Barnyard (PG) <!-- none onestar twostar threestar fourstar fivestar -->

Anthropomorphism gone mad. The gimmick is hardly new: once the farmer is out of sight, his animals spring up on two legs, chat and joke, steal cars and hold barn dances. Sam Elliott voices, with gravellitas, the cow who looks after them all and tries to teach his bumptious, pleasure-seeking son Otis (Kevin James) responsibility: "A strong man stands up for himself. A stronger man stands up for others." This from a cow. Kids will love it, though parents should perhaps explain that only the female cow has an udder.