Release: 2009
Director(s): Mike DeVito, Jaime Norton
Writer(s): Peter Hunziker, Cynthia Riddle
Cast: Lynne Lambert, Kelli Rabke, Fred Newman, Tom Pakulski
Ratings:
Rotten Tomatoes: n/a
IMDb: n/a (Will be adding tomorrow to the IMDb Database)
Netflix: 2.8 Stars
Review:
The Hidden Treasure of Wompkee (Whomp-Key) Village is the sequel to the 2003 film "A Very Wompkee Christmas". Seeing as I knew nothing of the first one it gives me a movie to watch later in the year during the month of Christmas. As such I went into this movie with no thoughts other than what is a Wompkee. That loan question is still lingering.
But not in the way it originally was. They are a cross between a Butterfly, an Elf, Smurfs and a Koala? Just because they are cute and fuzzy as one. The ears look like butterflies they have eye's and care of the forest like elves and love Wompkee Berries. Which in my mind makes them just like Smurfs who love Smurf berries. That and I just want to talk about the Smurfs as they are the closest correlation to this movie.
As just like the Smurfs you have the archetypes of brainy, cute, strong, elderly plus wise and silly. All of which work out wonderfully in children s books and movies. Even movies like The Land Before Time used this formula minus the elderly influence. Which is completely understandable and has a proven track record. Now where my problem lied in is the story and how they jumped in as if no one had missed the first movie.
Which as I had not seen it made for a very confusing moment as they introduced a puddle of water with a face. Then nothing for ten minutes or so then we get a slight montage of what happened. Which they did through out in vignettes which eventually hashed out the story of who and what the puddle is. Outside of that the movie played out like a very long Smurfs cartoon.
Where the message is do your work first then you can go play and search for treasure. Which is something I expect more from a Saturday morning cartoon than a feature length film. Yet I can not hold that against this at all as it is made for children 2 to 7 years old and its soft story, bright colors, cute characters and lovable approach. Will engulf most children especially young girls as they will be drawn to the cuteness and cuddliness of the Wompkees.
For what this is worth? It is a wonderful family movie that is light on story and on time. As it clocks in at a little under an hour and is a great movie to pop in for the kiddos before bedtime. As the music, story and themes will bring happy thoughts and vivid and fun dreams for your children. It also will teach them life lessons that are needed to survive in a gentle and loving way.
It is because of this that I really enjoyed the movie. As it told a story and told it with elegance and love. Yet never insulted the viewers by dumbing it down. But by choosing to just keep it simple where both parents and children can find some enjoyment in Wompkee Wood.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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