2006, Columbia Pictures
Animation
Rating: PG
Approx. 90 mins.
THE STORY:
DJ (Mitchel Musso) is obsessed with the cranky, angry movements of his neighbour, Mr. Nebbercracker (Steve Buscemi), whose mission in life seems to be keeping kids and their toys as far from his ramshackle house as possible. When DJ and his lumpy friend, Chowder (Sam Lerner), have an interaction with him over a basketball, Nebbercracker collapses, apparently dead of a heart attack.
DJ and Chowder discover that the Nebbercracker home is a living, seething monster swallowing up things and people that dare step foot near it. They set out to find out what is going on with the house, and then to destroy it.
They discover that the house is haunted by the spirit of Mrs. Constance Nebbercracker (Kathleen Turner), a circus fat-lady who was rescued from a cage and taunting by the smitten Mr. Nebbercracker. Distracted by cruel, teasing kids, she falls to her death on the site of the half-built house. Her angry spirit takes over the house and becomes bent on avenging herself against all kids and trespassers. The boys realize that their cantankerous neighbour had simply been trying to protect them by keeping them away from his home.
DJ, Chowder and Mr. Nebbercracker team up to quell Constance's spirit and make the house safe for the neighbourhood.
DJ and Chowder discover that the Nebbercracker home is a living, seething monster swallowing up things and people that dare step foot near it. They set out to find out what is going on with the house, and then to destroy it.
They discover that the house is haunted by the spirit of Mrs. Constance Nebbercracker (Kathleen Turner), a circus fat-lady who was rescued from a cage and taunting by the smitten Mr. Nebbercracker. Distracted by cruel, teasing kids, she falls to her death on the site of the half-built house. Her angry spirit takes over the house and becomes bent on avenging herself against all kids and trespassers. The boys realize that their cantankerous neighbour had simply been trying to protect them by keeping them away from his home.
DJ, Chowder and Mr. Nebbercracker team up to quell Constance's spirit and make the house safe for the neighbourhood.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- moron
- stupid
- die/ kill
VIOLENCE:
- lots of apparent violence (see below)
- scary and intense
TEACHING POINTS:
- Things are not always as they seem; don't make snap judgments
THE UPSHOT:
The 5 year-old in the room was the one who insisted on seeing this. And the 5 year-old in the room was the one who made the decision to stop watching after the first 25 minutes when it became obvious nightmare fodder.
A mean old man appears to die in the first 10 minutes... on screen... up close. Others follow, swallowed up by a truly scary animated house. Yes, in the last 20 minutes of the movie, many things are revealed to not have been what they seemed, but that was too late for the 5 year-old in the room who had been terrorized into giving up by that point.
It reminded me quite a bit of Paranorman, but lacked the charm. Great voice cast, but just not very special. If your youngster likes the scary, then this is a good choice. If your youngster is nightmare-prone, stay far far away.
A mean old man appears to die in the first 10 minutes... on screen... up close. Others follow, swallowed up by a truly scary animated house. Yes, in the last 20 minutes of the movie, many things are revealed to not have been what they seemed, but that was too late for the 5 year-old in the room who had been terrorized into giving up by that point.
It reminded me quite a bit of Paranorman, but lacked the charm. Great voice cast, but just not very special. If your youngster likes the scary, then this is a good choice. If your youngster is nightmare-prone, stay far far away.
1.5/5
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