The Animal (2001)

30% of critics liked it
(83 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(186,694 ratings)

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Rob Schneider stars in this comedy as Marvin Mage, a wimpy nebbish whose lifelong dreams of becoming a police officer are thwarted by his diminutive stature. But when Marvin is critically injured in an auto wreck, deranged scientist Dr. Wilder (Michael Caton)… More Former Saturday Night Live cast member Rob Schneider stars in this comedy as Marvin Mage, a wimpy nebbish whose lifelong dreams of becoming a police officer are thwarted by his diminutive stature. But when Marvin is critically injured in an auto wreck, deranged scientist Dr. Wilder (Michael Caton) uses various animal body parts to save his life, leaving the patient with the stamina and physical skills of the organ donors. Marvin quickly gains fame as a supercop, but he's also left with all of the embarrassing animal instincts and urges that accompany his new powers -- a serious threat to his blooming romance with new girlfriend Rianna (Colleen Haskell). The Animal co-stars John C. McGinley, Edward Asner, Norm Macdonald, and Cloris Leachman. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Luke Greenfield
Written By: Tom Brady, Rob Schneider
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 1, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Oct 30, 2001
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Certainly reeks like something produced from a squatting position.
Robert Koehler, Variety
The Animal is never more nor less than stupid, but stupid in ways that deliver goofiness rather than rampant humiliation.
Wesley Morris, San Francisco Chronicle
Let's hear it for stupendously dumb screen writing.
Cody Clark, Mr. Showbiz
Frequently it becomes boring.
Mary Brennan, Film.com
It's just not funny.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
No classic but far less offensive than the witless dross like See Spot Run that kids have endured on their time off.
Bob Westal, Film Threat
It's a great yawning void where Rob Schneider can hump a mail box and attempt to seduce a goat.
Ben Vinegar, Film Threat
While there's no doubt that The Animal will make you laugh, it's not the kind of laughter that outweighs the missing $10 in your pocket.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

The Animal is yet another pointless Rob Schneider comedy that has maybe three actually funny scenes in the entire film. Unfortunately for Schneider, he's a terrible comedian. This film is awful and it's beyond me why this crap got made in the first place. I though that this… More
The Animal is yet another pointless Rob Schneider comedy that has maybe three actually funny scenes in the entire film. Unfortunately for Schneider, he's a terrible comedian. This film is awful and it's beyond me why this crap got made in the first place. I though that this film was awful, and is one of those comedies that really doesn't stand the test of time. This is the type of comedy film that has poorly constructed jokes and that it really doesn't do anything memorable. The film is just an excuse for Rob Schneider to have a "career" in films. This is so poorly constructed, poorly plotted, yet the idea was pretty interesting. If the script would have been reworked and the jokes better though out, and with a different lead, this might have been a good film. But this film ends up being a big waste of time, and get tiresome after a while. The film rides on one joke practically for the entire length of the film, and it just doesn't cut it. I think that this film should never have been made, and looking back ten years since this crap was made, there have been far better comedies than this. The Animal is one of those comedies that are meant for people who don't want intellectuality to their comedy, it's a mindless one joke film that is so bad, and it can easily be regarded as one of the worst comedies ever made. Even the first two Pauly Shore outings (Encino Man, and Son in Law) brought more laughter than this, and that says something about this train wreck of a film.
Matt G

I laughed a lot, and that's the best I can say about this. It's sporadically entertaining, but still lacks what most Happy Madison films do; a decent script.
Dead A

NOT funny!
EightThirty .

