Furry Vengeance: Brendan Fraser, Eco-Propagandist

The simple thesis of the movie is very much made for the 6 to, oh, let’s say 6½-year-old set: People do bad things to the planet. Like build sprawling housing developments where they shouldn’t, in this case an unspoiled forest populated by pissed-off woodland creatures who’ve wrought generations’ worth of hilarious pain upon would-be settlers. (As opposed to building sprawling subdivisions on top of sacred Indian burial grounds or portals to Hell—different movies entirely.) Furry Vengeance isn’t really a movie at all; it’s a message provided by the good people at Participant Media, who’ve brought you, among other entertainments, Food, Inc. (which will make you never want to eat again), The Cove (which is kind of like an espionage caper, only it ends with the real-life slaughter of hundreds of dolphins) and the forthcoming Climate of Change (a Tilda Swinton–narrated doc about ordinary folks’ efforts worldwide to combat global warming). The film’s website offers kids an activity guide and redirects them to the Endangered Species Coalition, The Wilderness Society, and Defenders of Wildlife. They all but print the lesson plan on biodegradable popcorn boxes.