The coyotes are the barnyard's only fear because the old farmer is a vegan. Responsible Ben (the deep, assuring voice of Sam Elliott), the head bovine, makes sure no coyotes get inside the fence.

Otis is a goofy cow who would rather clown around, walking like a human when humans are not looking and then making fun of that species to garner laughter from his fellow barnyard pals.

Otis even joins his joy-riding quasi-hoodlum friends in teaching a lesson to a mean kid who goes “cow-tipping.” He asks his dad to cover his security shift so that he can attend a party.

Paramount’s Barnyard is more of a classic “secret-lives-of- [blank]” movie, the kind Pixar has mastered with Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., but without the inventive dialogue and wild plot ...

Alas, neither the preachy message nor Otis's funny mouse pal Pip (Jeffrey Garcia), nor his wise donkey mentor Miles (Danny Glover), can save "Barnyard." ALSO PLAYING 8 and Older "The Ant Bully" (PG).

Two things happen to throw Otis off his game. First, the beautiful, but pregnant, Daisy (voice of Courteney Cox) arrives in the barnyard. Otis is immediately transfixed.

Barnyard is The Lion King with all of Old McDonald's animals instead of Africa's. Whereas in The Lion King Mufasa and Simba lead Pride Rock, on the Barnyard, the cows Ben and Otis rule. Instead of ...

Danny Glover voices Miles, the wise mule who tries to guide Otis into the world of adult responsibility. A Nickelodeon film, "Barnyard" will entertain the kids; not so much the grown-ups.

Nick Movies has tapped Courteney Cox, Danny Glover, Sam Elliott and Wanda Sykes for the voice cast of its CGI-animated comedy "The Barnyard," joining Kevin James.