KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: * * *
Veteran of plasticine animation, Aardman Animations (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run), ventures into new territory with this film, creating its first computer-generated animation in partnership with American DreamWorks studio (Shrek), and the result isn't too bad.
Set in London, Flushed Away is the story of Roddy St James, a posh pet mouse who lives in a swanky penthouse in Kensington, whose life is turned upside down when a sewer rat called Sid decides to move into his digs. Roddy's attempt to get rid of Sid by flushing him down the toilet backfires, and Roddy instead finds himself flushed into the sewer.
Much to his surprise, Roddy discovers an underground city down in the sewer, inhabited by all sorts of creatures and characters, and with the help of a streetwise rat called Rita, tries to get back to his lovely but lonely home.
On the way though, Roddy develops a new understanding about family and friendship, and has to deal with villainous Toad (McKellen), who has plans to destroy the underground metropolis.
Roddy, with his wit, clumsiness, self-contained nature and preference for the nicer things in life, is similar to Hugh Grant in About a Boy. Australian Hugh Jackman had the job of voicing the British mouse, and does an all right job. Bill Nighy does an excellent job of voicing the slightly stupid but heartfelt hench rat Whitey, and Kate Winslet gives Rita just the right amount of spunk and sensitivity.
While there is no doubt the humour and action have been created to appeal to a broader audience, Aardman has successfully retained its trademark traits, such as goofiness of character, a plasticine look, and inventiveness.
What does suffer is the comedy. The droll English wit Aardman is renowned for surfaces occasionally, but there are noticeably fewer laughs compared with previous efforts.
With more ideas, creativity and detail than seen in the average animation these days, Flushed Away is almost too full-on to make the impact it deserves.
The use of computer-generated animation has allowed the Aardman team to throw too many ideas and details together into all elements of this film.
The upside is that as this family film gets thrashed on the DVD player by young Roddy fans, there will be plenty to keep adult viewers entranced during repeat screenings.
Verdict: A visual overload lacking the magic of previous plasticine animations
Voices by: Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Bill Nighy
Directors: Sam Fell, David Bowers
Running Time: 85 mins
Rating: PG, contains coarse language
Screening: SkyCity, Hoyts, and Berkeley
