The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Movie Review

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature is the sequel to 2014's The Nut Job. It continues the story of a squad of park animals who must find a new food source when their beloved nut shop burns down. As in the original, there are a few scatological (i.e. burp and fart) jokes, as well as physical comedy gags in which a character is electrocuted, bonked on the head, or otherwise injured in a way that's played for laughs. But some of the human characters use weapons, particularly the gun-toting mayor. A father and daughter almost sadistic in the way they treat animals, and a child (albeit a violent, unlikable one) is shot with a dart gun. But there's a clear message about the idea of creating your family by choice - in this case, a community of animals that protect and take care of one another.

The film is directed by Cal Brunker and written by Brunker, Bob Barlen and Scott Bindley. A sequel to The Nut Job (2014), it stars the voices of Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, Jackie Chan, Katherine Heigl, Bobby Moynihan, Bobby Cannavale, Isabela Moner, Jeff Dunham, and Gabriel Iglesias. Produced by Gulfstream Pictures, Redrover International and ToonBox Entertainment, the film was released theatrically on August 11, 2017, by Open Road Films.

WHAT'S THE STORY? In THE NUT JOB 2, Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), Andie (Katherine Heigl), and their gang of animal friends end up losing a secure food supply when their home, the nut shop, burns down due to their own neglect. At first Andie enthusiastically tries to convince the group that they can just scrounge for food in the park, but Will and Buddy (Tom Kenny) try to find easier, more secure food venues. They come up short and soon learn that the greedy town mayor (Bobby Moynihan) is planning to tear down the park and put up a profitable amusement park instead. When the animal squad tries to sabotage the construction, the mayor hires an animal control specialist to hunt them down. Surly, Andie, and their friends must band together with unlikely allies to save their park and one another.

MOVIE INFO Rating: PG (for action and some rude humor) Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Directed By: Cal Brunker Written By: Cal Brunker, Bob Barlen, Scott Bindley In Theaters: Aug 11, 2017 Wide Runtime: 1h 31min Music by: Heitor Pereira Studio: Open Road Films Principal Cast: Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph