CJ7

Children's movies that have a little more substance to them than some happy go lucky animated characters and songs that after the first 50 times any sane adult would be looking for the nearest available gun, are few and far between. And even with an accomplished director like Stephen Chow, "Kung Fu Hustle," to create something new and entertaining is a large order to fill but he's able these characters, like in his other movies, heart felt, likeable and fun to watch. With the use of CGI effects Chow created the character CJ7 that is as loveable and adorable as any of the Muppets.
When young Dicky comes home from school wanted the new hottest toy on the market, his poor father gives him a strange green ball that he found at the dump, but when it turns into an alien creature Dicky finds out that responsibility and love are things everyone must deal with. Some of the CGI effects are done so well that there are times that you forget that what you're watching is computer animated. One of the best things about this story is that the issues that the characters are dealing this throughout the tale are real every day problems, from single parenting to school bullies to homelessness. Even though some of it is done in a light-hearted way, the issue still comes across in a manner that is honest and believable.
Using the old adage of "Be careful what you wish for," Chow presents a fable that is just as good as any live action children's tale out there, just with his special brand of off-kilter humor. With the issues of family and friendship so prominent in this story its surprising that it didn't have more of a following. Where it's not Chow's regular kind of a movie I think that a lot of fans were put off by the change in his direction. But if you can give the story a chance the characters will grow on you and by the end of the tale you'll wonder what your apprehension was all about.