Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!

I have always loved the Curious George animated series as well as the first movie. But this is my favorite thing to come out of the franchise. Because it's just so heartwarming. This film always puts me in a good mood. I love the songs, the characters, the animation, which is similar to both the animated series as well as the first movie., George is as endearing as ever, overall, this is just an amazing film!

I am not the best person to be reviewing "Curious George 2", as my children have grown and I only watched it because I am a bit of a nut! It turns out I've seen and reviewed nearly all of Jerry Lewis' movies...except for voicework he did on this particular film. So, being a completist, I decided to get this DVD from Netflix...and it was pleasant family entertainment but certainly not something normal adults would want to watch on their own.

One important thing you should know is that this film isn't very much like the original H. A. Rey Curious George storybooks. While the characters look kind of the same, they are rubbery looking and act quite different. Instead of George constantly getting into trouble, this version finds George able to seemingly understand signs, what people say and more. He also chatters CONSTANTLY...something is annoying after a while and I think they way overdid this aspect of the movie.

As for the animation, I said it has a rubbery look and this isn't meant as any sort of complaint. The quality of the animation is a bit better than an average made for TV cartoon from the 2000s.

The story finds the Man in the Yellow Hat to be very compulsive about work...to the point where he ignores his girlfriend and, to a lesser extent, George. When she confronts him, the Man is a bit clueless and thinks she only wants him to pay attention to George. And, to make the monkey happy, he takes George to see a magic show...because an elephant friend of George's is in the act.

George can see that his elephant friend is unhappy and he somehow KNOWS to kidnap the friend and take the elephant to California to be with his family. How he knows this, well...don't question...it's just a kids movie. Somehow the Man in the Yellow Hat ends up tagging along and soon folks think he's kidnapped the elephant and he's now a wanted man. Is there any way for them to extricate themselves from this mess?

This is pleasant, undemanding direct to home video style programming. Nothing brilliant but enjoyable enough for any adults forced to watch it along with their kids.

Frank Welker continues to voice George in this follow up, making the main character as lovable as ever. The few returning humans are different, but that is only to be expected. Frank also supplies the voice work for a duck and a cow. George makes friends with an elephant called Kayla and tries to reunite her with her family. Meanwhile Ted has an opportunity to become the new museum director. However things don't go according to plan. Can Ted decide where his priorities really lie? The story isn't as strong as the original, but it's still a cute journey to take. The soundtrack isn't as catchy, but it's pleasant enough. Also seeing the 2D format is very refreshing. 6/10

Considering my son specifically picks this movie over the first tells me it's a great film. There's a good chance that he's used to the voice of the man in the yellow hat as he's the voice actor from the TV show. He also loves trains so that could be other reason. For me the animation is very good and while I found the character voiced by Jamie Kennedy to be off putting I still dug the movie. The soundtrack is pretty good for a direct to video movie. I don't think I would've seen this in the theater but it was a great deal for $10. Based on the fact that the rest of the Curious George videos released have been TV show episode collections ... I have a hunch that there won't be another movie released for some time to come.

Guest stars Jerry Lewis, Matt Lauer, Tim Curry, Jamie Kennedy and Clint Howard share top billing above series regulars Frank Welker and Jeff Bennett (as other series regulars somehow do not appear) in this 2-D animated feature, drawing from the "Curious George" television series, which is based upon the original book series, by Margret and H.A. Rey.

For its 2-Dimentional effect, it's worth a look, but the production hardly measures up to the series in terms of content, enjoyability and educational value.

Rather, it borrows from what Disney animation has become with its larger-than-life imposing villains and helplessly-flawed heroes with much glitz and an irritating romantic entanglement.

Curious George (Frank Welker) suddenly becomes portly, as seen in side angles, while Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat (Jeff Bennett) remains somewhat constant except for the addition of his name, which, of course, remains absent during the course of the series.

Ivan the Doorman (Ed O'Ross) undergoes changes from the series, also with the addition to his name, along with an irresponsible and intimidating nature.

Mr. Bloomsberry (Fred Tatasciore) appears in the book series, as the operator of Bloomsberry Museum, which becomes Museum of Science for the program. As he prepares to retire his post, the Board of Directors must name a museum director, and Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat would be about the only one to qualify, or at least if he completes the presentation which he anxiously fears.

Maggie (Nickie Bryar) appears in the book series as a schoolteacher who frequents the museum in order to try to snag Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat, who remains somewhat clueless to her advances. Here, there's no mention of her teaching, but much in the way of her determination to win Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat. (The character is not to be confused with the lovely, refined and cultured Aunt Margaret, who rather adds to the quality of the series.)

Piccadilly the Magician (Tim Curry) presents a show, which Curious George pleads with Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat to see, in which he makes things appear and disappear, such as Kayla the Elephant (Jeff McNeal), whom Curious George seeks to befriend. When Piccadilly the Magician solicits Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat to join him on stage during the routine, Curious George also gets into the act and ends up falling through a trap door into the basement with Kayla the Elephant, whom Curious George decides ought to return to California Animal Park to be reunited with her brother and sister.

When Piccadilly the Magician discovers that Kayla the Elephant is missing, he contacts the hapless "Danno" Wolfe the Security Guard (Jamie Kennedy) to search high and low for her, with any help which Tina the Assistant (Catherine Taber) may bestow although she's one of the more likable characters here with her constant wisecracking (Not to be confused with Tina Quint).

Curious George sneaks Kayla the Elephant into the freight car of the California Express Railroad, which pulls from the depot as Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat manages to locate the duo, carrying his presentation research notebook closely. But they discover themselves locked into the compartment, and off they go across the country into the night, crossing through Saint Louis, Missouri, by daybreak.

Hark Hanson the Newscaster (Matt Lauer) announces regularly televised updates regarding the disappearance and feared kidnapping of Kayla the Elephant, as hordes of protesters demand justice on her behalf. (This character isn't a very flattering caricature of Matt Lauer, however.)

Humbleton Stationmaster (Jerry Lewis) encounters Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat at his depot in Colorado once Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat becomes ejected from the train, with Curious George and Kayla the Elephant still aboard, and figuring ways to obtain breakfast. (Yes, it's a rather fast-pacing railroad to dart across Missouri, Kansas and Colorado between daybreak and breakfast-time.)

Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat borrows Stationmaster's motorcycle to attempt to catch up with the California Express, as its only stop along its entire route to San Francisco would be in nearby Grand Junction, Colorado. But much more action lies in store for Kayla the Elephant, Curious George and Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat along the way, after Phone Operator (Melissa Greenspan) and Conductor (Carlos Alazraqui) get into the act of pursuing the three fugitives.

Once the California Express crosses the border into California, characters suddenly become cheerful, bright, sunny and hospitable, beginning with Farmer Dan (Clint Howard) and Daughter Anna (Trupti Potdukhe), who invite Kayla the Elephant, Curious George and Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat to stay over as long as necessary, and to do what they can to direct the three to safety, before they head north of San Francisco to California Animal Park, where Attendant (Phil LaMarr) gladly assists with the Elephant family reunion.

(This must have been produced by Californians who experienced inhospitable behavior in other states because Curious George and Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat are wanted fugitives from justice in at least 24 other states.) But "Danno" Wolfe the Security Guard is hot on their trail and will stop at nothing to nab Curious George and Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat, who maintains a glimmer of hope that the director's position at Bloomsberry Museum hasn't been filled yet by the inept Junior Bloomsberry.

How will Kayla the Elephant, Curious George and Ted the Man with the Yellow Hat be able to rescue themselves from the hot pursuit once they enter that cross-country cargo airplane containing only two parachutes?