As I watch Hollywood movies, I have noticed patterns of themes and issues across films. Thematically, even family films cross over to dramas.

Norm of the North (2016, USA) is a family animation so you may expect fun, which it does have, but it is also about serious issues that have propped up elsewhere.

It is a good film for families, occasionally funny, well-plotted and briskly paced, though a little fuzzy on the detail.

The story

Mr. Greene wants to bring condominiums to the Arctic to sell.

At the Arctic, his assistant and a filmmaker have been making a promotional video of a model condo. A series of missteps lands Mr. Greene’s promotional video in jeopardy.  A talking polar bear called Norm spoils the video-making so the video makers go back to New York with only a few images intact.

Norm hitches a ride to New York to stop Mr. Greene. If the condos are brought to the Arctic, they will spoil the polar bear’s environment.

While in New York, Norm has hatched a plan, with three lemmings, and becomes something of a celebrity.

The city council will only allow Mr. Greene to bring condos to the Arctic if his public approval rating goes up. To get his approval rating up, Mr. Greene needs to get Norm to publicly support his proposal to sell condos to the public because people look up to Norm.

The matter of the environment

Norm of the North asks the question, what should one do with one’s fame and celebrity?  Of course the answer in Norm’s situation is to do the right thing! Keep the Arctic safe from a greedy ‘speculator’!  Tell the people not to support Mr. Greene!

Anyhow, Mr. Greene has an uphill battle to achieve his dream. Mr. Greene’s hiding more than a few skeletons in his closet.

Point of view is that the Arctic is beautiful and shouldn’t be left to be overtaken and spoiled for someone’s far-fetched idea.

The polar bear could have rested on his laurels and done nothing about Mr. Green’s “development” plans for the Arctic, but he is encouraged by a fellow Polar bear to save the Arctic. This misfit bear may become a hero.

Mr. Greene’s plan wouldn’t work in real life, but Norm of the North is making a point about humans interacting with the environment. How far is too far?

It is a relevant issue that children and their parents are presented with. There is fun, but Norm of the North is also serious, and should warm your heart.

Warnings: scary scenes

Notes: Voice work by Rob Schneider as Norm and Ken Jeong as Mr. Greene