A Bug's Life Reviews

This follow-up to the ground-breaking Toy Story from director John Lasseter may have less-beguiling characters than Woody and Buzz Lightyear, but the computer-animated effects are if anything even more wondrous. Here the action centres on an ant colony where clumsy worker Flik (voiced by Dave Foley) accidentally destroys the grain that's regularly offered to appease a band of hostile grasshoppers led by the bullying Hopper (a superb characterisation by Kevin Spacey). As the colony struggles to find twice as much grain, Flik employs a flea circus of colourful eccentrics to do battle with the grasshoppers. The result is a witty variation on The Seven Samurai, filled with verdant art — and heart. It may lack the social message of the similarly themed Antz, which appeared the same year, but this is just as entertaining.

"...A BUG'S LIFE makes jaunty, imaginative use of both extraordinary technology and bold storytelling possibilities within the insect world..."

An underworld film in the truest sense, Disney/Pixar's animated story takes elements from the gangster and adventure... read more on Time Out

This follow-up to the ground-breaking Toy Story from director John Lasseter may have less-beguiling characters than Woody and Buzz Lightyear, but the computer-animated effects are if anything even more wondrous. Here the action centres on an ant colony where clumsy worker Flik (voiced by Dave Foley) accidentally destroys the grain that's regularly offered to appease a band of hostile grasshoppers led by the bullying Hopper (a superb characterisation by Kevin Spacey). As the colony struggles to find twice as much grain, Flik employs a flea circus of colourful eccentrics to do battle with the grasshoppers. The result is a witty variation on The Seven Samurai, filled with verdant art — and heart. It may lack the social message of the similarly themed Antz, which appeared the same year, but this is just as entertaining.

"...A BUG'S LIFE makes jaunty, imaginative use of both extraordinary technology and bold storytelling possibilities within the insect world..."

An underworld film in the truest sense, Disney/Pixar's animated story takes elements from the gangster and adventure... read more on Time Out

"...Tightly constructed....The script has fun playing with our common knowledge of insects..."

"...Rowdier than a New Year's Eve party..."-- 4 out of 4 stars

"...A hellzapoppin creature-feature jamboree..." -- Rating: B