Neil Welch
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.
razzbeary
This animation film is so well done! My kids are now in their 20's but still insist that this was one of their favorites when they were young. It's content is clean and adorable. If you have kids it's a must for the DVD collection. And even if your an adult you will probably like it. It would make a great de-stress movie for someone who has work burnout etc. It definitely shows that Paul McCartney & his wife have talent in this area. A good addition to your collection of kid boredom busters, along with your Richard Scarry books and your Fraggle Rock movies, which my boys also adored. McCartney's can be proud of themselves on this one!
Ron Oliver
An inquisitive young bear wanders into the hills where he chances upon a splendid musical performance staged only once every couple of hundred years - by frogs.RUPERT AND THE FROG SONG is an utterly charming little film which should not fail to delight the most jaded viewer. Beginning subtly, it moves toward a dramatic climax during the Frog Song - exuberantly achieving its emotional apex with kaleidoscopic color & lilting sound.Rupert was created by artist Mary Tourtel in 1920 and he has won generations of fans who eagerly follow his continuing adventures in the Daily Express newspaper. Since his inception, Rupert has personified the gentle joys & sweet innocence of childhood. It is precisely these qualities which this film so perfectly grasps.Sir Paul McCartney took on the project of creating RUPERT AND THE FROG SONG as a true labor of love. Not only did he co-author the storyline and executive co-produce (sharing both duties with wife Linda), Sir Paul also wrote & composed the very cheerful song 'We All Stand Together,' performed several of the speaking voices and arranged the music with Sir George Martin. The result for this small gem was a much deserved British Academy Award.Singing voices for the frog chorus were supplied by The St. Paul's Choir & The King's Singers.
