By GRAHAM REID
(Herald rating: * * * * )
One of the nominees for best animated film at Monday's Oscars, this visually clever and extremely witty flick about a wide-eyed techno-whizz should deservedly pack in the small fry and adult companions over the school holidays.
Jimmy's job, once the plot starts
rolling, is to rescue all the adults of Retroville - a town which exists somewhere between idyllic Happy Days and a hi-tech future world - who have been abducted by aliens to provide a sacrifice for their chicken-like god. Jimmy and the kids construct a space fleet out of the new amusement park (hilarious) and go in search of the aliens, adults and adventure.
A good thing too because Retroland, through the eyes of Jimmy and his sometimes nerdish friends, is a pretty dull place where adults do what adults do: don't let kids have their own kind of fun. But when they are gone the kids realise eating as much candyfloss as they want isn't quite all it's cracked up to be. Yes, there's a subtext that should have adults relieved and happy.
The animation marries whizzbang for kids and amusing detail for adults, there are some deft characterisations (the cool Fonzie-type who crumbles is a standout), the jokes are right on the money for the kid demographic (prim adults belching, a mechanical dog defecating nuts and bolts, some classroom fun) and the soundtrack features the Ramones. Can't ask for better than that.
The chicken-like god is almost terrifyingly realistic.
Overlong by maybe 10 minutes for real small-fry, it's biggest appeal will be to those between 8 and 12, although the thirtysomething guy to my left rocked with laughter all the way through and the smart 13-year-old to my right came out impressed. The fellow sitting between them thought it was excellent also.
The adage applies: if you don't have a kid in your family to take, borrow one.
Cast: The voices of Debi Derryberry, Patrick Stewart, Martin Short
Director: John A. Davis
Running time: 82 minutes
Rating: G
Screening: Hoyts, Village, Berkeley cinemas from Thursday
