exile himself out of shame but instead learns to stand up for himself - and others. Add in a side of romance with a cow named Daisy, a showdown with the hyenas, er...coyotes at a secret den and some musical ditties and you have one shameless rip-off of a far better movie - The Lion King.

Barnyard - Party Animals

Despite its excessive borrowing from other flicks, Barnyard does have some cool attributes. The bright, kitschy computer animation is fun and absorbing. And the cast is super impressive. Hollywood heavyweights like Courtney Cox (Daisy), Andie MacDowell (Etta the Hen) and Danny Glover (Miles - the sassy Donkey) help to bring the film alive - along with King of Queens star Kevin James (Otis).

Barnyard - DVD Features

There are a few features on the Barnyard DVD that may interest you. Watch deleted scenes, get acting tips from Kevin James (who voices Otis), watch Barnyard music videos and play through some fun interactive Barnyard games.

Barnyard - The Bottom Line

Younger peeps will definitely like Barnyard, so it would be a great film to go to with younger sibs. There are definitely some udderly confusing things - like how all the male cows (technically bulls) have udders and the fact that the farmer doesn't notice the giant bow on Daisy's head. Since it has a bit of a direct-to-DVD feel, you may not want to rush out and see it in the theater. Or you could just rent the Lion King again.