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Arctic Tale
(2007)
96 min.
Paramount Vantage.
Despite the National Geographic imprimatur, the family-oriented nature film Arctic Tale isn't a documentary. They say it right there in the title, see? It's a tale. Yes, there's much to be learned about the life cycle of the polar bear and the walrus. But the knowledge is irritatingly selective, compromised by little white arctic lies, and tarted up with runaway anthropomorphism even March of the Penguins wouldn't have dared. Comedy writer/"daughter of Al" Kristin Gore contributes to the screenplay, which makes inroads for flatulence ("pull my flipper"), party pop ("We Are Family" and "Celebration," right on each other's heels), and shameless pleas—by big-eyed moppets, no less—for environmental responsibility. The core of the picture is an evocation of natural wonder threatened by human carelessness, but beware the high kiddie-movie toxicity levels.
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