Flushed Away
Making a movie for kids is one thing, but making it appeal to older audiences as well is an entirely different ballgame. In the opening scenes of Dreamwork’s Animation’s new film, “Flushed Away,” it appeares that the producers had not understood that point. Jokes and gags that would have a child audience laughing out loud could leave some parents or older audiences in the dust. As the movie progressed and the situation for the characters quickly changed, the definite change in scenery gradually grows on the audience as the gags become much funnier and clever than before.
“Flushed Away” features unnoticeable voices from a stellar cast that quickly puts emphasis on the characters and the often hilarious situations that they get themselves into. The multi-talented Hugh Jackman provides the voice for Roddy, a luxury living pet rat, who’s owner just so happens to live in a penthouse apartment among the streets of London. While the family is gone, Roddy likes to relax with his popular Barbie-Doll friends and create his own luxury living space across the open rooms of the house. His fun is soon interrupted as a sewer rat breaks in and happens to flush Roddy down the toilet. Roddy ends up in the sewer cities of a mini-London, where he finds streets and cities full of rats, frogs, and hilariously shrieking slugs that amusingly like to break out is song from time to time. As Roddy makes his way through the sewers he is mistaken for a thief and left in a world in which he is vastly unfamiliar with. Luckily, Roddy meets Rita (Kate Winslet), a clever scavenger rat who seems to know how to navigate he way through the sewers in her trusty boat, Jammy Dodger. Throw in a villainous toad, evil plans of domination, and a dreaded mercenary frog and you have yourself quite a problem.
This change in scenery for Roddy should come as a breath of fresh air, rather than sewage waste for the older audience. The minute that Roddy steps foot on the sewage sidewalks, the jokes start flying. Roddy is met with an atmospheric barrage of jokes and gags. The more extravagant the situations become, the more the belly laughs start to emit.
The downfall to Flushed Away is in the voice casting. Even though the talent was very good and the voices were appropriate for the setting, they did not, however, seem to resemble the characters. Yes, there are exceptions like Andy Serkis or French actor Jean Reno voicing the slyly spying hit man, Le Frog, but thats why he is the funniest character in the movie. The producers of the film could have given an audience, especially an older audience, even more laughs had they sprouted resembling voice talent for their characters. This tactic is exhibited in the recent Pixar Animation, “Cars,” which features noticeable voices like Larry the Cable Guy as a rusted tow truck and George Carlin as a dazed and confused jalopy VW van from the 60’s. Characters like this, as well as Le Frog, make for a memorable movie experience.
Still, “Flushed Away” is a surprisingly enjoyable film with a fluid storyline and a heartfelt ending which underlines an important message. This is a journey through one of the least likeliest of places that is fun for the whole family.
Flushed Away
Rated PG for crude humor and some language
Runtime: 90 min.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Bill Nighy, and Andy Serkis
Directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell
