Barnyard

It's rare that animated films are aimed squarely at the kiddie market these days, and most are peppered with adult-oriented dark tones. This tale of Otis the cow and his transformation from party-loving teen into responsible protector of his farm buddies is no exception. 'Barnyard' makes a decent stab at balancing dark elements, such as an inevitable death and impressively scary bad guy in the form of a snarling coyote, with plenty of daft humour and likeable characters. Otis must grow up and take responsibility, but not before he dances, joyrides and flirts with the new lady-cow on the farm. The plot is familiar and predictable but benefits from a fast pace, electric party scenes and funny moments, such as the cow-tipping retaliation. Colourful animation and an entertaining, if unoriginal, story makes 'Barnyard' a flick that kids will lap up and shouldn't leave adults too bored. Just ignore the male cows' udders. [Rebecca Gow]