New on DVD: Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil 0
“Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil” was released to DVD & Blu-ray this week. It was released theatrically back in April, and was a complete failure, disappearing from the Top 10 in less than two weeks.
The film is a sequel to the 2005 surprise smash hit “Hoodwinked”. That film, produced on a relatively small budget, grossed over $50 million in America. “Too!” follows the same formula, with the same characters (and production budget), and struggled to break the $10 million mark.
The presence of an ogre reminded me how much I liked the original (and eerily similar) "Shrek" , and didn't like this movie.
I didn’t see the first film. In 2005, I was still single and kept busy with my womanizing. I didn’t have time for rubbish children’s fare. This time around, I wasn’t so lucky.
A bunch of fairy tale characters have formed the “HEA” (Happily Ever After). They go on missions to help make sure everyone has a happy ending. Ok, got it.
As the film opens, they are on a mission to save Hansel and Gretel from being eaten by a witch. Somehow this mutates into a plot to steal a delicious truffle recipe. This recipe has the ability to make someone all-powerful. Right.
The dialogue moves at a frenetic pace. I have no idea how a child would be able to watch this and figure out what is going on. There’s a boatload of adult-centric references, which some are sure to like. I thought it was clever for the first ten minutes or so, but the device quickly grew annoying and tiresome.
In an animation field with the bar set incredibly high, an entry like “Hoodwinked Too!” feels amateur. The images are not on par with the competition, and right off the bat, this feels like a second-tier option.
“Hoodwinked Too!” is a disappointment. I think there is a place for alternative, non-Pixar animation. With a strong script and the right direction, these types of films could soar. Unfortunately, “Too!” is wildly misguided and off-target.
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World tickets on sale now!
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