The Animal

Marvin Mange, a down on his luck everyman, crashes in a brutal car accident and wakes up the world's most unconventional experiment. A quirky genius doctor revives him with an untested technique that fuses human flesh with animal traits, and unusual consequences follow, turning Marvin into a hybrid with surprising abilities and appetites. At first his powers seem like a dream, letting him dodge trouble and impress his admirer Rianna, while earning the wary respect of his by the book cop rival Sgt. Sisk. But the new biology brings a tangle of urges that Marvin struggles to hide from the people around him. He must juggle romance and career while taming the animal instincts housed in his body every day.

Released in 2001, The Animal was directed by Luke Greenfield and built from a concept credited to Tom Brady and Rob Schneider, who also stars as Marvin Mange alongside Colleen Haskell and Ed Asner in supporting roles across the cast.

From a $22 million budget, the film grossed about $84,772,742 worldwide, making The Animal a solid commercial success for a mid-range comedy fantasy. It performed well in international markets, helping keep Schneider's offbeat style in the spotlight during that era.

The Animal sits in the early 2000s groove of body transformation comedies and Rob Schneider's trademark physical gags. It fed a wave of playful creatures on screen and left a few memorable visual gags that fans still reference in lighthearted conversations about goofy genre outings and friends' movie nights today.

Critics offered mixed takes, acknowledging the premise's novelty but noting the humor can be uneven. The film flips between slapstick and sentiment as it probes identity and what people will do for love, while keeping a light and irreverent tone that suits a casual weekend watch with friends and snacks.