Hoot (2006)

26% of critics liked it
(95 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(74,442 ratings)

Three kids have an unexpected adventure as they try to protect some rare birds in this comedy drama based on a book for young adults by Carl Hiaasen. Roy Eberhardt (Logan Lerman) is a 14-year-old boy whose family has moved so often he's literally lost count of the number of times he's changed… More Three kids have an unexpected adventure as they try to protect some rare birds in this comedy drama based on a book for young adults by Carl Hiaasen. Roy Eberhardt (Logan Lerman) is a 14-year-old boy whose family has moved so often he's literally lost count of the number of times he's changed schools in the last ten years. Roy ought to be used to being the new kid at school by now, but making the switch from the big sky of Montana to the Gulf Coast of Florida proves to be a major challenge. While Roy quickly becomes the target of school bully Dana Matherson (Eric Phillips), he's befriended by Beatrice Leep (Brie Larson), a spunky girl with enough nerve to stand up to Dana, and her brother Mullet Fingers (Cody Linley). Beatrice and Mullet share their big secret with Roy -- they have a hidden hideaway where they look after a flock of wild owls. The owls in question are on the endangered species list, but that's of little concern to Chuck Muckle (Clark Gregg), a top executive from the Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House chain, who is planning to build a new restaurant in the hollow where the owls nest. Roy, Beatrice, and Mullet are determined to find a way to save the owls, but Muckle and his right-hand man, Curly Brannitt (Tim Blake Nelson), are less interested in saving the birds than in turning a profit. The kids have a plan, however, and they uncover some evidence of interest to David Delinko (Luke Wilson), a well-meaning but slow-witted policeman investigating some dirty doings tied in to the pancake house. Hoot features a handful of new recordings from popular Florida musician Jimmy Buffett, who also helped produce the film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Wil Shriner
Written By: Wil Shriner, Carl Hiaasen, Rob Lieber
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: May 5, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Aug 15, 2006
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Dana Stevens, New York Times
This sweet-natured but plodding adaptation of a young-adult novel by Carl Hiaasen could have used a little less broad satire of corporate greed and a few more, well, owls. The critters peep from their burrows for only a few brief moments.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
It would be a nice little family film if not for the fact that the young heroes commit felonies in the name of saving the environment.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
Endangered as they are, burrowing owls will be disappointed to learn that their cause has been hitched to a movie with little entertainment value, let alone credible strategies to save their environment.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
There is nothing objectionable in this family film, but it doesn't seem to appreciate the intelligence and savvy of its youthful audience. Kids can spot a silly stereotypical character as fast as the rest of us.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
Fun to watch although falling short of a real hoot, this latest in a barrage of family movies largely succeeds at keeping the kiddies entertained and their parents from nodding off.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
One wishes that a film about the fight against a bland restaurant chain were more piquant. But movies for tweens, like burrowing owls, are an endangered species that need preservation.
Jette Kernion, Cinematical
A safe, slight film that doesn't possess the chaotic hilarity I associate with Carl Hiaasen's best writing.
Todd Hertz, Christianity Today
The only highlight is a sequence of outstanding cinematography in Florida's Everglades. Oh, and there's one funny joke. But that doesn't make this film a hoot at all.
Ethan Alter, Film Journal International
It's hard to hate a movie that essentially just wants to teach kids to respect the environment especially when that lesson is imparted in such an upbeat manner. But Hoot is also too bland and clumsy to wholeheartedly embrace.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat
Hoot in retrospect won't really offer your children anything they haven't already seen, and it's just another preachy environmental film that talks down to them. Have you seen Akeelah and the Bee?
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
The most important thing to know...is that it's co-produced by Jimmy Buffett, who also appears in a small role and provides new music for the soundtrack.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
The least irritating adult in sight is also the least relevant: Officer Delinko (amiable Luke Wilson) tries to help the kids.
Tim Cogshell, Boxoffice Magazine
Younger kids will find the pranks and schemes funny, while the enviro-activist theme is an important message to which they may just latch on. The eco-responsibility part, not the venomous snake part, one hopes.
Toddy Burton, Austin Chronicle
Parents may role their eyes more than once at this flightless film.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An environmentally conscious Newbery Honor novel has been turned into a disappointing and uninspired movie.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
The three leads are likable, but they can't overcome a slapdash story or some wild overacting by the likes of Luke Wilson, Tim Blake Nelson, Neil Flynn and Clark Gregg.
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
It's hard to give a hoot about Roy or any of his furtive feathered friends when they're surrounded by a nest of dreary cliches.
Jackie K. Cooper, jackiekcooper.com
Gets points for sweetness and a nice message, but that's all, folks
Brian Orndorf, FilmJerk.com
Shriner just doesn't have the skills yet to turn lightweight scuffle into heavyweight preaching without bringing down the whole production.
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
The owls are awfully cute. The eco message is awfully sincere. Beyond that, you probably won't give much of a "Hoot" about this mediocre family movie.

