Starring: Rob Schneider, Colleen Haskell, John C. McGinley, Edward Asner, Michael Caton Directed By: Luke Greenfield Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Sony Pictures Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 99 Release Date: October 30, 2001 Running Time: 83 minutes Theatrical Release Date: June 01, 2001
Amazon.com: You expect cheap gags from a Rob Schneider movie, and The Animal delivers in the best possible way. Schneider plays Marvin Mange, a schlub of a police file clerk who drives off a cliff and is horribly mangled--only to wake up not only whole, but feeling better than he ever has in his life. He suddenly develops strange powers that lead to him being praised as a super cop. Unfortunately, his powers are the result of a scientist's bizarre experiment--and before long, some side effects start to take over his life. It's hard to put a finger on Schneider's appeal, but he's got something. He can get away with tasteless jokes about bestiality and bodily functions because... well... he's sort of helplessly sympathetic, and somehow this actually makes him funny. --Bret Fetzer
One of Schinder's best Rob Schinder has always been funny to me, but when I say his first starring role in Deuce Bigalow, I was highly upset.Seeing Deuce Bigalow proved my theory that not all comics can cary their own film just ask David Spagde. Back in the summer of 2001 I saw The Animal and Rob got me back as fan. Rob shows his true comdeic genius as Marvin delivering cheap gags which are always good for a laugh.
Colleen Haskell can bring out the animal in anyone Potential policeman and klutz Marvin (Rob Schneider) is always in direct competition with Sgt. Sisk (John C. McGinley) for popularity. Marvin has an accident that is life threatening; a passing experimental doctor repairs Marvin with a few parts from various available animals. Now Marvin with fighting to control his urges finds a new life style. He must question his character, while others including a beautiful dog walker Rianna (Colleen Haskell) think they know him.
We also must control our urges as the mob tracks down the animal with torch and gun.
"A Badger Can Lift Twenty Times His Body Weight! Can You Do That?" "The Animal" is a lightweight comedy that uses animal-related slapstick to get laughs. Rob Schneider plays Marvin Mange, a none-too-bright lackey who wants to be a policeman. He is constantly taunted in achieving his goal by Ed Asner as Chief Wilson, and the wonderful John C. McGinley (who you will know from a similar portrayal in television's "Scrubs") as Sergeant Sisk. It's a given that there's a pretty girl up for grabs, this time played by the lovely Colleen Haskell, who is a fellow animal lover.
Mange has a terrible (and amusing; watch for the seal and a Bigfoot cameo) car accident that results in his being infused with animal parts, giving him various superhuman powers. (One of the crudest, yet entertaining, examples occurs in Ed Asner's office, and that's all I'm going to say about it.) Mange doesn't understand at first what has happened to him, and credits drinking badger milk for his newfound gifts; the "Badger Milk" infomercial and product are both quite amusing. I had no idea badger milk was so viscous!
Marvin becomes a hero largely thanks to his superhuman sense of smell (don't even ask about this...) and rescues the Mayor's son from drowning in a lake, swimming like a dolphin. There is lots of animal related humor, some of it crude (e.g. orangutan flatus, regurgitating worms to a turkey vulture chick, territorial marking, hairballs, etc.) I was especially amused when he was fitted with a "satellite head" collar to prevent his chewing on himself: while it may not sound especially funny, it was a visually stunning effect. I could have done without Marvin's amorous overtures (with a Capra aegagrus hircus) while "Let's Get It On" oozes across the soundtrack, although he did get his just rewards in a rather amusing scene.
After a string of chupacabraesque attacks on livestock, a hunt is on focused on Marvin, but all is not as it seems: I actually did not foresee the ending of the film, although I thought that Ed Asner summed it up pretty well with his final line, "These pantyhose are killing me."
"The Animal" DVD features several extras including commentaries and a special feature called "Badger Delivery." When you turn the Badger Delivery option on, an icon is periodically displayed. When you make a selection on your remote when the icon is in view, an extra featuring Schneider comes up and explains extra footage that was edited out and then shows the clip. I had never seen that technique done quite that way, and I liked it.
This film is fairly brainless and inoffensive. Unsurprisingly, it is occasionally crude, frequently stupid, but also more entertaining than I really expected it to be. While there are definitely better movies out there, you could definitely do worse. I give "The Animal" three stars because badgers are fun.
The Animal (Uncut Special Edition) rob's funny and it can sometimes not be funny but over all it's a great laugh.
Hyped Though Good For The Most Part Many fell for the hype.So many claimed this was as hilarious as movies could get,others weren't easily amused by Robs cheap gags. Overall "The Animal" had an original plot and decent enough jokes to pull you in.You can atleast watch this once and enjoy it.Watch it twice if you must, it gets old.
Rob Schneider plays Marvin a failure.He was taunted constently for his actions at trying to become a cop.Luck struck he got in a car accident and not only did he survive, but now felt like 250%.He became a new man kinda,after getting the needed gratitude some 'side effects' kick in.He didn't know what to expect, but knows he's acting like an animal literally.This leads to some funny slap stick comedy moments.These moments are the only few great moments in the film.The movie fell to short and seemed like Rob didn't do enough with such a good idea.
Rent it,borrow it from a friend who was suckered in to the hype,but don't buy it.(Unless you're a Rob Schneider enthusiast,then go for it)
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