Alpha and Omega

I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong with Alpha and Omega, the animated story of two wolves (the voices of Justin Long and Hayden Panettiere) from opposite ends of their pack who are kidnapped and have to work together to get back home. However, while exiting the theater, it hit me: In animated films about non-humans that are supposed to have humanlike characteristics, the characters should have some semblance of human depth. Yes, I know this is just a harmless kids’ movie, but what makes, say, Disney/Pixar films so great for children and adults is the ability to humanize even the most inhuman characters, from robots to toys. This small, yet oh-so-important detail is why many animated films, like this Lionsgate picture, seem utterly forgettable. In fact, the only big emotion the film elicits comes from the dedication to co-star Dennis Hopper, who died not long before the film’s release.