FernGully...The Last Rainforest Reviews

Widely noted as a "politically correct" animated feature, FERNGULLY is entertaining enough to make its occasionally overstated message palatable. The rainforest of the title was once threatened by an evil force called Hexxus (the voice of Tim Curry), who was imprisoned inside a great tree by the fairy Magi Lune (Grace Zabriskie). Now aging, Magi is tutoring young fairy Crysta (Samantha Mathis) in the ways of magic and the wonders of nature. Crysta, whose friends include the amorous Pips (Christian Slater) and a fruit bat named Batty Koda (Robin Williams), is curious about the world beyond the forest and one day ventures out, despite Magi's warnings. After saving a young lumberjack named Zak (Jonathan Ward) from death at the hands of a huge logging machine, she persuades him to join her and her friends in a struggle against Hexxus, who has been released by the runaway machine. There are many pleasingly novel elements to FERNGULLY. Because it was produced by an Australian company, the film's animal cast comprises not the usual bunnies, deer and squirrels, but kangaroos, koalas and even a goanna--a monitor lizard--with the voice of rapper Tone-Loc (who sings "If I'm Goanna Eat Somebody, It Might as Well Be You").