An oppressively dumbed-down ‘Animal Farm’ has little use for George Orwell’s ideas

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George Orwell’s classic novel Animal Farm famously critiques the Soviet Union and the dangers of mixing politics with morality. If he were alive today, he’d likely be disappointed by director Andy Serkis’ new, over-the-top American version of The Lion King. As Orwell wrote in his book, some adaptations are clearly better than others.

The story begins on a struggling farm, Manor Farm, where the animals – pigs, horses, sheep, and chickens – are overworked and mistreated by the drunken, broke, and abusive farmer, Mr. Jones. It’s odd that these animals, who are surprisingly intelligent, speak like humans, and even use slang, seem shocked when being loaded onto a truck means they’re headed to slaughter. This contrasts with the original story by Orwell, where the animals immediately understood their grim fate.

Despite being a standard action sequence, the scene effectively sparks a rebellion and a desire for independence, spearheaded by the thoughtful pig, Snowball (Laverne Cox). Snowball’s principles of peaceful and abundant living without human interference quickly gain the trust of a naive young piglet named Lucky (Gaten Matarazzo). While Lucky is clearly meant to be relatable for younger audiences – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it feels unnecessary to create a new way into a story that’s already so well-known and educational.

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A new documentary by Peck, titled “Orwell: 2+2=5,” explores how George Orwell’s writing remains relevant today, tackling issues like propaganda, misleading language, and the rise of authoritarianism.

Simply portraying negativity isn’t enough for modern family entertainment. That’s why Lucky gets influenced by the cunning Napoleon, who cleverly removes Snowball from power, takes control, changes the initial ideas of equality into a system with different classes, and then teams up with the neighboring farmer, Pilkington (played by Glenn Close), reimagined here as a tech entrepreneur similar to Elon Musk – a choice that feels perfectly fitting.

The film’s frantic pace reduces Orwell’s complex story to a simple, black-and-white conflict, feeling as though it’s rushing towards a dramatic confrontation with Napoleon. It misses opportunities to connect with modern parallels – Napoleon could easily represent a figure like Trump – and exaggerates its anti-capitalist themes with excessive imagery of shopping malls, drones, and wealth. The result is an unsatisfying adaptation that feels like a rough copy of a classic. Director Andy Serkis, who also voices a character, seems to have focused solely on amplifying the volume, speed, and spectacle, rather than carefully guiding the story.

It’s ironic to simplify George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” with child-friendly edits, considering the book’s message about control and power. While the adaptation has some good ideas – like the casting of Woody Harrelson as the horse Boxer – it’s unlikely to impress those familiar with the original story or help a new generation understand why it’s considered a classic.

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2026-05-01 21:01