Read all 23 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Alexander D

A rarely decent family film based on an award-winning kids' novel. [FULL REVIEW: LATER.]
Richard C

it was okay. it wasnt bad but it was great. nothing really amazing or great about it. C
KJ P

A great film for kids! Mildly recommendable for adults, but jut fine for teens that have nothing better to do! It has heart!
Red L

A cheesy kid's movie. Save the owls!
Leigh R

Cute little film.
Jeff B

Parrot-Heads of the World, unite! Not only does Hoot, the eco-friendly family film from director Will Shriner, incorporate a whole new slate of mellow Jimmy Buffet songs, it also incorporates his even mellower acting chops! The good news: The songs are the best part of this film. The… More
Parrot-Heads of the World, unite! Not only does Hoot, the eco-friendly family film from director Will Shriner, incorporate a whole new slate of mellow Jimmy Buffet songs, it also incorporates his even mellower acting chops! The good news: The songs are the best part of this film. The bad news: The songs are not very good. Based on the award-winning children's book, this PG-rated flick follows the new kid in school (Logan Lerman) as he helps his new friends (Brie Larson, Cody Linley) stop a developer from chasing out a family of owls. What worked well on paper doesn't necessarily translate to cinema screens very well, mostly due to the heavy-handedness of Shriner. Yes, TV's Blooper's "Video Vault" guy is still alive. Sadly, however, he should've kept this Afterschool snoozer in the video vault. The movie comes off as slow, cloying, and preachy as a very special episode of Blossom on Valium. Bottom line: Cheese in paradise
Dannielle A

It was more of a kid's movie, but it was alright.
Juan C

the most enjoyable and original film for families that leaves an important message you'll be certian of. it's a suprisingly good film with some right moves. funny and enjoyable, you'll be hooting for more. B+
Jackson W

This recycled story of animal-loving teens, despite having a literary undertone, is completely uninteresting.
Deb S

This is a kids' movie about Roy Eberhart (Logan Lerman) who moves to the small town of Coconut Cove, Florida. He first faces the usual problems of blending in with the other kids at his middle school and dealing with the local school bully on the bus. After a rocky start he meets… More
This is a kids' movie about Roy Eberhart (Logan Lerman) who moves to the small town of Coconut Cove, Florida. He first faces the usual problems of blending in with the other kids at his middle school and dealing with the local school bully on the bus. After a rocky start he meets a tall blonde girl (Brie Larson) who slowly comes to trust him, and her stepbrother, the barefoot speed demon( Cody Linley) nicknamed "Mullet Fingers," for his manual fishing skills who has a passion for the environment and is strongly opposes the growing tourism industry. Together the three of them team up to thwart a greedy restaurant executive and try to protect endangered burrowing owls from being bulldozed at an illegal construction site. The meaning and lesson in this movie is a nice one because what was done to the owls was illegal anyway. But one illegality does not condone another e.g. vandalizing the property etc so I would advise children seeing it to have an adult capable of explaining the moral implications of the actions taken by the teens in this film. Robert Wagner makes a token appearance as Mayor Grandy and Luke Wilson does a decent job in his role of Officer Delinko. You will love the music of Jimmy Buffett that was played throughout the movie. Filmed in South Florida, the scenery is beautiful and natural, the owls are adorable and the movie highlights an interesting environmental issue about doing all you can to save endangered animals.
William G

An overwhelmingly lackluster creation that somehow passes for family fare.
Sylvester K

A good message failed to convey, due to extremely bad acting from everyone, even Luke himself. It's just very boring, nothing exciting happened, Woot is this that I've just watched?
Sarah P

Having read the book first, I was less impressed with the move version than I think I would have been otherwise. The book version was more intense with more heart. This was just sort of mediocre.
Sunil J

I hate stupid movies like this that make kids look retarded.
Nate H

Pretty weak. Luke is generic as usual, the story is a carbon copy of Hiaasen's novels but without any of the intrigue or humor, and a movie based on children turned outcast environmental terrorists is a pretty big stretch anyway. Awkward.