Many adults may have the opinion that most movies for kids are the same. There are usually some cute talking animals and solid line between the heroes and villains. Naturally there has to be some moral lesson to justify the movie as more than just entertainment. In short, most grow ups find themselves bored to death watching these flicks with the children. Thankfully there are a few exceptions to prove the rule. One is ‘Elephant Tales’ by Mario Andreacchio. All the required elements for a children’s film are here including anthropomorphized animals that speak and the moral lesson. The difference is this film is so well made that adults will want to pull up a chair and watch it with the kids. There is more than a certain ‘cute’ factor at play here but it is kept in check and never overwhelms the production. In a film like this the producers have to make sure that there is the right touch of drama to the plot. It is a delicate balance between being too intense for the younger audiences and too tame to hold on to the grown ups. For example in the classic animated movie ‘Bambi’ we know that Babmi’s mother is killed by the hunter bit that is done off screen so as not to frighten the children. In this film there is a similar type of situation but it is done tastefully. A film like this demonstrates a welcomed concern on the part of the film maker in his desire to provide quality family entertainment. The film was made in Australia for a meager budget of about $5 million American and they certainly made the most with the limited resources afforded to them. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and then on to a few international releases. It is currently available on DVD through MGM/UA and Fox. When you get tired of your kids watching battling robots or strange creatures this is a good movie to watch as a family.

The story and script was provided by Denis Whitburn, John Wild and Mario Andreacchio. Whitburn has an extremely varied resume. He has written for films that run the gamut in genres from thrillers to crime dramas with a musical and documentary thrown in for good measure. Wild has worked down under as a first assistant director and this is his initial screenplay. Andreacchio has credits that are also representative of a diverse interest. He has scripted for drama, documentaries and another talking animal family movie. The range of experience that these men encompass is broad enough to make for a script that can and does appeal to all ages. The story centers on two ‘teenaged’ elephants Zef and Tutu. They are left on their own when poachers capture the rest of their family. This goes to one of the most frightening themes for a child; abandonment. One of the most touching scenes in the original ‘Jurassic Park’ movie is when the adults leave the children and one of the children screams out ‘they left us’. Kids can watch dangerous dinosaurs all day long and take most of it is stride but the thought that their family might be taken away is what really scares them. The screenplay is not all danger and conflict. There are enough playful scenes to provide some laughs along the way. This team of writers expertly balances the lessons they want to get across with good natured family entertainment. This is what makes the film work. The film never becomes so heavy handed as to make for nightmares but avoids being bland and routine.

Mario Andreacchio also lent his hand at direction and production for this film. He has experience in both fields that served him well here. Most of his work in these aspects of film making was on projects he also wrote. This is a man with a vision who has studied experimental physics and psychology. This does demonstrate a person with varied enough interest to provide a novel look at life instead of a more myopic vantage point that a person only trained in the industry might have. It may have been due at least in some part to the limited budget by when the animals speak you don’t see their lips moving in synch. It comes across more as it you can hear their thoughts or a manner of communication shared by the animal world. This technique lets you concentrate on what is said not how it is said. There is a feel of watching a National Geographic nature special while viewing this movie. Andreacchio chose to employ rescued animals and let them pretty much move around on their own. This certainly made for some interesting times with the film crew waiting for a shot that would work but most importantly it displayed a respect for the animals. They were not trained to do one particular trick or movement. This usually means that many animals are required to play a single role. Here Andreacchio followed the animals and let them act as they would normal behave. There were some instances where the people caring for the animals would gently guide them this is a far cry from having the animals perform on queue. The methodology gives a much more natural feel to the movie that most of us are used to seeing. You will start to appreciate the animals shown here as individuals.

Zef and Tutu enjoy their lives in the jungles of Africa. They have the whole veldt to play on and fill their days with harmless mischief like chasing other animals, in a playful way of course. As the older brother it is up to Zef to show Tutu what to do and Tutu looks up to and admires his older brother. After some play time they stop at a little watering hole to splash and take in a drink. Zef complains to Tutu that mom is always getting in the way of their fun. He is at that age when he wants some degree of independence but realizes that he loves his mother and needs her around. One night this idyllic life is gravely interrupted. It comes in the form of the ‘Badness’. This is their way of speaking about the humans that come and take animals away forever. They are actually poaches illegally removing animals from their habitats but this is beyond the understanding of the animals; to them is it only the ‘Badness’. They are frightened by the strange ominous animal that has a mechanical roar and bright lights. It always brings the most dangerous creatures in their experience, man. When the men take their families Zef must take full responsibility for Tutu and venture off to locate a new herd to help protect them. Only the way they meet other animals that were set adrift by the ‘Badness’ including a chimp, a giraffe and a lion cub; they band together to find a new place to call home.

This is a gentle movie that has enough danger and adventure to make it as a true family film. Sony may be best known for their block busters but they show that they think about every age group and try to provide something interesting. This is one to get and enjoy.