Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Silly animated adventure sequel has peril, potty humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Jungle Bunch: Operation Meltdown
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
THE JUNGLE BUNCH: OPERATION MELTDOWN continues The Jungle Bunch franchise, which originated with a French children's TV show and movie. In this movie, the bunch—Maurice (voiced by Philippe Bozo in the original French and Scott Humphrey in the English dub), the penguin-turned-tiger leader of the titular crew; Gilbert (Laurent Morteau/Wyatt Bowen), the tarsier; Batricia (Céline Montsarrat/Dawn Ford), his bat girlfriend; banana-obsessed gorilla Miguel (Pascal Casanova/Mark Camacho); and Junior (David Vincent), Maurice's fish/adopted son—discover that a mysterious pink substance is covering the jungle's trees. When the substance gets wet, it explodes. With the rainy season set to start in a month, the bunch set off on a quest to find Albert, the brilliant but reclusive armadillo who Gilbert believes created the "substance of doom" and therefore must know the antidote. The bunch find Albert's estranged daughter, Camelia (Holly Gauthier-Frankel), in hopes that she has a clue where to find her father. Along the way, they realize that their real nemesis is tracking them and placing obstacles in their way.
Is It Any Good?
This is a short animal adventure that's zany enough for younger kids to enjoy, even if it's not particularly original. Like Madagascar, Jungle Book, and pretty much any other jungle-set movie, The Jungle Bunch: Operation Meltdown features a diverse, quirky set of misfit animals who care about one another and must work together to save their home. Camelia is a sweet addition to the gang, particularly since—besides Batricia—there aren't any other female animals in the story. The movie's romantic subplots, while unnecessary, at least portray Batricia and Camelia as competent, talented, and intelligent. Gilbert, meanwhile, comes off as overly jealous and possessive.
Younger viewers enamored with talking animal stories will find the characters amusing, including the two frogs who want to join the bunch on their adventures, even though they have difficulty proving their skills. Viewers may even appreciate the villain's somewhat incompetent minions, who keep the bunch busy battling for the sake of their homeland.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the different animals in The Jungle Bunch: Operation Meltdown work together. Why is teamwork important for them?
What, if anything, did you learn about jungle animals and their habitats from the movie?
What's the appeal of movies about talking animals? Which ones are your favorite?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 2, 2024
- On DVD or streaming: February 9, 2024
- Cast: Scott Humphrey , Wyatt Bowen , Mark Camacho , Dawn Ford
- Directors: Laurent Bru , Yannick Moulin , Benoît Somville
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Viva Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Communication , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 89 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: action, rude material and brief language
- Last updated: September 3, 2024
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