15/10/2010 (TELEVISION) If you are in the mood for some childish humor then look no further, "Animal" just has what you wanna laugh at. I totally laughed right through this back in the days and it was a rather good re-watch. I may not laugh as hard as I did on my initial… More
15/10/2010 (TELEVISION) If you are in the mood for some childish humor then look no further, "Animal" just has what you wanna laugh at. I totally laughed right through this back in the days and it was a rather good re-watch. I may not laugh as hard as I did on my initial watch but it's still a rather interesting plot for myself to follow, not original but definitely a fun one. A funny idea and a rather good laugh for me, one that I probably wouldn't mind watching more than once.
KJ P

The Animal does not do much, but when it delivers on it's ridiculously over-the-top stupidity, I LOVE IT! This movie is probably one of Rob Schneider's worst roles, but I laugh every time I was this film!
Arash X

"The producing team of 'Big Daddy' has delivered another winner"
Josh L

Just freakin awful.
Luke B

So the film isn't that great. But it is actually quite funny. I challenge anyone to deny that Schneider fighting an ape is funny. McGinley just plays Dr Cox even down to the nervous finger nose wipe thingy. Luckily it works. The reverse racism stuff is brilliant and the whole… More
So the film isn't that great. But it is actually quite funny. I challenge anyone to deny that Schneider fighting an ape is funny. McGinley just plays Dr Cox even down to the nervous finger nose wipe thingy. Luckily it works. The reverse racism stuff is brilliant and the whole dialogue from the mob member sent to the back is pure comedy gold. Very stupid but very likeable, assuming you are in a good mood.
Bobby H

I liked the orginal plan of the movie, but the actual outcome and movie itself kind of dissapointed me. Rob Schneider should probably stick too Co-acting in Adam Sandlers movies. He's always good at that, but this to me, was kind of a dissapointment.
Jose Z

What can I say, its the typical Rob Schneider movie, its funny but at some moments it falls into stupidity, with the same scathological jokes. Schneider is a really great comedian, but this movie wasn't the best one made by him.
Dillon L

This movie is about a guy who gets his organs replaced with animal organs, and thus begins to act like an animal. Is that comedy or just stupidity? Well Rob Schnieder is in it. I think Adam Sandler was involved in the production. I guess that answers my own question.
Steven V

The Animal doesn't take itself too seriously to be a drama, and lets loose just enough for it to be taken--surprisingly enough--seriously. Not the most brilliant movie around, but good. Rob Schneider is great in his role here. Its enjoyable,… More
The Animal doesn't take itself too seriously to be a drama, and lets loose just enough for it to be taken--surprisingly enough--seriously. Not the most brilliant movie around, but good. Rob Schneider is great in his role here. Its enjoyable, and has the type of unbelievable humor, that goofy off-the-wall ingredient that really good comedies have. Worth to watch.
Deb S

Marvin (Rob Schneider) does not have the ingredients to be a cop which is his lifelong dream. But his luck soon changes when he is involved in a car crash that leaves his unconscious body mangled beyond belief. He is found by a mad scientist doctor appropriately named Dr. Wilder who… More
Marvin (Rob Schneider) does not have the ingredients to be a cop which is his lifelong dream. But his luck soon changes when he is involved in a car crash that leaves his unconscious body mangled beyond belief. He is found by a mad scientist doctor appropriately named Dr. Wilder who uses animal organs to rebuild him. Eight days later, he wakes up with superhuman abilities and can sniff out drugs hidden in body cavities, outrun horses and perform many other amazing animal feats becoming the best cop one could ever be. This movie is filled with the usual slapstick jokes and it´s silly, but aren´t comedy movies supposed to be silly after all?
Yinalí R

So funny..
Marcus W

If a man seducing a goat makes you chuckle, I recommend it. Fellini purists, stay away.
Sean S

Rob Schneider is the..."Stapler". Other then the South Park skit this movie helped to generate it's not funny, not funny, not funny, n....unless you might find the idea of beastiality funny 'cuz there was this part.... No? Not funny.
Lee K

hilarious i love rob schneider.
Rose G

hahhaha! another funny movie from rob! just his facial expressions will make you laugh!
Tom S

The reverse racism bit is funny...
Haley A

"Oh yeah, the fart guy."