Follow the ‘More’ link for TV Guide’s review of A&E’s Pride or this link to its page at TVGuide.com if you can catch it before it gets replaced with a review of another show. Pride (not to be confused with NBC’s Father of the Pride) is a “live-action drama [with a] seamless pairing of vivid documentary footage capturing real lions on the African savannah with computer-generated animation (think Babe) that allows the lions to speak and take on human characteristics.” Thank to Kristin for the heads up.

The Mane Event
Pride
(8 pm/ET, A&E)

Pride is a stunning, if not altogether satisfying, achievement. What’s extraordinary about the live-action drama is its seamless pairing of vivid documentary footage capturing real lions on the African savannah with computer-generated animation (think Babe) that allows the lions to speak and take on human characteristics. Unfortunately, all of this is employed to tell a rather standard and overlong coming-of-age story that holds few surprises.

The tale centers on two sibling lion cubs, Suki (voiced energetically by Kate and Linus (a playful Rupert Graves). The young lions long to explore their uncharted world, especially the curious Suki. In particular, she is fascinated by what lies beyond a nearby river that serves not only as her pride’s primary water source but also as an important defense against predators. Her elders are concerned about “wanderers,” rogue lions that attack prides and attempt to take them over. Early in the story two wanderers, Dark (Sean Bean) and Harry (John Hurt), attack and kill one lioness before Suki and Linus’s fiercely protective mother, Macheeba (Helen Mirren), drives them off.

As Suki grows, so does her rebellious streak, which leads to tension between her and Macheeba. Part of the problem is that Suki refuses to hunt. She doesn’t believe in killing. She also wants to make pets out of other animals. But the biggest problem occurs when Suki, in one of her journeys across the forbidden, crocodile-infested river, meets the brash Dark. She falls for him and considers him to be her boyfriend. When Macheeba learns of the relationship she is outraged. Their falling out prompts Suki to join Dark and his fellow wanderers, which only adds to the tension between the two camps.

The lions are filmed with a “boulder-cam,” a remote-controlled camera and microphone that are housed inside a fiberglass container camouflaged to look like a boulder. The container is mounted on wheels so it can move among the lions freely and capture their movements up close. As a result, viewers are treated to a unique look at life inside a real pride. The first-rate voice talent, which also includes Robbie Coltrane and Jim Broadbent, and the CGI effects from Jim Henson‘s Creature Shop give each of the lions a distinct personality. The result, as stated earlier, is a mixed bag. The tale is believable and the lions are certainly interesting to watch. If only it all was in service of a better story.

Parents will appreciate the strong family values put forth by the film. At one point Macheeba explains the value of the pride to her cubs. “We’re like the stars,” she says. “On our own we sparkle, but together we really shine. We’re like a perfect constellation, so much the better for being together.” Unity and teamwork are paramount in the pride.

Adults, teens and kids will marvel at this intimate look at lions but some viewers, after an initial curiosity, are likely to grow bored by the overly talky adventure. Still, it’s a rare opportunity to dwell among real lions up close and personal. — Tim Holland