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Entertainment Media Analysis Report
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MAR26059

(2006), PG [13-PG*] (1hr 22min)

Analysis Date
CAP Final Score
CAP Influence Density
MinMax
August 5, 2006
58 out of 100
0.79
-100

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SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.



(2006), PG [13-PG*] -- Male cows are bulls and do not have udders, right?


Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database
Production (US): Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, O Entertainment
Distribution (US): Paramount Pictures
Director(s): Steve Oedekerk
Producer(s): Mark Beam, Nicholisa Contis, Andrew Egiziano, Albie Hecht, Paul Marshal, Steve Oedekerk, Aaron Parry, Julia Pistor
Written by: Steve Oedekerk
Music: John Debney
Film Editing: Paul D. Calder
Production Design: Philip A. Cruden
Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6


I am so sorry this is two days late but attending CPR/AED Instructor training consumed the two days at the heart of the CAP Ministry week.

Barnyard: The Original Party Animals  is a story of what we don't know about barnyard animals; that they become "human" when humans are not around then party, party, party.

The film is rated PG for "some mild peril and rude humor." Let's start out with a closer look at that. And deeper.

Because of its final score of 58 out of 100, Barnyard: The Original Party Animals  is a "hard" 13-PG*. This means the film earned a score in the range of scores earned by PG-13 films in the comparative baseline database (55 to 67 out of 100) even though it is rated PG. The "hard", used for effect as short for "hardcore", comes from the placement of the score close to the bottom of the scoring range. Please remember that though the CAP analysis model was developed and verified on films with live actors/actresses, it is assumed that behavior by animated characters that can be duplicated by or subjected to children can be as influential as those performed by live performers.

Maybe an apology for such a low score for a "kid's movie" would be appropriate but the apology would not be mine. The CAP analysis model does not give  scores. A film earns  the score it gets based solely on content. I did not make the film nor did I write the Rules of morality. Nor will the CAP analysis model permit manipulation of the scoring to suit personal opinion. That I think this movie is well freckled with "age-appropriate" contempt for morality does not make it so: that it is does.

The crux of the matter is that not one of the scads of little nasties and other items of assault on morality and decency in Barnyard  is all that extreme. But there are s-o-o many of them. So many in matters of violence especially, matters such as killing of story characters by predators, "KILL HIM!", and "Lay there and watch while we eat your friends." No gore but killing nonetheless. And Miles the mule (voice of Danny Glover) viciously kicking a farmer repeatedly is rather ... er ... vicious. But not as vicious as the coyotes.

While this film certainly has a "message" akin to the old adage that says the more you try to prove your father wrong the more you prove him right, how many times must the film writers shoot before they hit the target? This film, in a big-picture or total-package sense, is as violent as some R-rated films. The intensity of the attacks and sinister attitudes of the coyotes is well beyond necessary to get the point across.

See the CAP Rule of 1000 if you are interested in knowing more about this possibly latest device of Hollywood filmmakers to load "kid's" films with massive numbers of lesser examples of assaults on morality and decency to get the same "effect" or immoral amplitude as films with extreme examples of ignominy. Suffice it to say that a film with an hundred examples of "lite" bad stuff can be as morally corrosive and value-shaping as a film with only ten examples of really bad stuff. Indeed, by what we have learned from our Director - Child Psychology Support, the film with many examples of "lesser" assault on morality and decency can be more morally invasive and value-shaping than a film with fewer examples of extreme assault.

Male cows are bulls and do not have udders, right? Male cows have udders in Barnyard. And male cows in Barnyard  can be milked since one of them says "Milk me!" Aside from the gender confusion I wonder why? Such is at least a sexual aberration since the personification of the characters makes udders on male cows akin to female breasts on men. Now where is that found nowadays? I think Hollywood is drunk with it since it appears more and more in films for younger and younger kids. [Luke 17:2] The bottom line is sexual -- again drawing attention to the "private areas." Is it supposed to be funny? How a jiggling udder is funny escapes me when Ben and Otis fight for their lives. Or when Otis does pelvic thrusts. All this is fed to our young ones. [Eph. 5:4] With a "message."

Wise and strong Ben (voice of Sam Elliot) simply ended up with the job of being protector of the animals in the barnyard. Protector from the carnivorous coyotes. Reckless and carefree teenage Otis (voice of Kevin James), whom Ben adopted when he found Otis as a calf without parents, is supposed to take over for Ben when comes his time to step down. But Otis just doesn't have it. Otis is a party animal. And, by Otis' endearing magnetism, so are all the other barnyard animals. Except Ben.

Ben, in his infinite patience with scatter-brained Otis, gives Otis a nugget of wisdom that eventually sinks in. "A strong man stands up for himself. A stronger man stands up for others." Unfortunately, Otis had to adopt his father's wisdom and grow up overnight. After a fling with partying, the "stands up for others" part of Ben's wisdom is what Otis does for the barnyard animals. Sort of like the prodigal son who squandered the wealth his father gives him and then, after being shocked into reality, goes back to his father a humbled man. [Luke 15:11 - 24] Otis had to have his squanderous fling before submitting to humility. Such a scenario seems to shriek the "Go ahead and do the wrong as long as you are sorry for it afterwards" syndrome -- the redemption routine. Though redemption is indeed a noble destination, a noble destination does not excuse an ignoble path.

