The Nut Job (2014)

An incorrigibly self-serving exiled squirrel finds himself helping his former park brethren survive by raiding a nut store, a location that also happens to be a front for a human gang's bank robbery.

Director:

Peter Lepeniotis

Writers:

Peter Lepeniotis, Lorne Cameron

Stars:

Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Will Arnett	...	Surly (voice)
Brendan Fraser	...	Grayson (voice)
Liam Neeson	...	Raccoon (voice)
Katherine Heigl	...	Andie (voice)
Stephen Lang	...	King (voice)
Maya Rudolph	...	Precious (voice)
Jeff Dunham	...	Mole (voice)
Gabriel Iglesias	...	Jimmy (voice)
Sarah Gadon	...	Lana (voice)
James Rankin	...	Fingers (voice)
Scott Yaphe	...	Lucky (voice)
Joe Pingue	...	Johnny (voice)
Annick Obonsawin	...	Jamie (voice) (as Annick Obonswin)
Julie Lemieux	...	Girl Scout (voice)
Rob Tinkler	...	Redline / Buddy (voice)

Storyline

In a city park, Surly the Squirrel has finally gone too far with his latest caper . Now exiled, Surly and his rat buddy Buddy's collective nightmare on the streets ends when they discover a nut store to raid. With no other options, she arranges a deal to help in Surly's heist for the colony, even while Surly fully intends to betray it. However, there is more going on with the nut store being a front for bank robbers while Raccoon has his own agenda to ensure his own power. In the mayhem to come, Surly finds himself challenged in ways he never expected and discovering the real prize to treasure in this adventure.

---

Plot Keywords:

raccoon | squirrel | bank robbery | heist | rat | 

---

Taglines:

Let's Get Nuts!

---

Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Family

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild action and rude humor

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Canada South Korea USA

Language:

English Dutch

Release Date:

17 January 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Locos por las nueces

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,550,000, 19 January 2014, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$64,251,541

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$122,529,966

Company Credits

Production Co:

Endgame Entertainment, Gulfstream Pictures, Open Road Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1 Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is the most expensive animated movie co-produced in South Korea.

---

Quotes

Surly: Buddy, we found it! The lost city of Nutlantis!

---

Crazy Credits

Halfway through the end credits there is a scene with the Raccoon sitting on a buoy near Sydney, Australia, surrounded by sharks.

---

Alternate Versions

Universal logo added to DVD release.

---

Connections

Referenced in I Hate Everything: the Search for the Worst: The Little Panda Fighter (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Gangnam Style
Performed by Psy
Courtesy of Universal Republic Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises
Written by Psy (as Park Jai Sang) and Gun-hyung Yoo (as Yoo Gun Hyung)
Published by Universal Tunes, A Div of Songs of Universal, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Korea

User Reviews

A time well-spent.

A very positive movie, which, while borrowing heavily on Over the Hedge, is still a worthy standalone sight. Perhaps some characters are a bit naive or predictable... or outright annoying, but the whole composition is alright. The is movie is about crime, friendship and consequences... of both. It's beautifully animated, quality-voiced, has sufficient humor... and doesn't have revolting moments. Well, except for PSY, hehe.

Overall it doesn't have the qualities of an outstanding animated picture. It doesn't have unique plot, or music or some spark... But it does it's best to entertain, and that is already a step up from an average animation. Perhaps a critic less obsessed with animals or cuteness would judge it for less, but compared to many other movies, it at least doesn't have that much bad in it to go below the rating of 5. Six, perhaps seven out of ten - is the reward for entertainment without anything groundbreaking.