“ “Epic” Has A Message Of Love And Family You’ll Not Soon Forget!”
Written by Lorenzo Marchessi
This film took a while to make and to write because Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember, James V. Hart, and Daniel Shere took a wonderful children novel by William Joyce called ‘The Leaf Man and the Brave Good Bugs’, and turned this film into a magnificently looking film adventure with a very big heart.
Director Chris Wedge, (Robots, Ice Age –and he is the voice of Scrat in the Ice Age features and shorts) took his time and fined tuned the story and action to make you understand what is important to each of us. Family and your friends are defiantly something worth cultivating because in the long run, we cannot survive without them.
Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games, The Kids Are Alright) voices Nod, a more than independent young man who doesn’t like to follow the rules. Trying to be mentored by a sincerely honest and often frustrated Collin Farrell (Phone Booth, Total Recall) as Ronin, the leader of the planet and tree warriors trying to do his best to show Nod what good decisions can lead to as he defends the forest from rot.
Enter a disconnected father and daughter, Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables) playing Mary Katherine or M.K. and Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses, The Campaign) playing Bomba her father, who just can’t seem to connect with each other on any level. Her decision to move away from her father changes as she learns a valuable lesson.
Now dad’s mission is to prove that the forest is cultivated, developed and designed by small forest people who maintain the balance of beauty, life and growth in the woods. His daughter more than skeptical, ventures out and on her way of distracting herself becomes involved in a really fun magical adventure.
Queen Tara, queen of the forest and all its magic and beauty, is voiced by Beyonce Knowles (Obsessed, Cadillac Records) – is taunted by the ever evil rot of the forest Mandrake who is voiced by Christoph Waltz (Django, Water for Elephants) ,who only wants everything dead and covered with mold and rot. Cruel and vicious is mandrake while Queen Tara finds an unsuspecting hero in an unsuspecting place.
Without saying much more, the bad guys do some serious damage to life and the forest overall and it’s an unexpected and surprising source that good barely wins over evil, but you have to see how it all happens for yourself!There some amazing and funny voices that will have you laughing out loud like Steven Tyler (Polar Express) as Nim Galuu a caterpillar with an attitude; two hysterical buddy’s, Aziz Ansari (Parks and Recreation, Ice Age) as Mub a snail and Chris O’Dowd (Brides Maids, Monsters Vs. Aliens) as Grub a slug, who reminded me of Laurel and Hardy in a small way.
This movie has lots of action, tons of comedy and more importantly a wonderful message about the importance of family and friends. Doing the right thing for the right reasons can only lead to success, happiness, fulfilling your goals and of course, love. This is a must see for the entire family and definitely something that will ultimately make you feel good when you leave the theatre! Enjoy this one!