The Meerkats

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The Meerkats

G

2008

1h 23m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Filmmaker James Honeyborne follows a young meerkat as it grows up in the Kalahari Desert.

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Critics Consensus

A cheerful and cute - though never overly mawkish - nature-doc about... you guessed it... Meerkats.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Aug 7, 2009

2/5

Despite the involvement of a producer from the BBC's Natural History Unit and the late Paul Newman on voiceover duty, 'The Meerkats' is just another run-of-the-mill wildlife foray.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Aug 7, 2009

3/5

The beauty and intimacy of the material they so painstakingly captured ultimately overrides the mawkish score and sentimental narration.

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Catherine Shoard

Guardian

Aug 7, 2009

3/5

"Even the wind has dust in its eyes," remarks Newman, at an especially weepy bit. Others may have trouble keeping them open.

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

Aug 11, 2009

Has some good footage but is more Disney-anthropomorphic than Attenborough-authentic.

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Peter Whittle

Sunday Times (UK)

Aug 11, 2009

3/5

Like the real-life natural-world Disney features of yesteryear, there's a huge amount of entertainment to be had, especially for kids, although the imposition of a story and the attribution of various emotions to the creatures can get slightly cloying.

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David Edwards

Daily Mirror (UK)

Aug 11, 2009

4/5

A movie guaranteed to enchant all. Mind you, with a cast this cute, they couldn't really fail.

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Aug 17, 2015

enemmän elokuvatyyliä kuin itse dokumenttia

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Mar 27, 2015

Worthy entry in the wildlife saga of Meerkats. I have not seen the tv show. Beautiful cinematography, altho the abundant golden hue for most scenes is to much after a point. The Disney magic still abounds, even with the subtle music - that of course morphs into a lion king homage. Funny, the Disney parallels you notice after some time.. 3.5 out of 5

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Dec 3, 2012

sweet. Some frightening scenes for the beast but overall she enjoyed it. Probably not a repeat for her though.

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Aug 3, 2012

A touching story about one of the strangest creatures on Earth once again shows the great patience with which BBC operators film their subjects. Thanks to them we snatch at the chance of seeing the meerkats born, playing, growing, being eaten by predators, all of it made with flawless photography and astounding nature shots.

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Apr 3, 2012

Very much a Disney storyline, but it's so cute and so many tense moments that it's impossible not to love.

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Feb 20, 2012

Happy endings happen in the wild. They really do.

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James Honeyborne

Director

Paul Newman

Teller

James Honeyborne

Writer

Alexander McCall Smith

Writer

Jane Hawley

Executive Producer

Neil Nightingale

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

Filmmaker James Honeyborne follows a young meerkat as it grows up in the Kalahari Desert.

Director: James Honeyborne
Screenwriter: James Honeyborne, Alexander McCall Smith
Production Co: BBC Films
Rating: G
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 23m

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