The Jungle Bunch: Operation Meltdown (2023)

The legendary "Jungle Bunch" are just looking to settle down to a peaceful life when they emerge from their cave one morning to a forest covered in a purple powder. Harmless unless you get taken short, then - well you'll get a bit more immediate relief than you bargained for! With the storm season approaching, it falls to the gang to figure out just who is responsible for this plague and to thwart that plan before the jungle is reduced to splinters and ashes. What now ensues is hardly original, but it's still quite a fun, escapade-driven, adventure story with loads of different scenarios for the various characters to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat from. It's no better or worse than the routine Pixar and Dreamworks fayre that animates a colourful leafy environment and enlivens just about every beastie from a frog to an evil beaver, with some light comedy along the way. There are a couple of entertaining double acts, some gravity-defying wooden bombers and loads of fun pyrotechnics as the quest takes them through perils and pitfalls alike. Not great, nor especially memorable, but it passes ninety minutes easily enough - and that fish in it's bowl packs quite a punch!