Andy Serkis’ Dumbed-Down Orwell Adaptation

Here’s a fun fact for trivia buffs. The 1954 animated film version of George Orwell’s classic 1945 novella Animal Farm was funded and supervised by the CIA as part of their anti-Communist propaganda campaign. It sounds improbable, until you remember that this is the same outfit that considered using chemicals to destroy Fidel Castro’s beard.

The new animated version of the tale directed by Andy Serkis apparently benefited from no such governmental intervention. This bland, family-friendly adaptation seems less the product of the CIA than the PTA, sacrificing the story’s powerful anti-Stalinist message for a dumbed-down critique of corporatization featuring human villains (including one played by Glenn Close, who seems to be nostalgic for her days as Cruella de Vil).

Now, we all know that there’s nothing children appreciate more than a fart joke. But — and this is a deep philosophical question — does that mean every animated film has to have one? It’s been a long time since I’ve read Orwell’s novella, but I don’t think there was a moment in which Napoleon (Seth Rogen), the Saddleback boar who becomes the villain of the piece after rising to power on the farm, lets loose a big wet one and exclaims: “This is the sound of freedom!”

The basic structure of Orwell’s allegorical tale has been retained by screenwriter Nicholas Stoller (Neighbors, Bros), but mainly as an excuse for a series of cutely rendered CG animated animals to engage in hijinks while shouting such apparently anti-Communist phrases as “Let’s get this animal party started!” There’s a profusion of scenes featuring up-tempo pop and hip-hop songs (the better to sell that soundtrack album). And a new central character has been added in the form of Lucky (Gaten Matarazzo, Stranger Things), an adorable piglet whose plush toy will look great sitting next to the Minion on your child’s shelf.

Geared to younger children for inexplicable reasons — it’s not like animation isn’t being embraced by adults these days, or have you not been to an evening showing of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? — this version sacrifices the story’s powerful political and social themes in favor of by-the-numbers plotting. The main takeaway is that Rogen’s voice, normally so jovial-sounding, can be really creepy under the right circumstances.

There are silly jokes, such as the good-hearted but ill-fated horse Boxer spelling out Einstein’s theorem E = mc² with his hooves, or Napoleon wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Go Pig or Go Home.” Oh, and there’s a scene parodying game shows, because we know the kids can’t get enough of them.

Featuring visually uninspired animation that aims for cutesiness above all else, the film does at least have a terrific voice cast. Besides the aforementioned, there’s also Kieran Culkin, wasted as Napoleon’s snide sidekick; Steve Buscemi, oozing smarminess as a greedy banker; Laverne Cox, exuding warmth as Napoleon’s rival, Snowball; Kathleen Turner, her raspy voice immediately recognizable in her donkey role; Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel), doubling as two piglets; and Jim Parsons, typically amusing in his turn as a sheep. Serkis also voices several roles, both animal and human, which only makes you fondly remember his brilliant motion capture work.

It’s at least worth staying for the end credits, because when was the last time you had the opportunity to groove to the aptly chosen “History Repeating,” the great song by the Propellerheads featuring the immortal voice of Shirley Bassey?