Norm of the North review-familiar to adults but kids will like it

On the surface there isn’t much going for Norm of the North. Its theatrical release date is the middle of January, the traditional dumping ground for sub-par family films. The film was originally supposed to go straight to video and the plot goes over grounds that are fodder for animated films. I was prepared to hate it. At the end I was both surprised at the fact that I didn’t hate it and that my wife liked it and the kids loved it.

Norm is a polar bear who lives in the north. From his perspective the polar area is under attack from a planned condo development built by Mr. Greene. One model home is on display amidst all the ice and the animals up there aren’t sure what to think. Conveniently Norm is able to speak to the humans.  Cue up some fart jokes, three lemmings urinating in a fish tank, a pratfall or two and you’ve got a feel for Norm of the North.

Adults will be somewhat bored because it’s familiar and the jokes are ones that we’ve seen before. However, kids 9 or under will chuckle, smile, laugh out loud, point at the screen when Norm gets vacuumed and smile with delight when Mr. Greene gets his comeuppance. Our 6 and 4 year old loved the film. The “polar bear” film as they called it was very funny and they both said that they like the lemmings (think a more physical humor Minion type) the best.

I was surprised to say the least. It’s not that I expected out sons to have more mature movie tastes, but I thought that they wouldn’t like this one. I was wrong.   Even my wife liked it. She was laughing out loud during several occasions and said that the film was enjoyable.

During a couple of the scenes I rolled my eyes as they touched on some classic animation tropes, the evil rich, businesses ruining the environment and global warming. Thankfully Norm of the North is not a film that is too intent on lecturing you about income inequality or the oceans rising. They do exist in the film, but they’re there as a minor plot device.

On the whole, Norm of the North is a decent mid winter film for kids 9 and under. Some adults will be bored, while others will be mildly entertained.  This is a film that parents will want to divide and conquer. The artsy film critic parent will want to skip it and let casual film goers parent go with the kids this time.