Curious George

The story itself is kept very sweet and very simple, although the film features expanded characters and a more detailed plot than any of George's previous adventures | Andrew Coffin

There's good news and there's bad news about Curious George (rated G), the film adaptation of H.A. Rey's beloved children's books about a monkey who's always in trouble and his very patient, monochromatic owner. Thankfully, though, there's more good than bad, and the monkey's latest adventure, "George Goes to Hollywood," does not end in disaster.

H.A. Rey's simple, whimsical illustrations are ingrained on the minds of generations of children, and the first astute decision made by producer Ron Howard and director Matthew O'Callaghan was to rely on now quaint-seeming traditional animation. George's look has been updated—he's rounder, cuddlier, and more child-like than before—but the simplicity of 2D, hand-drawn animation immediately sets the right tone.