Film Reviews

Hop

• Rating:
• Director: Tim Hill
• Starring: Bill Hader
• Details: US/94mins G

Alvin and the Chipmunks director Tim Story doesn't deviate from his trusted format too much as he directs another animated movie, blending CGI and real actors. To the best of my knowledge that has worked once in cinematic history (Roger Rabbit), but wrapping the whole thing in an Easter-themed package was probably a good idea for marketing. Regardless, this is an essentially plotless kiddie farce with random bursts of charm, but not enough to warrant a viewing.
James Marsden is the loafing son who has been out of work for a year and has no intention of looking for another job. When his folks kick him out and his sister (Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco) offers him her boss's place for a couple of weeks, he stumbles across a talking rabbit (voiced by Russell Brand) with whom he has a lot in common. See, said talking rabbit is actually the offspring of The Easter Bunny, and is being groomed to take over the family business - but all he really wants to do is play the drums, so he runs away to Hollywood.
I gave up completely on Hop as soon as David Hasslehoff was rolled out for another one of his irony-laden cameos. It shows what lengths the film has to go to for "entertainment", and The Hoff's obvious lack of dignity is exploited here to the fullest. That said, his cheesy mush is merely a small part of a production that relies far too heavily on Brand's over-articulation (in CGI rabbit form) to get laughs. In fairness some of them hit, but a censored Brand was never going to be funny enough.
Marsden is completely miscast as the slacker son, but the actor is talented enough to make the physical comedy elements of the part work. He's got a face built for heightened expression and solid comic timing, but there's not an awful lot he could do with a flat script other than mug. The relationship between his character and the rabbit also is sans sweetness, while the film suffers from both the lack of a proper villain and a romantic subplot. Either may have given it some purpose.
As ever, the young kiddies may find giggles here, but everyone else will be willing an unhinged Glenn Close to turn up.

Review by Mike Sheridan