The Nut Job Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A grumpy squirrel accidentally blows up all the park’s food, then decides to rob a nut store that’s secretly a front for bank robbers, leading to a chaotic, nut-filled crime spree… with a Gangnam Style dance party at the end, because why not?

🍿 The Nut Job: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Surly’s Exile and the Nut Store Discovery

In Oakton City’s Liberty Park, Surly the squirrel, known for his selfish ways, is banished after an accident destroys the park’s winter food supply. Accompanied by his rat friend Buddy, he stumbles upon Maury’s Nut Shop, a store filled with nuts. They plan a heist to get the nuts, unaware that the store is a front for a human gang plotting a bank robbery next door.

The Heist and Raccoon’s Treachery

Surly forms an uneasy alliance with Andie, a red squirrel from the park, to carry out the nut heist. Meanwhile, Raccoon, the park leader, secretly plans to sabotage the heist to maintain his power. As the animals prepare, the human gang, led by King, plots to rob the bank and replace the money with nuts.

Betrayal and Redemption

Surly discovers Raccoon’s betrayal and decides to go his own way. However, he later learns that Raccoon intends to harm his friends. Surly returns to the nut store to save them, leading to a showdown with the human gang and Raccoon. In a climactic sacrifice, Surly seemingly dies saving his friends.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Surly (Will Arnett): A selfish purple squirrel exiled from his park who must learn to work with others to secure food for the winter.
• Andie (Katherine Heigl): A compassionate red squirrel who tries to convince Surly to change his selfish ways and help the park.
• Raccoon (Liam Neeson): The manipulative leader of the park animals who hoards food and banishes Surly to maintain his power.
• Buddy (Robert Tinkler): Surly’s loyal but mute rat partner who supports him through thick and thin.
• Grayson (Brendan Fraser): A glory-hogging grey squirrel and the park’s self-proclaimed hero whose incompetence often hinders the group.
• King (Stephen Lang): A ruthless mob boss and leader of the human gang who uses the nut store as a front for his bank robbery.
• Precious (Maya Rudolph): A pug who is King’s guard dog and eventually befriends Surly and helps him.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Surly: “Buddy, we found it! The lost city of Nutlantis!” – Surly exclaims this upon discovering the nut store, seeing it as an endless supply of food.
• Raccoon: “The constitution is not a suicide pact.” – Said by Raccoon when banishing Surly from the park, showing his authoritative and controlling nature.
• Precious: “My tail has a mind of its own!” – Precious proudly displays her tail, showing her goofy and comedic side.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $42,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $64,251,541
• Worldwide Gross: $120,885,527

💥 The Nut Job Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went in expecting a total train wreck. Honestly, ‘The Nut Job’ wasn’t *as* bad as I thought. The animation was decent, and there were a couple of genuinely funny moments, mostly thanks to the voice acting (Will Arnett is always great). But the plot? A total mess. The whole ‘nut heist mirroring a bank robbery’ thing felt forced, and the ending… that Gangnam Style dance was just… bizarre. Still, my kids were entertained, so I guess it served its purpose. Would I watch it again? Probably not. But hey, at least I can say I’ve seen it.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of animated heist movies”
  • “Families looking for light-hearted entertainment”
  • “Viewers who appreciate animal-centric stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some scenes of cartoon violence”
  • “Fart and burp humor”
  • “Mild peril”

Professional Reviews

• Common Sense Media: “The Nut Job has likable leads, but the story doesn’t stand out. Jokes are cheap, so parents may not enjoy it much. It is family friendly, just expect generic entertainment.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Critics consensus: “The Nut Job” is an insipid and unoriginal heist movie that fails to offer enough excitement or humor to justify its running time, and its animation is uninspired.
• KidsFirst: “This movie is pretty cool. It is funny and has a good amount of action. It is really good and I think you would like it too.

Audience Reactions

Some people loved the detailed animation, especially the textures and backgrounds, making it visually appealing.: Many thought it was a decent movie to entertain kids, but not worth it for adults.

Some viewers found the characters to be one-dimensional and hard to connect with, despite the celebrity voice cast.: The Gangnam Style dance sequence at the end was considered a strange and dated addition by most audiences.

Overall Consensus: Overall, ‘The Nut Job’ is considered a mediocre animated film with decent visuals and voice acting, but a weak and unoriginal plot that doesn’t engage adult audiences.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The Nut Job is the most expensive animated movie co-produced in South Korea.”
• “The film is based on Peter Lepeniotis’ 2005 short animated film ‘Surly Squirrel’.”
• “The end credits feature an animated PSY dancing to “Gangnam Style,” which was a popular song at the time of the movie’s release.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Nut Job?

The Nut Job is available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability as it may vary by region. For physical copies, look for it on Blu-ray and DVD at major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Nut Job, you might like these similar films:

• Over the Hedge (2006): Features a group of animals stealing food from humans, highlighting themes of community vs. individual gain.
• Ratatouille (2007): Both feature animals with human-like qualities embarking on adventures in a human-dominated world.
• Despicable Me (2010): Features a selfish protagonist who learns to care for others. Also stars Will Arnett.

🛒 The Nut Job Related Products

• The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature [Blu-ray]: Continue the nutty adventures with the sequel, offering more laughs and escapades with Surly and his friends in 1080p Blu-ray. Great for fans who enjoyed the original movie and want to see more.
• Squirrel Stuffed Animal – Plush Toy: High-quality plush squirrel modeled after Surly, perfect for fans to collect and cuddle.
• Gangnam Style (Psy) – Single: Download the iconic song from the end credits of the movie to keep the energy alive long after the credits roll.
• The Nut Job Movie Poster (24×36): This high-quality print captures the quirky charm of ‘The Nut Job,’ showcasing Surly and the gang in vibrant detail, great for collectors and movie buffs alike.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Nut Job features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “N.E.V.E.R” – performed by Alana Da Fonseca

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Everything Wrong With The Nut Job In 11 Minutes Or Less

Ever wondered what went wrong with The Nut Job? CinemaSins hilariously points out all the movie’s sins in just 11 minutes. Honestly, it’s kinda funnier than the movie itself!

The Nut Job Voiceover

Check out this hilarious voiceover of The Nut Job! The creator nails the characters and adds a whole new layer of funny. You won’t regret watching this!

Cartoon Palooza Review- The Nut Job

Want a detailed take on The Nut Job? This reviewer breaks down what works (and what *really* doesn’t) in the movie. It’s a fair and honest look, which I appreciate!

✨ Rate