Hop

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Hop (2011)

Studio : Universal

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 90 min

Website : iwantcandy.com

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

In the live action/computer generated film from Universal, Hop tells the tale of the Easter Bunny (Russell Brand) who has retired and left his legacy to his son, but the son doesn’t want it. Instead he wants to be a drummer and goes to Hollywood to get a gig. On the way, he’s “hit” by a car and fakes injury, so the man (James Marsters) takes him home with him. Of course, he’s not the best roommate and gets into all sorts of trouble, leaving the unemployed guy to clean up his messes. Meanwhile, since there is a vacuum of power on Easter Island, a chick decides he will be new symbol of Easter, creating an army to fight against the return of the Easter Bunny who must decide if he wants to take up his legacy or not.

The movie is cute and kids will no doubt enjoy the antics and the sweetness factor that this film portrays. It’s not meant to be deep, but fun and silly, but unlike similar films like Alvin and the Chipmunks, it doesn’t play nearly as well with the adults who will be forced to see the film with their young ones. It’s a fine line between playing to the children and playing to a wider audience, and unfortunately this movie is not able to maintain that line, like Pixar does with their offerings. If you can capture the audience at different ages with jokes meant for both, it works, but when it doesn’t, parents are left out and boredom sets in.

Those that hold Easter sacred may want to also pass on this film, unless you take it for what it is, just a fun movie and not an assault on the meaning of Easter. The film really delves into the commercial side of the holiday with both barrels, which may anger some people. It also has some parts that some may find inappropriate at times, like the placement of a Playboy product at one point or the rude humor, which is why it got a PG rating and not a G.

As to the visual effects, Hop is very good at portraying the characters and mixing the medium of live action with computer generated images. The effect is seamless and does not at all distract from the movie one bit.

The film stars Russell Brand (Despicable Me), James Marsters (X-Men, Enchanted), Kaley Cuoco (Big Bang Theory), Gary Cole, Elizabeth Perkins, and Hugh Laurie (House). Despite the all-star casting, the script hampers the actor’s abilities to really put this one across. Cuoco, for instance, can be very funny, but her talents are wasted here and she winds up more like eye candy. Marsters and Brand, who have both shown their ability to play comedy very well are equally as wasted. The movie really does belong to the cuteness of the characters, more than their ability to tell the tale.

If you have kids under 12 and have a high tolerance for really, really sweet things, then go for it, but if not, you may want to skip it. Hop is in theaters now.

Related posts:

1. Kung Fu Panda 2 Rating: Movie: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) Studio : Dreamworks...
2. Arthur Rating: Movie: Arthur (2011) Studio : Warner Brothers Info :...