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The Animal

Starring: Rob Schneider
Director: Luke Greenfield
Genre: Comedy
Year: 2001
Rating: 2 / 5

Somewhere along the line, Rob Schneider’s twenties and thirties drifted by, and we all realized he was not a kid anymore. Sure, he still likes to play the part of Adam Sandler’s dutiful sidekick, but one would like to think that he would evolve at some point. Imagine if he sits back decades from now and points to Judge Dredd as the highlight of his career. One thing is certain - The Animal will not be that career-defining epic. Truth be told, this Luke Greenfield film is no worse than most of Schneider’s efforts, filled with occasional laughs and a soft, gooey center. (Sometimes, that center gets a little too gooey, but that is a discussion for another day.) It seems we must accept Schneider – and, by extension, The Animal – as is.

Marvin Mange (Rob Schneider) is a wannabe police office stuck as the lowly manager of the evidence locker. Ridiculed by his co-workers and young children alike, Marvin is in need of a change. Left in charge of the station while the rest of the officers participate in a softball game, Marvin must respond to an emergency 911 call. On the way, though, his car swerves off the road, tumbling and tumbling down the side of a cliff. Broken and near death, Marvin is rescued by the rather nutty Dr. Wilder (Michael Caton). It seems that this mad scientist has some unique ideas for saving Marvin’s life, most of which involve regular players from an episode of Wild Kingdom.

Endowed with some rather unusual abilities, Marvin is returned to society. Utilizing traits more commonly possessed by animals, Marvin begins pitching in and solving crimes. Soon, he is even elevated to the level of a full police officer. When grisly attacks begin occurring throughout the neighborhood, however, suspicion is thrown Marvin’s way. Does he have control over his animal urges, or is he merely a wild beast? Only Rianna (Colleen Haskell), a local pet lover, believes in him, and she is determined to prove that Marvin is innocent of all accusations. With the town uniting against him, though, can Marvin ever be accepted again?

Rob Schneider has made a career of playing lovable goofballs, although ones not nearly as funny or as likeable as characters portrayed by his good friend Adam Sandler. Schneider is definitely an acquired taste, and fans of his will have little trouble accepting The Animal. Colleen Haskell plays up the “cute” factor in her film debut, offering little of substance but not detracting from the film in any way either. However, no one should start drawing any conclusions of the fifteen minutes of fame due reality show contestants, at least not yet. The Animal might be about the expression of some of our baser instincts, but it is a shame the film turned out to be such a dog.

Cast:

Certification: Rated PG-13.
Running Time: 84 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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