School holidays would not be complete without a new loveable hero in a children's movie.
Enter DreamWorks' Turbo (voiced by Ryan Reynolds), the ordinary snail who dreams big but is constrained by his physical traits. He comes out of his shell when a freak accident transforms his previously slow and boring life, endowing him with super-speed powers. Against the odds, he strives to achieve his dream of winning the Indy 500.
The plot of the underdog turned unlikely star is rooted in many a traditional kids' tale. The speed theme is reminiscent of the classic Tortoise and the Hare story, with the racing theme unashamedly deriving elements from Disney Pixar's successful Cars franchise - even down to the animations of the characters.
It even smacks at times of a revved-up animated kids version of The Fast and the Furious, and just in case you were in any doubt, actress Michelle Rodriguez is the voice of the Hispanic tough-chick beautiful car mechanic, an animated version of Letty Ortiz, her character in the original The Fast and the Furious.
Turbo is so silly it is engaging, and although a little predictable at times, the animation is sophisticated and the movie has plenty of laughs. The voice cast is top notch, with Paul Giamatti's drone as older brother Chet a perfect foil for Turbo.
