A Bug's Life

JOHN LASSETER'S follow-up to the by-now classic Toy Story doesn't come close to reaching the sublime heights scaled by its predecessor, but that would probably be too much to ask. It is doubly cursed in that it follows fast on the trail of the highly successful Antz, and there is no historical precedent to suggest that box-offices can find room for more than one insect-related smash hit in the space a few months.

Essentially the epic tale of a power struggle between the ants and the grasshoppers of the world, it is typically easy on the eye and occasionally inspired in its animation - but there's nothing here to compel the adult viewer to take A Bug's Life to their heart, whereas I've been known to stick Toy Story on the video during the day, and I'm not at all ashamed to admit it.

The evil uber-Grasshopper, voiced with relish by Kevin Spacey, is the villain of the piece and by far the most interesting character - in fact, I spent most of the movie's brief (92min) duration animatedly cheering him on, in much the same way that I used to root for Tom in Tom ... Jerry. He spends his time dictatorially lording it over the ants, demanding all their food in return for leaving them alone, and generally terrorising the poor fuckers, until they decide they've had enough. The rebellion is led by a cute little ant (is that a contradiction?) named Flick, who teams up with a troupe of circus bugs and enlists their aid in his great crusade against the evil tyranny that enslaves his community.

Amiable enough stuff, then, with more to recommend it than to put you off. There are flaws: its storyline can be guessed at ten paces, while Toy Story constantly amazed with its originality, and it doesn't work on any deeper or more sophisticated level. For all its charm, the film is generally content to stick to the tried-and-trusted Disney formula of breathtaking visuals, kiddie-friendly storylines and fable-like morality plays, a concoction which makes for appealing if hardly essential viewing. Should you see it? Yes, if you've got a kid. Give them the day off school. Buy them popcorn etc. Just don't walk into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre by mistake.