Dir. Tim Hill, 2011, USA, 95 mins
Cast. James Marsden, Kaley Cuoco, Russell Brand (voice), Hugh Laurie (voice), Hank Azaria (voice)
Review by Michelle Moore
Are you a chocolate lover? Do you enjoy watching films that feature cute and cuddly creatures and are you particularly fond of films where animals are able to talk? If you answered ‘yes’ to the questions above then new live-action/CGI-animated film HOP is likely to be right up your street.
From the director of Alvin and the Chipmunks and the producers of Despicable Me comes a tale of lovable bunnies, cute chicks and a candy factory Willy Wonka would feel right at home in. The movie tells of E.B. (voiced by Brand), a teenage rabbit who is on the verge of taking over as the Easter bunny from his father (voiced by Laurie). He leaves Easter Island and heads for Hollywood to pursue his dream of becoming a drummer. Just as he arrives he is hit by the car of Fred O’Hare (Marsden), a man with no job prospects who is currently house sitting for his sister’s boss. Fred is manipulated by E.B. to take him in while back on Easter Island his father sends out a crack team of ‘pink beret’ rabbits to search for his son. Meanwhile, an evil Easter Chick named Carlos (voiced by Azaria), attempts to take over Easter.
The combination of live action and CGI is perfect. There are scenes that focus on each of these aspects individually; some dedicated to the CGI animals, others featuring the live action characters. Then there are those that mingle the two styles, as when E.B. moves and talks with Marden’s character
James Marsden has appeared in a wide variety of films, and taken on both comedy and dramatic roles. Here he plays a 30-year-old laze-about who, although talented, bounces from job to job, claiming he has yet to find the right career. At the prospect of becoming the Easter Bunny he becomes like a child at Christmas or a chocoholic at Easter: all smiles, excitement, extreme enthusiasm and a little bonkers. Russell Brand contributes his voice as leading animated character E.B. In the UK he may be known for his rowdy antics and comedy, but in the US it is his marriage and his roles in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Bedtime Stories for which he is recognised. He is perfect in his voicing of E.B. mainly due to his ability to make any word funny. He adds just the right amount of humour to each line and scene to make the viewer not only adore the character’s appearance but enjoy his personality, while an all-star comedic cast including Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) and Hugh Laurie (House, M.D.) add to the fun.
It is impossible to put into words just how adorable and enjoyable this film is. Forget Scooby Doo and Alvin and the Chipmunks, E.B. and the clucky chicks are the must-see animals of the moment.
