The latest unique offering from Aardman, the makers of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run & Arthur Christmas, arrives on Friday with a fresh dose of dry British Humor, sarcastic wit and a blend of subtle farce and slapstick buffoonery.
The claymation characters are instantly recognizable and enjoyable to watch with their carved hair, gaping mouths, crooked teeth and improvised body parts. The film is a charming distraction with many giggles and a few guffaws. There are plenty of jokes that adults will get, and that will soar over the heads of tweens and younger, those relating to Charles Darwin in particular. And there are simple pratfalls sure to entertain the youngest in the audience.
Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) has one goal, to win the Pirate of the Year award. The only challenge is he’s not a very skilled plunderer. He’s a good man with a loyal crew, but he aspires to gain the esteem of his peers. Will he sell his soul to the devil (in the form of Queen Victoria, voiced by Imelda Staunton) by trading his beloved “parrot” for gold? Or will he maintain his honor in the face of temptation despite the taunting of rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven), and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek)? The question takes Captain and crew from Blood Island to Victorian London where trouble awaits at every turn.
To reinforce the theme of doing the right thing in the face of temptation, Charles Darwin is introduced and faces his own seductions in the form of the last Dodo, the scientific discovery of the century. Darwin’s chimpanzee steals every scene he’s in with his note card vocabulary.
The film is available to see in 3D and 2D. The 3D effects were subtle and did not distract from the film, nor were they “pandered” to with unnecessary scenes. The film works in either version.
The visual worlds created by Aardman are unique, refreshing and entertaining. In the time of HD, the characters are a throwback to imperfection, and in spite of their flaws they rise to noble heights.
http://www.thepirates-movie.com/