Hoot 2006

Peter Debruge, Miami Herald: Hiaasen's sense of humor loses something in the translation. What's side-splitting on the page becomes silly on the screen. Read more

Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: But while Hoot's pro-environment message to kids is certainly worthy, the unquestioning, pro-vigilante angle doesn't sit entirely well. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: One more reminder that kids are better off with a book than a middling movie adaptation of a book. Read more

Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader: Leaden direction sinks this adaptation of Carl Hiaasen's award-winning novel for young adults. Read more

Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle: Fun to watch although falling short of a real hoot, this latest in a barrage of family movies largely succeeds at keeping the kiddies entertained and their parents from nodding off. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: It would be a nice little family film if not for the fact that the young heroes commit felonies in the name of saving the environment. Read more

Cathy Hulbert, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: This fun family film, based on Carl Hiaasen's Newbery award-winning book of the same name, has a strong ecological message served with a big helping of giggle-inducing sight gags. Read more

Tasha Robinson, AV Club: Shriner fails to give it any real life, and the twangy, laid-back, Jimmy Buffett-heavy score sums up the film's lack of energy. Read more

Bill Muller, Arizona Republic: The movie treats us as if we're all 3 years old, and it belies its supposedly positive message by filling the story with dysfunctional families and a teenager left alone to forage in the wilderness. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Hoot tells kids they can make a difference in this world, and that's worth a hundred Ice Age 2's. Read more

Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle: The movie is unessential at best. But the Everglades -- and the owls that live nearby -- are irresistible. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Shriner's direction has an Afterschool Special blandness, but those mechanical owls are quite realistic. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: While Hoot has heart -- subtlety turns out to be endangered. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Hoot is safe enough to take your kids to, but you might want to have a talk with them afterward about continuing to go to school and shying away from major felonies. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Don't let the Carl Hiaasen pedigree fool you: Hoot is an Afterschool Special too crummy to give a hoot about. Read more

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: Its makers will tell you that Hoot is an educational film, but aside from showing that some owls live underground rather than in trees, little knowledge is actually imparted. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: The goal is apparently a double exercise in heartfelt lessons and deep hilarity, but it's hard to tell because the pace feels so lethargic. Read more

Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News: This is a story about kids and nature, with strong messages about standing up to bullies, facing conflicts and why it is important to stand up for both the people and creatures that need protection. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: The movie's low-key anti-establishment posture is vastly preferable to the knee-jerk fulminations of a Michael Moore. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: The movie has a sense of purpose to match its sense of humor. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: I question the message of Hoot, a family movie that tacitly encourages kids to vandalize property and behave like little ecoterrorists. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: This little caper yarn's as breezy as a Buffett song (he peppers the soundtrack) and as simple. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Hoot has its heart in the right place, but I have been unable to locate its brain. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Susan Walker, Toronto Star: Endangered as they are, burrowing owls will be disappointed to learn that their cause has been hitched to a movie with little entertainment value, let alone credible strategies to save their environment. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: There is nothing objectionable in this family film, but it doesn't seem to appreciate the intelligence and savvy of its youthful audience. Kids can spot a silly stereotypical character as fast as the rest of us. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: Long stretches between comic set pieces are almost soporifically mild. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Hoot may be warm and fuzzy with its adorable owls, triumphant kids and inviting Florida groves. But its forced, innocuous humor is unlikely to amuse anyone but the very young -- and the extremely forgiving. Read more