Overrated

Good concept, poorly executed.

Brilliant and touching

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Having really liked 'Dot and the Kangaroo' and liked, but not quite as much, 'Dot and Santa Claus', there were high hopes for this second follow-up. High hopes that were lived up to, in one of the better Dot sequels and one of the best in the series.There is not much to complain about in 'Dot and the Bunny'. There is no surprises as to how the story will end or how it would progress, if one is familiar with the Dot films in general they will see how 'Dot and the Bunny' adheres to the same formula. The animation actually generally is improved over 'Dot and the Kangaroo' and 'Dot and Santa Claus', if occasionally a little rough and flat. Didn't care really for the bunny's song about being a kangaroo who never grew up, more rather whiny than cute.Generally however the animation is an improvement, with mostly more vibrant colours and smoother character designs. The backgrounds as with the previous two Dot films are meticulously detailed, and like the previous two there is some live action which is done very well and doesn't jar at all.Music is almost as good as that for 'Dot and Santa Claus' while being of a better and more consistent standard than 'Dot and the Kangaroo'. The standouts are "Roaming Free", "The Crocodile Song" and particularly "Termites". Only "The Kangaroo that Never Grew" didn't do much for me.The script is funny, poignant, remarkably educational and heart-warming, while the characters are engaging (the bunny is a little annoying to begin with but one grows to like him) and well voiced by the likes of Barbara Frawley, Ron Haddrick and Drew Forsythe.Even when following a basic formula, 'Dot and the Bunny's' story is also one of the film's best assets. Could have done without the kangaroo birth maybe but that wasn't enough to detract from anything. Parts are fun and uplifting and even this 25 year old adult found herself learning a good deal and that the educational aspects were delivered very engagingly. It's the charm and emotional heart that's particularly note-worthy, really warming the heart and moving even the most cynical of adults to at least a tear or two. The messaging is sincere and never preachy or tacked-on.Overall, one of the best sequels and films of the Dot film series. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I don't understand why so many people have missed the point of this charming little film (my personal favorite in the series almost as long-sequeled as the "Land Before Time" series) First and foremost, this is a Yoram Gross film. While the animation was at often times quite poor by critical standards, its message (in my opinion) more than made up for it.We must remember that this is a children's film. I didn't actually understand the meaning of the film until I was about 9 or 10, but the meaning was imprinted on my life even before then.This is essentially a lesson on Australia's native fauna...with he exception of one feral Funny-Bunny.It is also a lesson in life, how to respect ALL creatures for what they are and acknowledging their right to live.It even has a clever nod to Gross' Jewish heritage, if you choose to see that.For what it is worth, I found this film to be exceptional- all ebcause of its educational factor. Kids don't really care what the quality of the film they watch is, I don;t recall comparing it to Disney films.Indeed, I learnt far more from this (and Gross' other films) than any Disney film. For Disney tought us to love ourselves, Gross taught us to love others.and the added bonus of learning poetry (through the songs- all poems by an Australian poet- I think it was Banjo...but it might have been Henry lawson) I LOVE this film, always will, and I have it on tape to show my own children. I was mroe educated by this film than in school.

Adorable and intrepid little redhead girl Dot bravely ventures into the Australian outback in search of a missing baby kangaroo. Assisting Dot on her perilous quest is a comically mischievous rabbit called "funny bunny," who constantly makes amusingly ill-advised and unsuccessful attempts at passing himself off as the missing kangaroo ("funny bunny" also supplies the lion's share of the engagingly quirky and deadpan humor). During her lengthy and eventful odyssey Dot encounters a colorful array of off-beat and interesting local wildlife which includes lazy koalas who only want to eat and sleep, a busy platypus who doesn't have any time to talk, a cranky possum who hates noise, slithery snakes, cunning and unctuously sinister crocodiles, a kindly flying fox, a chatty and gregarious crab, a helpful turtle, a weary wombat and speedy emus. This is a very sweet and good-natured cartoon kid's feature which blends animation with live action quite well; it's technically a bit rough and crude by today's more sophisticated standards, but the animation possesses a certain irresistible plain'n'pretty appeal all the same. Moreover, the film itself is refreshingly bereft of any cynicism or irony; it's got a purity and innocence to it that's genuinely endearing. There's a real warmth evident as well which makes this lovely little gem extremely touching (the plot revelation that "funny bunny" is only trying to find a surrogate mother to love and take care of him because both of his parents were killed by hunters is quite moving). The lively and catchy songs (my favorite is the hilarious "Termites" ditty), the beautiful nature photography, the gorgeous scenery and especially the overall pleasant and upbeat tone further add to the movie's considerable charm.

As satirized in a reasonably good episode of "the Simpsons", back in the 80's, *EVERYTHING* from Australia was inherently cool.With the notable exception of the "Dot and (enter name of one of Dot's animal buddies here)" movies.They used to show these on the Disney Channel all the time. I've seen bits and pieces of the approximately 912 episodes in the series, but until today, I never sat down and watched one all the way through. Having finally done so, I can understand why.The plot of every Dot movie is essentially the same. Dot wanders off alone into the Outback, she befriends an endangered indigenous animal, they have various adventures as Dot tries to rescue her new friend. I remember some of the movies as more surreal than others. In the one where she meets some insects, she can shrink. In the one where she meets a dolphin, she can hold her breath for hours. And in one otherwise routine entry, Dot is the only human in a world where anthropomorphic animals like pigs and dogs are about to bulldoze a forest where some *wild* (non-Furry) animals live."Dot and the Bunny" is a little off as well, but in a more subversive way. The animal friend in question is not endangered. Quite the opposite. The gruesome fact is, so I've heard, that the rabbits that accidentally ended up in the Australian Outback have essentially mutated into fuzzy long-eared locusts. They are such a menace that they are immediately terminated on sight.Strange, then, that Dot would befriend one. I almost want to see a sequel in which Funny Bunny invites his friends to party at Dot's home, resulting in the entire neighborhood getting eaten alive. Bwahaha!