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Picture
A bullied kid is magically shrunk down to the size of an ant, where ​he
​ is forced to learn the ways of the ant colony he frequently torments.
FAMILY/FANTASY

The Ant Bully (2006)

Written and Directed by John A. Davis

Starring Zach Tyler Eisen, Nicolas Cage, Julia Roberts, Regina King, Paul Giamatti, Bruce Campbell, Meryl Streep, Ricardo Montalban

Based on the book by John Nickle

Connor Eyzaguirre
December 20, 2022
8/10
The Ant Bully is a delightful animated family comedy that came and went pretty quickly back in 2006. Despite a fabulous voice cast of Oscar winners, it bombed hard enough to bankrupt DNA Productions and fell into animated film obscurity. I remembered enjoying it back in the day, and upon a second watch, my thoughts haven't changed. It's no A Bug's Life, but it's a charming little movie with a good lesson about standing up for yourself and sticking together. Plus, we get Paul Giamatti as a sadistic exterminator, and that's just great.

Lucas Nickle (Eisen) is a small, lonely kid with no friends. He's picked on daily by the local bully who constantly reminds him how small Lucas is. So, Lucas takes his anger out on the anthill in his yard, unaware that the ants are intelligent beings who have dubbed him "The Destroyer." The ants' wizard Zoc (Cage) makes a potion that shrinks Lucas down to their size. Now, Lucas has to learn the ways of the colony and prove he can change in order to go home. He learns the value of teamwork, makes friends with the ants, unites them with their wasp enemies, and helps them take down the exterminator he hired before he got shrunk. The film never explains how Lucas is suddenly able to climb like an ant or lift ten times his body weight, but it's a kids movie so I'll let it go.

The Ant Bully is a decent animated flick for the kids if you parents out there are tired of watching Disney movies over and over again. There is the occasional good one outside the House of Mouse. The voice talent is exceptional, the story is predictable but enjoyable, and the animation holds up. I don't get the hate.

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