As any self-respecting fan of the Curious George series would, I flocked to see the full-length theatrical movie released in 2006. As much fun as it was to hear Will Ferrell voicing the Man in the Yellow Hat - and believe me, I really enjoyed it - I did miss Jeff Bennett's original voice from the television series (although he does give a cameo as a salesman). Since Frank Welker got to keep his employment in the movie and voice George, it seemed a little unfair that Jeff didn't also have the privilege.
Any Curious George is better than none, even when it's not completely faithful to the original series. I loved seeing the backstory in this movie, learning how the Man found George in the jungle and took him home to America. But one of the most recognizable features in the series is that the Man is a single man. He never complicates George's life with a potential stepmother or a revolving door of "aunties". He's a good caretaker and father, showing that George is always his first and only priority. But - in this movie, the Man is given a love interest, voiced by Drew Barrymore. Hollywood is obsessed with the idea of the entire population getting married and settling down, but in a beloved children's show where the father figure isn't even given a first name, it's inappropriate. By the way, the Man is given a name in this movie: Ted. Children don't even think of their parents as having names, which is why "the Man" was so perfect as he was.
If these complaints don't bother you, go ahead and watch this version. I prefer to stick with the tv show; no offense to Ferrell, Barrymore, Welke, Dick Van Dyke, Eugene Levy, and David Cross.
Any Curious George is better than none, even when it's not completely faithful to the original series. I loved seeing the backstory in this movie, learning how the Man found George in the jungle and took him home to America. But one of the most recognizable features in the series is that the Man is a single man. He never complicates George's life with a potential stepmother or a revolving door of "aunties". He's a good caretaker and father, showing that George is always his first and only priority. But - in this movie, the Man is given a love interest, voiced by Drew Barrymore. Hollywood is obsessed with the idea of the entire population getting married and settling down, but in a beloved children's show where the father figure isn't even given a first name, it's inappropriate. By the way, the Man is given a name in this movie: Ted. Children don't even think of their parents as having names, which is why "the Man" was so perfect as he was.
If these complaints don't bother you, go ahead and watch this version. I prefer to stick with the tv show; no offense to Ferrell, Barrymore, Welke, Dick Van Dyke, Eugene Levy, and David Cross.