The Willoughbys

Relatively entertaining, but bizarre kids movie. It straddles this weird no-man's-land, it isn't quiet adult oriented enough to wow the parents, but makes some unwholesome plot choices so it's not quite a toddler movie. I'm sure I'll sound too conservative here, but what kind of message should kids get from a movie depicting neglected kids getting emancipated from their parents to run away to a candy factory?

Nothing really wrong with this one, save for, it's more aimed at kids than adults on the "will adults be entertained by it" spectrum. A simple little story, with good voice acting, animation and heart.

It's a little too smarmy and so frantic that it becomes almost immediately exhausting, but it's also reasonably funny and occasionally surprising. Director Kris Pearn brings a lot of visual wit and creativity here, rendering this as almost perpetually amusing. The last twenty minutes, unfortunately, fall back on the very tropes that had been so successfully subverted throughout the film, but this is a lot more enjoyable than it has any right to be.

Mostly harmless kids' fare, though I feel that making social services the villain is taking the orphan trope a good deal too far. A pretty forgettable family flick.

An ok movie. Writing could've been better; movie gets tedious and boring to follow especially the music aspect of it (gets repetitive). Otherwise, it is nice to see a different kind of animation style.

Disgusting kids, great parents! That's from a parent's point of view. I liked this film, but I also feel they could have done a lot more with it. But as it stands, a good one for the entire family.

Great animation, fun, and beneath the cynicism, a heartfelt watch for the whole family.

Starts well, with a nicely droll and demented sensibility ala ADDAMS FAMILY, but bogs down in an overly familiar (and hectic) "quest" narrative, leaving its more ghoulishly subversive attitude behind. It's possibly churlish to complain as it does ultimately seem aimed at a younger audience, but it's still a shame to see the premise squandered. Somewhat rescued by the darker elements that survive, especially Gervais' sardonic narration and Short and Krakowski having a whale of a time.

börg

While some of the animation is beautiful, I have no idea who this story is for. Given the persistent talk of death and some of the rekated visuals in the movie, I can't believe it boasts only a PG. Props for originality, but I would not show it to my own children, and expect they would have lost interest by the time the film became age-aporopriate.

I'm surprised by the lukewarm response this movie's gotten: I was thoroughly entertained. It plays to the eccentrics and quirky types, but if you're in that target demographic you'll enjoy this original, self-aware take on Lemony Snicket/Roald Dahl influences. The colorful, energetic, detailed, and stylized animation alone makes this movie worthwhile viewing for anyone who's a fan of the medium.

-The Willoughbys started dreadfully, so terrible I was afraid I wasn't able to sit this one out. But after the half hour mark (the point when they ditch their parents) the movie starts to finds its hearth and becomes... well not good or even decent,...but at least still slightly watchable and even funny in parts.

Only got its style going for it. Rest is pretty below average

some laughs, but ultimately you should skip it.