ARCTIC TALE

RYAN: We just saw “Arctic Tale,” the real world’s answer to any animated penguin film.

CAROLINE: This one is about polar bears and walruses in the Arctic where they don’t have any penguins.

RYAN: The animals in this movie are very cute, but I have to tell you, I had several moments where I was like, “I cannot watch this film, I hate it.” Because the lives of these cute baby animals were threatened.

CAROLINE: It’s like “When Animals Attack” except they’re just doing what they do naturally. But sometimes you don’t want to see it.

RYAN: The film is very well shot and the music makes it fun. Aimee Mann has a song in it. It’s like a National Geographic film set to fun music.

CAROLINE: It is in fact co-produced by National Geographic. And it’s narrated by Queen Latifah, whose voice annoyed the crap out of me at first. But then she kind of grew on me. Even though she makes several dumb, attempting to be off-the-cuff comments, which are clearly a nod to the kids in the audience. Like how walruses are “all up in each other’s business.” Annoying.

RYAN: Yeah, some of the narration is written in a trying-to-be-hip way, and it just comes across as cheesy. I want my nature documentaries given to me straight, not hippified.

CAROLINE: And I really didn’t need the scene of walrus farts.

RYAN: Total gross out.

CAROLINE: Honestly, I think I would have been a lot more impressed by this movie if it weren’t for the “Planet Earth” series that was on Discovery a few months ago. That series was so amazing and so well shot and it covered all the continents; it was really gorgeous. So even though “Arctic Tale” is touching and cute, it can’t really visually compare. But it has more of a story, which is fun for the kids.

RYAN: Yes, it focuses on two families within the polar bear and walrus worlds. And ultimately it’s a real Al Gore cautionary tale about saving our planet. If the arctic ice floes continue to melt, the animals will die and then it’ll snowball and we’ll all be dead. Bottom line?

CAROLINE: It’s a cute movie that is definitely geared toward children and helping them understand global warming. It’s an educational film; even I learned a couple things.

RYAN: Me too. The movie introduced us to a few species we’d never heard of. It’s short and entertaining. You don’t have to rush out to see it, but if you have the opportunity to take a kid to it to teach them about Al Gore’s crusade, then by all means.

CAROLINE: And the ending is really adorable. I think I cooed out loud.

RYAN: You did.