This is the latest cinematic cash cow from Tim Hill, director of "Garfield 2" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks." "Hop" follows the formula of both these vibrantly-coloured money-makers, taking bug-eyed CGI animals and planting them in a live-action setting to wreak havoc and embarrass the helpless human beings. This shall truly be a modern-day "Citizen Kane."
On this occasion, the computer-generated critter is the Easter Bunny, or at least the heir (or hare) to the candy-covered thrown. E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand, "Get Him to the Greek") is the son of the Easter Bunny (Hugh Laurie, "Monsters vs Aliens") and lives on, where else, Easter Island.
It is intended that E.B. take on the global egg-delivering position, but he has other plans, much to his father's disapproval. And so, the aspiring drummer runs away to Hollywood just two weeks before the seasonal holiday to live his drum-bashing dream. That's right, kids; if you feel pressure from your loving parents, just run away and travel to the other side of the planet and do whatever you please.
There, E.B. meets Homo sapien Fred O'Hare (James Marsden, "Death at a Funeral") by very nearly being hit by his car. Sadly, E.B. is still breathing, and Fred takes him into his sister's boss' mansion while the big man is away on vacation. You see, 37-year-old Fred was just recently living with his parents and has been kicked out due to being a massive disappointment. That poor grown man!
And then, a massive plot twist happens to the horrified shock of the audience, to the surprise of every single popcorn-muncher in the theatre: E.B. starts to screw up Fred's daily activities, from job interviews to general ventures outdoors. I bet you weren't expecting that, were you, moviegoer?!
Meanwhile, the Easter Bunny, worried sick about his missing son, sends out The Pink Berets, three karate-chopping ninja bunnies who are determined to find the AWOL cottontail. Also, there's a rebellious Hispanic chick scheming to take over the Easter Bunny's job and control the holiday for his own evil deeds. He's squeak raving mad!
"Hop" is nothing more than what you'd expect following hearing a brief summary of its plot. It's silly, it's goofy, it's family-friendly and it's a little lacking in the brains department. If you've seen either of the two "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movies, you'll know what to anticipate here.
Kids will no doubt get a kick out of all the slapstick buffoonery and will surely fall in love with the cheeky animated protagonist, while adult reaction will be mixed at best. I wouldn't say I was bored or found "Hop" tiring, just that I watched complacently and chuckled a couple of times at the most. "Hop" is not as agonising a watch as most would fear, demonstrating some mild entertainment while nonetheless not being particularly impressive or inspiring.
Brand's voice is a nice fit with the slacker rabbit, his notable Essex accent a decent change from other films of this ilk. His fluffy character gets all the one-liners, most of the attention he hogs and is the film's main driving force, and is sure to spring a succession of beanie baby toys. His live-action co-star is a lively companion, Marsden playing the suffering human tormented by the mess the carrot-chomper frequently makes -- and that's not just the jelly beans he defecates.
The release date of "Hop" was set to coincide with the Easter holidays, to catch kids when they're in an egg-hunting, chocolate-devouring mood -- it is little more than this. Slack in the head and deprived of originality, it's hard to feel that Illumination Entertainment's latest offering isn't a rip-off of ol' Saint Nic, given the extravagant factory and world-travelling sled that the Easter Bunny rides. If you have the chance, give "Hop" a skip.
5/10
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