The Meerkats (2007)

Critic Reviews

• Philip French, Observer [UK]

  Has some good footage but is more Disney-anthropomorphic than Attenborough-authentic.

• Peter Whittle, Sunday Times (UK)

  Like the real-life natural-world Disney features of yesteryear, there's a huge amount of entertainment to be had, especially for kids, although the imposition of a story and the attribution of various emotions to the creatures can get slightly cloying.

• David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]

  A movie guaranteed to enchant all. Mind you, with a cast this cute, they couldn't really fail.

• Derek Adams, Time Out

  Despite the involvement of a producer from the BBC's Natural History Unit and the late Paul Newman on voiceover duty, 'The Meerkats' is just another run-of-the-mill wildlife foray.

• Daniel Etherington, Film4

  Visually striking but not a nature documentary for people who like their wildlife presented with the emphasis on knowledge and information, rather than on story, cuteness and anthropomorphism.

• Wendy Ide, Times [UK]

  The beauty and intimacy of the material they so painstakingly captured ultimately overrides the mawkish score and sentimental narration.

• Catherine Shoard, Guardian [UK]

  "Even the wind has dust in its eyes," remarks Newman, at an especially weepy bit. Others may have trouble keeping them open.

• Anthony Quinn, Independent

  The narrative lags some way behind the beautiful nature photography and the comical majesty of the meerkat on guard, poking his head above a hidey-hole like a periscope over a parapet. These pictures don't really need any words.

• Allan Hunter, Daily Express

  A film that is entertaining, informative and filled with irresistibly cute critters.

• Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

  An engaging, beautifully shot wildlife drama with undeniably cute subjects, but you can't help wishing the film had probed a bit deeper into meerkat society.

• Alistair Harkness, Scotsman

  Contains plenty of high drama thanks to some judicious editing and cutting-edge camera work and it avoids sentimentalising nature too much by showing death on screen and weaving in a subtle environmental message.

Read all 11 critic reviews