Too much of everything

Purely Joyful Movie!

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

"Rupert and the Frog Song" is a 14-minute animated movie from over 30 years ago. The writer and director is Emmy nominee Jeff Dunbar, but the most known names here are obviously Beatle Paul and Linda McCartney. And maybe you have to be a Beatles fan in order to appreciate this one as I am not and I did not. I think the animation is not great for the 1980s, neither is the story and I have heard better music in Disney films from 40 years earlier. The voice acting is okay I guess, but this cannot make up for all the negative factors. I also don't see how this film delivers on a dramatic or emotional note. Not at all. As a whole, I am glad this was such a short film as I found nothing about it memorable. Not recommended.

Paul McCartney finally achieved his cherished aim of making a movie short about Rupert Bear, the much-loved subject of the Daily Express daily story strip and annuals. They joy of Rupert (who was as important to my childhood as he was to McCartney's) is the magical combination of the familiar and the bizarrely unexpected: Rupert lives in Nutwood, a bucolically idyllic representation of between-the-wars rural England, populated (without comment) by a mixture of normal people and anthropomorphic animal/people like Rupert himself. If you spend much time in Nutwood, you will discover (among other things) a Chinese Pekinese dog/person who lives in a pagoda, a reclusive scientist with a dwarf helper who has seven league boots, an underground terminus for an elf railway and all sorts of other elements which manage to be both mundane and quietly demented at the same time. Above everything, it is very, very English.McCartney and animation director collaborator Geoff Dunbar turn this into a small story where Rupert, out for a walk, stumbles upon a mass gathering of frogs who are collected together to celebrate, in song, the attendance of the Frog King and Queen. Rupert foils an attack by an owl and a couple of cats, then goes home.So, plotwise, there isn't a lot going on, but that doesn't matter: the atmosphere is nicely conjured up, and the centrepiece is the Frog Song itself.McCartney has come in for a lot of stick about the Frog Song: in my view this is unfair because the piece suits this movie perfectly. It is melodic, fun, majestic, and lends itself to an extended animation sequence very well: in that respect, it is just about perfect. However, it must be admitted that it is more or less the sole raison d'etre for the film: without it, the short film has little point.

I like Rupert the Bear, he isn't my favourite animated character but he is very likable and charming like his adventures. Rupert and the Frog Song was a big childhood favourite, and I am not afraid to admit I have a big spot for it now. The animation is very colourful and beautiful, and I also loved that in some parts of the cartoon it was dark and mysterious as well. The music is wonderful too, not just the incidental music which is full of charm, atmosphere and magic but also the song We All Stand Together, which is very spirit-raising and by far my favourite asset of Rupert and the Frog Song. The story is memorable and brimmed with likability and charm, the writing is funny and sharp, the pace is just right and the characters- not just Rupert but the cute frogs- are engaging. The voice acting is also spot-on, so overall, this childhood favourite is still a winner. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Being a massive Rupert fan as a child, I just fell in love with this short film as soon as I saw it with my now grown up children, and I still own a copy of it myself. Next stop is the DVD version.I wish they'd bring Rupert back. We need his innocence and his love of adventure for our future generations. He'll never go out of fashion, and I think Paul & Co's voices were perfect.The fact that Paul McCartney took time out from being a Rock God to compose this stunning piece of movie and music is truly commendable. I wish he'd do some more. The song/movie is still hot, judging by ebay etc, so it would definitely make money, in my honest opinion.But just knowing that there are children, and adults out there waiting to watch and listen to his mini masterpieces, I'm sure, would thrill Paul, and Linda, God rest her soul.