Flushed Away (2006, Computer-Animated Adventure Movie) – 4/10 review

Hugh Jackman: Roddy Kate Winslet: Rita Jean Reno: Le Frog Bill Nighy: Whitey Andy Serkis: Spike Shane Richie: Sid Ian McKellen: The Toad Director: David Bowers Director: Sam Fell Producer: Cecil Kramer Producer: Peter Lord Producer: David Sproxton Writer (Story): Sam Fell Writer (Story): Peter Lord Writer (Story): Dick Clement Writer (Story): Ian La Frenais Writer (Screenplay): Dick Clement Writer (Screenplay): Ian La Frenais Writer (Screenplay): Chris Lloyd Writer (Screenplay): Joe Keenan Writer (Screenplay): Will Davies Head Of Character Animation: Jeff Newitt Sam Fell: Liam, Prohpet, Ladykiller, Fanseller David Bowers: Goldfish, Fly, Shocky, Henchfrog #1, Tadpole

Flushed Away (2006) Roddy St. James, a pampered rodent, finds himself in the London sewer and desperate to get back to his posh Kensington residence. 4/10 Clearly trying too hard to be wacky and charming from the off but instantly and never succeeding. I cannot fathom movies that insist we watch cowardly, self-obsessed, charmless fools ("useless, whiny, stuck-up, pompous big girl’s blouse" according to the script) just so that they can have a character arc. Nor movies that deliberately include a mime under the (criminally mistaken) belief that they are hilarious. Still, this miserable quality of work fits in perfectly with Dreamworks Animation’s contemporary output and I suppose, on the plus side, it doesn’t promote bestiality. One thing it proves beyond all doubt is that Nick Park’s efforts with Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run were more than just iconic design. Much, much more. This movie contains mild bad language and mild comic violence. Classified U by BBFC. Universal: Suitable for All.

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