The Thematic And Narrative Failing of Barnyard (2006), An Udder-Rated Work Of SINema
Talking about the quality of Barnyard: The Original Party Animals (2006) is an undertaking immediately complicated by the seeming ubiquity of “Thing Good, Actually” narratives these days that renders any such claims immediately suspect. “Thing Childhood, Ergo Thing SEEMS Good TO YOU” is a valid-enough reflexive rebuttal. Let’s get that out of the way immediately: Barnyard is undeniably part of the post- Shrek (2001) dam-burst of pop-culture-fried CG whimsies of varying visual and conceptual quality that contributed, long-term, to the cultural, spiritual de-valuing of both the Shrek property—a real hoisted by its own petard of a splash-back scenario—and also the output of pop-behemoth Pixar, whose work has undoubtedly been rendered less impactful over time by the presence of so many imitators, actual quality aside. When everyone and their brother-in-law is putting out a 3D fart-and-giggler per-month, the lines get blurred. For the discerning gentleperson...