'Hoot' takes wing with the whole family

From the moment the wide-eyed, burrowing owls of "Hoot" appear on the screen, the birds quietly steal the show. This fun family film, based on Carl Hiaasen's Newbery award-winning book of the same name, has a strong ecological message served with a big helping of giggle-inducing sight gags.

Roy Eberhardt (Logan Lerman) is a 14-year-old Montana kid trying to adjust to life in a coastal Florida town. His first challenge is an oversized bully who smears his face against a school bus window.

New Line Cinema 'Hoot' B The verdict: Little birds rule and the bad guys drool in this worthwhile family comedy with a strong ecological message. Director: Wil Shriner Starring: Luke Wilson, Logan Lerman, Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson, Cody Linley, Jimmy Buffett, Kiersten Warren, Neil Flynn Run time: 98 minutes Release date: May 5, 2006 Rating: PG for mild bullying and brief language. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime [an error occurred while processing this directive]

His second challenge is figuring out the mysteries of a kid called Mullet Fingers (Cody Linley), who runs like the wind and hides like an outlaw. Fleeing the bully, Roy lands in the path of a supertough soccer girl nicknamed "Beatrice the Bear" (Brie Larson). She initially rejects Roy's persistent curiosity about Mullet Fingers, but quickly brings him in on their secret: An owl habitat is threatened by a planned pancake restaurant. And it's their job to save the birds' home.

Of course, the developers won't go down easily, and the teens spend lots of time dodging adults and trying to trick them before Roy argues for another approach. With the owls looking on from their little underground bunkers, the lines are drawn in a battle of wills and wits. (Rattlesnakes and rat traps are among the weapons of choice.)

As the bumbling but good-hearted Officer Delinko, Luke Wilson ("My Dog Skip") is a nice fit as the authority figure with little authority over this youthful style of civil disobedience. But he's wiser than people think — and that's a good thing for the owls and the kids.

"Hoot" takes wing because it makes the audience care about what happens to our feathered friends. Images of the birds and their chicks will hold the attention of the restless preschool kid who came to see owls but can't quite follow the story line. For kids kindergarten-age and up, the message of the feature is never lost: Without friends like Roy and his buddies, the endangered owls are as powerless as they are mesmerizing.

Music by producer Jimmy Buffett enhances the film's piney-woods charm, keeping the mood generally light despite a serious theme. (Buffett has a small role as Mr. Ryan, a marine biology teacher who is pretty quick to catch on that something big is up.)

But big questions still loom, questions that might prompt some family discussion on the way home: When is it right to cross the legal line for something you believe in? What should kids do when adults won't listen?

When the inevitable bulldozer is cranked up and little stands between its jagged jaws and the small creatures, the scene is completely predictable but surprisingly tense. Director Wil Shriner captures the vulnerability of the birds, and it's no stretch to imagine what happens when there's no one there to intervene.

In a twist of adult-to-kid role reversal, Roy begs a crowd gathered at the construction site for a little peace and quiet.

"All we do is make noise! No wonder we don't see them!" he pleads to those who haven't seen the rare owls in their underground home and aren't sure they exist. In this movie, you're not asked to clap your hands if you believe. You are asked to keep your hands still and your eyes open.