Jeri Jacquin

Coming to On Demand and Digital from directors Luka Rukavina, Kristijan Milic, Dino Krpan and Lionsgate is the charming story of differences that are not so different with CRICKET & ANTOINETTE.

Antoinette (Raini Rodriguez) is the next Queen ant who wants to do things her own way. Graduating with her ant-hill class, Antoinette wants to do something else besides what everyone else is doing. After a bit of a windblown accident, she meets Ket (David Henrie), a cricket who plays music with his band for anyone around to listen and she is shocked. Getting to know one another on the walk back her anthill, Antoinette is greeted by her upset father Anton who can’t believe she brought Ket back.

The entire ant hill is losing its senses when they hear music believing it tears down walls! Helping Ket escape, Antoinette needs help from her friend Antenna so she can warn the crickets about winter, which they don’t believe in. Making her way back, she meets up with Ernest, Rudy, Anthal only to hear they don’t want here there.  She meets fortune teller Betty and her snail George who tells Antoinette that maybe the crickets would listen to her singing about winter using a special hat.

Back at the anthill, Antheodor believes he is a gift to the ant colony and thinks he is entitled to do whatever he likes without permission. Dad Anton is worried about his daughter and sends out ants to look for her. Ket gets into it with his band but what they don’t know is that Antoinette is going to show them that she is capable of something remarkable and is immediately hired by Roach for Roachella!

She tries to convince Ket that winter is coming and he tries to convince her that an ant who sings won’t bring down the walls of the ant hill. They also learn that its possible to have wonderful feelings for each other no matter what the odds!

Rodriguez lends her voice to Antoinette and does such a lovely job of it too. Her voice fits filled with excitement, adventure and feeling as Antoinette stretches out into a wider world. Henrie voices Ket as a laid-back musician who is enjoying being with his friend’s making music at Roachella. Little did he know that his summer would be nothing like he could have imagined.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000-motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

CRICKET & ANTOINETTE was nominated for the Pulcinella Award for Best Animated Feature Film from Cartoons on the Bay, winner of the Golden Arena Best Screenplay for Luka Rukavina and Rona Zulj, Best Music Score for Vjeran Salamon and Coco Mosquito and Audience Award “Golden Gate Pula” for director Luka Rukavina as the Pula Film Festival.

The film is such a delight to watch and if the story seems vaguely familiar, it is because it is a classic Aesop’s fable but now updated and given wonderful music. It is just wonderful to see two different insects set in their beliefs so strongly that it keeps them apart. When Ket and Antoinette meet, it is charming to see them learn from one another (even if they still aren’t quite convinced about music and winter) and still dare to find deep feelings for one another.

The crickets seem more laid back than the ants to be sure but that is based on their understanding that there are only three seasons and not four. Antoinette doesn’t want anything to happen to her new friends which is why she wants so desperately to help them believe. She has issues of her own in that the ants believe music is destructive and so it is not allowed. Its takes one special character in the film to work her magic on both sides!

My granddaughter and I watched the film together and she absolutely loved every moment. She thought the characters were so sweet and, of course being a music lover, she giggled to the songs. That’s how you know that CRICKET & ANTOINETTE is a wonderful family film filled with thoughtful lessons, fun, and what it means to help in need. I have to say that I found Roach’s speech of where he was going to be in winter hilarious.

If you are looking for a wonderful film to watch as a family, especially with the cooler weather coming, then this is the one to experience. Break out the comfy blankets, have some popcorn ready and cuddle up with the entire clan and spend a little time with CRICKET & ANTOINETTE.

In the end – they find connection through the music!

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