Prince of Egypt (1998)

PRINCE OF EGYPT is utterly, totally, and absolutely no fun to
watch.  The animated musical story of Moses: The Early Years has a 
regal cast of all-star voices, a religiously sensitive script 
(complete with disclaimer at the start!), and some of *the* best 
animation of the season.  (A hieroglyphic nightmare sequence is a 
stunner and there's some super-cool sea swirling when Mighty Moses 
puts his staff to work.)  What makes this one a long sit is an op-
pressively reverent tone.  No whimsy; no spontaneity; just every-
one acting too seriously, even when they're trying to be comical.  
(There might be five hearty laughs in this one, tops.)  Come on, 
would it have killed them to have had a wise-cracking sidekick?  
Or a talking animal or two??  I can't recommend it, 'cept maybe 
for those kids bargaining for an alternative to Sunday School.  
With the voices of Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Sandra Bullock, Jeff 
Goldblum, Michelle Pfeiffer, Danny Glover, Patrick Stewart, Helen 
Mirren, Steve Martin, and Martin Short.  Hans Zimmer did the score 
and Stephen Schwartz wrote the songs that you won't be humming 
during your exodus toward the door.  (Rated "PG"/99 min.)

Grade: B-

Copyright 1998 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies as MOVIE HELL: December 20, 1998