Critics Savage Andy Serkis' Animal Farm Adaptation

Andy Serkis' directorial venture, an animated adaptation of George Orwell's "Animal Farm," is receiving a drubbing from critics prior to its May 1 theatrical debut. The film has garnered a dismal 27% on Rotten Tomatoes from 22 early reviews. Critics have described the adaptation as a "baffling family friendly take" on the classic novella, with one reviewer stating it "has been cast out for your standard run-of-the-mill, low-brow, juvenile, animated talking animal nonsense."

Despite the critical onslaught, the film features a significant ensemble cast. Voice talents include Gaten Matarazzo, Iman Vellani, Laverne Cox, Glenn Close, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons, Kathleen Turner, and Seth Rogan, alongside director and voice actor Andy Serkis. With a reported production budget of $35 million, the film will need to perform exceptionally well at the box office to recoup its costs and prove critics wrong.