If you give a curious monkey a bucket of paint, he will splash colors all over the walls and make a jungle-themed mural.
If you give a curious monkey a balloon, he will find hundreds more, so he can soar over the skyline.
These scenarios involving the famous Curious George straight from Margret Rey's beloved children's book are completely expected. The entire plot is predictable.
Ted, voiced by the hilarious Will Ferrell, sets out for Africa to find the "amazing new exhibit" that will breath life into Bloomsberry Museum. Drew Barrymore and Eugene Levy also lend their voices to play supporting characters.
What does Ted need? The bright yellow getup to earn his title as The Man in the Yellow Hat. Check. A map tampered with by the jealous museum owner's son, which will take Ted to the wrong location. Check.
Now Ted is properly equipped to find the exhibit that will give the museum the publicity it desperately needs — a 40-foot tall African idol.
Besides the idol hidden in the jungle, Ted meets George, a cute little monkey with a short attention span and a talent for causing more stress in his life. Eventually the pieces fall neatly and perfectly back into place.
"Curious George" has a plot about as strong as Jello-O, and visually the movie is more reminiscent to Saturday morning cartoons. Compared to such high-tech children's movies such as "Shrek" or "Toy Story," there is no way that "Curious George" can compete.
However despite these significant pitfalls, the movie still manages to stay enjoyable.
Director Matthew O'Callaghan owes a massive thank you to the comedic genius Will Ferrell.
Ferrell quickens the pace of the movie with his one-liners.
"You don't give a monkey a latte," Ferrell said with perfect comedic timing.
Ferrell's character Ted even has a mishap with a tranquilizer gun, which is vaguely familiar to a scene in Ferrell's "Old School."
With funnyman Ferrell leading the way and a collection of great Jack Johnson songs playing in the background, "Curious George" turns into a pleasant children's movie.
If you give a curious monkey Will Ferrell, he will take a bland children's movie and make it sparkle momentarily.
