The Animal
Directed by Luke Greenfield4.930%28%5.1
When loser Marvin Mange is involved in a horrible car accident, he's brought back to life by a deranged scientist as half man and half animal. His newfound powers are awesome -- but their adverse side effects could take over his life. Now, Marvin must fight to control his crazy primal urges around his new squeeze, Rianna, and his rival, Sgt. Sisk, who both think he's one cool cat.
Where to Watch The Animal
- Manuel FrangisMarch 23, 2025I just watched The Animal again and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. This is one of the funniest and most ridiculous comedies from the early 2000s and it still holds up as a great time. It is loud, dumb, totally over the top, and that is exactly what makes it awesome. The story follows Marvin Mange, a nerdy and awkward guy who works as a low level evidence clerk at a police station and dreams of being a real cop. After a freak accident, he ends up in a terrible condition, and a mysterious doctor saves his life by using animal parts in a secret surgery. When Marvin wakes up, he starts experiencing wild changes and animal instincts that completely take over his life. That is where the fun really begins. Rob Schneider is hilarious in the lead role. He goes all in with the physical comedy and weird behavior, and it totally works. He plays Marvin as a lovable loser who suddenly has all these insane abilities and no idea how to control them. The way he shifts between normal guy and full on animal mode makes every scene unpredictable and hilarious. The humor is pure early 2000s Rob Schneider style. It is dumb, goofy, and full of weird jokes, but that is what makes it so fun. There are animal sounds, over the top chase scenes, and random moments that make no sense but somehow still land perfectly. If you like movies like Deuce Bigalow or Hot Chick, this is right in that zone. The pacing is fast and fun. There is always something weird or funny happening and the movie never drags. It does not take itself seriously for even one second and that is exactly why it works. Every scene is either a setup for a wild gag or a full blown moment of chaos. The supporting cast adds a lot to the fun too. Colleen Haskell plays Rianna, the love interest who is way too good for Marvin but somehow falls for him anyway. She brings a sweet and calm vibe that balances out all the craziness. Michael Caton as the mysterious Dr. Wilder is great and adds a strange mad scientist energy to the movie. Ed Asner as the angry police chief delivers some solid grumpy moments that keep things moving. The movie also does a good job making fun of itself. It knows it is ridiculous and leans into it with every joke and scene. That kind of self awareness helps it stay funny instead of feeling cringey. It is not trying to be a smart comedy or teach you anything. It just wants to make you laugh and it succeeds. The reason I give it 5 out of 5 stars is because it is one of those comedies that never gets old to me. It is so ridiculous and fun that I can throw it on any time and still laugh. It has that dumb charm that makes it perfect for when you just want to relax and enjoy something wild and funny. Overall The Animal is a hilarious and underrated comedy that is perfect for fans of dumb fun movies. Rob Schneider gives one of his best performances and the movie delivers nonstop laughs from start to finish. I love this movie and will definitely keep rewatching it for years to come.
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The Animal Trivia
The Animal was released on June 1, 2001.
The Animal was directed by Luke Greenfield.
The Animal has a runtime of 83m.
The Animal was produced by Barry Bernardi, Carr D'Angelo, Todd Garner.
When loser Marvin Mange is involved in a horrible car accident, he's brought back to life by a deranged scientist as half man and half animal. His newfound powers are awesome -- but their adverse side effects could take over his life. Now, Marvin must fight to control his crazy primal urges around his new squeeze, Rianna, and his rival, Sgt. Sisk, who both think he's one cool cat.
The key characters in The Animal are Marvin Mange (Rob Schneider), Rianna (Colleen Haskell), Sgt. Sisk (John C. McGinley).
The Animal is rated PG-13.
The Animal is a Comedy, Science Fiction film.
The Animal has an audience rating of 2.8 out of 10.
The Animal had a budget of $22M.
The Animal has made $84.8M at the box office.