Bad kid's movies are bad. Maybe more than other movies because they are sullying new eyes. Just because the eyes are new does not mean they are stupid, don't make a lazy stupid movie because it seems like you can get away with it.
Not that I've seen a lot of bad children's (spellchecker does not like children's, but has no problem with children, I really don't understand how spellcheckers work sometimes) films of late.
I've seen two really good children's films. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs was surprisingly good. Like, really good. Would have no problem watching it again good. Having my expectations lowered by all the Dreamworks and Sony "pop culture nut shot extravaganzas", I was not at all expecting Meatballs. I don't remember any nut nshots from the film. Or any pop culture appropriation/parody. Not to say that there weren't any knowing nods to other films, sly homages and such. There were, and they fit, they were appropriate. They were not Family Guy/ The Movie movies style "Look! We are referencing this thing! You know this thing! You like this thing! You like us!"
Sorry, got off on a bit of a rantgent there. It happens.
So no lazy humour. The humour arises from the story, from the situations, from the characters. And from the animation. This is a nice looking film. Very simple character designs, but very distinctive. I guess you could say that about the design of the whole movie. Simple, but distinctive.
Huh.
I guess I don't have to say any more than that.
But I will: more animated movies need Bruce Campbell and Neil Patrick Harris.
And I'm sure I will mention Meatballs more, just in comparison to Ponyo.
They are very different experiences. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs is full of this manic energy and humour. Ponyo is reserved. Ghibli excels at the quiet wonder. But they also nail the big action beats when needed. Simply put, they make films like no other company out there.
The problem with that is that I don't have the vocabulary to discuss their films. Their films are good. Their films are very good. Their stories come from a very different culture, they seem alien yet inviting. They unfold at a different pace, a welcome change of pace.