The "message." The coyotes kill Ben. Otis realizes what he has to do ... and does it. Otis' awakening illuminates a strength he did not know he had. Otis' new-found strength unites the barnyard animals and rallies them behind him as he enforces his father's rule that no harm will come to the animals inside the barnyard fence. This is not the only way Otis follows in his father's footsteps.

The newcomer to the barnyard, Daisy (voice of Courteney Cox) who becomes Otis' girlfriend is pregnant by her earlier marriage to a husband who was lost in a flood along with the rest of her herd. While it might seem inappropriate to have one of the story characters pregnant in a kid's show, there is a reason for it. Ben's adoption of Otis sets the stage for this second way Otis follows in his father's footsteps. When Daisy's calf is born, Otis adopts it as the paternal properties of Ben's wisdom surface in Otis.

But the "good messages" in a film are not the focus of this service. They are for you to discover and decide whether there is merit to them for your kids. Our focus is to tell you of the not-so-nice content so you might be in a better position to make an informed moral decision whether a film is fit for your kids or not.

As is the case all too often, good messages in modern films drown in ignominy. [Ps. 12:8] In addition to the R-equivalent level of violence (W), there is a lot of "lite" and coy attention to what would otherwise be "private parts." Often the male cows are seen with udders they shouldn't have protruding as if intentional. In a human bar, the camera pans the cleavage of a woman. Otis performs pelvic thrusts in dance and a child is seen with partial rear nudity. In addition, a police officer no less speaks rather questionably about strip searching children. A couple innuendo by characters put frosting on the cake of "coarse joking" God speaks to in Eph. 5:4. (S)

Within the realm of Drugs/Alcohol (D), the animals metaphorically drink brew as they guzzle "milk and honey." Four characters steal a car and drink inebriating "milk" while driving. Some drinking leads to drunkenness. And a "redneck" farmer is seen holding a can of brew and ripping off a new can from a six-pack. [Eph. 5:18] Note that there is a particularly pointed reference to studies in the application of Ephesians 5:18 below regarding the vulnerability of our middleschool aged youth, the very age stratum of this film.

Regarding impudence (I), Otis challenges Ben's authority and wisdom a time or two as well as cheats. A human child is disrespectful to his mother. [Exod. 20:12] And this being a kid's show and Hollywood apparently thinking they know what is acceptable for kids, there is flatulence. Though no uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary were noted, one character was cut off just before he completed a line ending with one of them, something about a hoof in a place where it doesn't belong.

Regarding matter which are offensive to God (O) by His Word, God's name is used in vain twice. Euphemistically, mind you. But "pretend" does not excuse sin. [Deut. 5:11] There are a mentions of religion, sin, being blessed by God and one of Hell. Though none of these latter matters is of a sinful nature and are not incorporated into the scoring, you might want to know about them.

There is more but not much more and it is all listed in the Findings/Scoring section. Please consider reading it before you decide on which age this film is fit.


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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
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CHAPTER/VERSE

  • Eph. 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving
  • Luke 15:11 - 24 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
  • Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ["Wine" can be any intoxicating substance including illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs. This issue is do not get intoxicated and not abuse the body. Though it is not a sin to drink, it is a sin to get drunk OR to influence to get drunk or to drink in defiance such as underage drinking. A study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) has found an undeniable link between the presentation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco in and as entertainment and abuse of them and arrogance/defiance with them by adolescents. And teaching/causing youth to abuse alcohol/tobacco (or drugs) by emboldening youth with them in and as entertainment invokes Luke 17:2. If alcoholic beverages in entertainment were not a problem for our young, why is there and why has there been such a push to get and keep booze commercials off prime time broadcast TV? Even the University of Connecticut corroborates the ACP finding.]
  • Exod. 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
  • Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [Vain is shav' {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as an expletive. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or thoughtful discussion is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name.]

    ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
  • Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."]
  • Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
  • 1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil [kakov: of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be] communications corrupt good manners.
  • Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
  • Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away.]
  • Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me].
  • John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]


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    As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.
  • FINDINGS / SCORING:
    (The objective  heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)


    Barnyard: The Original Party Animals (2006) CAP Thermometers

    Wanton Violence/Crime (W)
  • slapstick violence, repeatedly
  • strong arm tactics to control
  • gambling
  • physical assault, repeatedly
  • terrorism with threat to kill
  • killing by carnivores (coyotes)
  • car theft
  • reckless driving
  • illegal flight to avoid lawful arrest
  • gloating about successful car theft and running from the police
  • carnivore attack with death of character
  • extortion with life as leverage
  • abduction to eat story characters
  • attempt to eat story character
  • "KILL HIM!"
  • attack to kill
  • "Lay there and watch while we eat your friends"
  • long battle for lives
  • theft
  • unauthorized use of police lights

    Impudence/Hate (I)
  • son challenging father's authority and wisdom
  • cheating
  • son's arrogance at father
  • flatulence

    Sexual Immorality (S)
  • crude anatomical humor, throughout
  • male cows with udders, throughout
  • much attention to anatomical parallel with human private areas
  • sexual innuendo, twice
  • police officer talking "naughtily" about strip searching children
  • "Milk me" from male cow
  • toilet humor
  • excessive attention to cleavage

    Drugs/Alcohol (D):
  • booze, repeatedly
  • drinking, repeatedly
  • drunkenness
  • portrayal of drinking while driving

    Offense to God (O)
  • two uses of God's name in vain

    Murder/Suicide (M)
  • none noted











  • Christian Educators Association International







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    There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings.



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