The Nut Job: A Squirrelly Heist Gone Wrong
The Nut Job, a joint venture between Canadian and South Korean animation studios, attempts to deliver a whimsical tale of survival and redemption. However, the film ultimately falls short due to an overly convoluted plot and a protagonist who struggles to win over the audience.
A Winter’s Tale of Scarcity and Schemes
As autumn descends, the furry residents of Oakton City Park find themselves woefully unprepared for the impending winter. A desperate attempt to raid a nut cart goes awry, resulting in the destruction of their meager food supply. Blame falls squarely on Surly, a selfish squirrel whose intentions were far from altruistic. Exiled from the park, Surly stumbles upon a nut store, a veritable treasure trove that could sustain the entire park for years. But this nutty paradise is already occupied by a gang of human criminals plotting to rob the bank next door.
Fun Fact: The film’s end credits feature the global hit “Gangnam Style,” a seemingly random addition that reflects the South Korean involvement in the film’s production.
Promising Start, Disappointing Trajectory
The Nut Job starts with a glimmer of promise, introducing its cast of characters and setting the stage for an adventure reminiscent of DreamWorks’ Over the Hedge. The animation is decent, and there’s even a playful nod to Mission: Impossible. However, as the story progresses, the initial charm fades, replaced by a growing sense that this nutty caper is more of a mess than a masterpiece.
A Tangled Web of Characters and Subplots
The film’s biggest flaw lies in its needlessly complex plot. Instead of focusing on a core group of characters, The Nut Job juggles a multitude of animals and humans, each with their own alliances, betrayals, and criminal schemes. Surly wants to steal nuts, the bandits want to rob a bank, the park animals want to outsmart Surly, Raccoon is plotting something sinister, and the gangsters are double-crossing each other. Keeping track of it all is a challenge, even for adults, and likely to overwhelm younger viewers.
Before directing “The Nut Job,” Peter Lepeniotis worked as an animator at Pixar and Walt Disney Studios.
Unsympathetic Characters and Predictable Outcomes
The characters themselves don’t fare much better. Raccoon’s motivations are perplexing, and he comes across as more of a psychopath than a calculating leader. Surly lives up to his name, behaving like a villain for most of the film and showing little regard for his fellow creatures. While he eventually experiences a change of heart, it’s not enough to make him a truly likable protagonist. Ultimately, the characters in The Nut Job lack the charm and appeal of those in Over the Hedge, a film that is itself considered one of DreamWorks’ weaker efforts.
The plot twists are predictable, and the humor relies heavily on slapstick and gas jokes. The film’s only real strength is its pacing. The characters are constantly on the move, which may be enough to keep young children entertained for the duration of the film.