Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to come up with their favorite answer to a movie-related prompt tied to a recent release. This week, with the release of The Wild Robot, we’re discussing some of our favorite DreamWorks characters! Let us know your favorites @SiftPop!
If dogs are man’s best friends, it’s only because dragons don’t exist (and because horse aren’t as valuable to society as they used to be). Toothless is the German Shepard of all dragons. He is fiercely loyal, playful, and cute as a button. He will fight another dragon the size of Godzilla with you on his back. He flies faster than planes and shoots incredibly powerful and awesome fireballs. Seriously, despite Toothless’ murderous and destructive capabilities, he is a neck scratch and belly rub away from being your best friend. If there was a Toothless at the pound, I’d pick it up in a heartbeat. (Samuel Nichols)
There are some animated characters that are perfectly cast. Jack Black as Po in Kung Fu Panda is one such case. If you’re looking for a guy to voice a clumsy slacker who has to somehow train to be a kung fu master, the number-one draft pick would be Black. He expertly encapsulates the lovable charm that the character needs to make you root for him to master martial arts in time to save the day. There’s a reason Po is among DreamWorks’ most recognizable characters, and he’s led four films in the franchise at this point. It’s a match made in heaven that’s a real crowd pleaser. (Jake Bourgeois)
I love the sometimes subtle and often overlooked antics of secondary and tertiary characters in comedies. They tend to slide in the best one-liners or are part of some of the greatest visual gags. Pride & Prejudice has Mr. Collins and American Pie has Jim’s dad, but one of the best in the background is DreamWorks’ penguins in Madagascar. This quirky quartet of Skipper (Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Chris Miller), Private (Christopher Nights), and Rico (John DiMaggio) slip into scenes, steal a laugh, then go about their business. I even find the unusual dynamic of the military-like penguin pals being comprised of all male birds, as opposed to the much more common mating pairs found in nature, equally ridiculous. Always plotting, planning and pursuing their escape, this flightless avian ensemble is determined to find their way to Antarctica, rejoining the ranks of their wild brethren. While they may not be central to the main story, the penguins of Madagascar are cute, cunning, comical, and easily some of DreamWorks’ most creative characters. (Patrice Downing)
Over the Hedge is DreamWorks’ underrated darling thanks to a delightful premise and an equally charming cast voicing a ragtag bunch of animals. There are obviously great matches, like Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara voicing a pair of porcupine parents, and there are unexpected successes, like William Shatner and Avril Lavigne having real chemistry as a father-daughter possum duo. But the heart of it all is Bruce Willis as RJ, a scheming loner raccoon looking for the easy way to live the sweet life, until he robs the wrong bear and faces a deadline to replace the bounty. A good con man always doubles down, so this treacherous trash panda capitalizes on discovering a makeshift family of gullible animals. RJ is smooth, has all the right answers and uses the coolest gadgets in convincing them to embrace the burgeoning suburbs and help him swipe supplies. RJ’s journey from lone wolf to family man (or raccoon) with a heart of gold is a common tale, but it is executed to perfection. Willis has never been more suave. The way he plays off characters like Steve Carell’s hyperactive squirrel Hammy hopscotches the line between touching and manipulative in the most delightful way. It also doesn’t hurt having a jaunty Ben Folds soundtrack setting the tone. This is a film and a character that never fail to warm your heart, and it makes you think twice about fending off local vermin. Say hello to unreasonable guilt! Thanks for that, Bruce! (Jason Mack)
Though my first movie (according to my parents) was The Lion King, and I certainly remember the commemorative blitz of Hercules, the first movie theater experience I can actually remember is The Road to El Dorado at my small, hometown theater. Though the film follows a pair of conmen that swindle inhabitants from the famed city of gold as they are mistaken for gods (Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline), I couldn’t tell you for sure who is Miguel and who is Tulio. Rosie Perez as El Dorado native Chel stands out more. She fits into the already established dynamic of the duo perfectly working as the insider to help them pull off the con — often with heaping tablespoons of exasperation. Though the film isn’t as acclaimed as the early studio projects that sandwich its release, there’s a lot of fun to be had with the experience, and Chel is a big part of that. (Jake Bourgeois)
Puss in Boots is the most dangerous adversary-turned-sidekick that Shrek ever had. The most skilled sword in all the fantastical realm of DreamWorks’ beloved franchise. Not only is his sword dangerous and quick, but his voice is also seductive (in only an Antonio Banderas kind of way). His boots and hat look so cute on his feline frame. If you see a “P” carved in a tree… you better be alert and better be afraid. You will have to go toe to toe with Puss… in Boots! A great sequel needs to add great characters, and Puss in Boots in Shrek 2 is one of the best supporting character additions in the history of sequels. His dynamic with Shrek is proud and moving. His dynamic with Donkey is hilarious and delivers some of the funniest lines in the film. His addition to the film is full of great moments from his cute face starring, his possession of catnip, but most importantly his duet of “Livin’ la Vida Loca” with Donkey is precious gold. Banderas has a top-notch vocal performance, making him one of the most beloved animated characters around. Puss is so great, he even got two spinoffs, including the incredible sequel, The Last Wish. (Shane Conto