Unlike other critics, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Disney's offerings lately (outside of the Pixar label) have been mind-numbingly unoriginal, so I expected Chicken Little to be as lame. I thought there were a few moments that drug on, and a couple of scenes that were almost painful (the karaoke scene, for one), but overall it was a fun, entertaining movie, and a clever take on the "sky is falling" thing. Along with most of the known universe, I haven't figured out what Disney has against mothers, and why 90% of Disney's main characters must have at least one absent parent; in this case it did set up a couple of pretty schmaltzy scenes that could have been done differently. But I think adults will appreciate C.Little's brains, Runt's obsession with Golden Oldies, Fish's gung-ho ditziness, and Abby's psychobabble need for "closure." And you'd have to be a cold, heartless goon to not think Kirby is absolutely adorable. As for the kids, a couple of scenes could be a little frightening for the very young, but the pace is quick enough most of the time to keep them glued to the screen. I actually laughed out loud several times, and I suspect the next time I see this I will find even more to laugh at. It's not on par with a Pixar film, and I don't see it becoming a classic, but it's a fun watch.
ADDITION: As I've been reading the other comments, I've discovered one thing: if you thought Shrek was the height of animated hilarity, please don't watch Chicken Little. You do everyone a disservice by comparing the two, since Chicken Little is truly a family film (with likable characters and a little intelligence) and Shrek is for those who find 8th-grade bathroom humor funny (or gags that simply make fun of Disney) and don't care about character development.
ADDITION: As I've been reading the other comments, I've discovered one thing: if you thought Shrek was the height of animated hilarity, please don't watch Chicken Little. You do everyone a disservice by comparing the two, since Chicken Little is truly a family film (with likable characters and a little intelligence) and Shrek is for those who find 8th-grade bathroom humor funny (or gags that simply make fun of Disney) and don't care about character development.