‘Curious George’ is perfect for under-6 set

“Curious George,” the long-awaited film version of Hans A. and Margaret Rey’s near-perfect books, is totally charming and refreshingly different from most animated movie offerings.

There is no smart-alecky best friend, no jokes about flatulence, no double-entendres for the adults, no frenetic, bulgy-eyed action. But sadly, this is precisely why the film has a limited audience.

Parents and their pre-kindergarten-aged children will adore it for reasons mentioned below. Teenagers might like it for the Jack Johnson music. It’s unlikely a childless adult would spend time with this one.

While it features a delightful Will Ferrell as Ned (“The Man in the Yellow Hat”), this film does not have the broad appeal of, say, “Elf.” And, I could be wrong, but over-6-year-olds will probably say it’s boring. That being said, I applaud the producers at Imagine Entertainment for sticking to their guns and making a pure-hearted film.

While it might be considered heavy-handed by some, the music by Johnson that is used throughout is wonderful and adds so much heart to the movie. The sequences where George gets inquisitive are funny and disarmingly genuine. The directors and animators have imbued George with a human child-like quality but never lose sight of the fact that he is, after all, a monkey.

And let’s give credit to his voice actor Frank Welker for his nicely intoned squeals and whimpers. The movie’s rather unique theme is that curiosity (often read “naughtiness”) is a valuable trait that can lead to great discoveries, not to mention a joyful life.

Whenever George was scolded for getting into something, I felt bad for every child that ever had their hand slapped for being “naughty.”

The story has little to do with the book series. It hinges on Ned’s desire to keep the Natural History Museum from permanently closing. There are only a few concepts lifted from the books such as the balloon ride and George’s jungle-themed wall painting. But they’ve retained the spirit of the originals.

Still, the producers felt guilty I think, because the closing credits showcase a dozen more images from the books in the adorable old illustrative style.

“Curious George” is full of warmth, features beautiful animation and has a positive message for your young child. For older children, go see “Nanny McPhee!”