In an era where a constant flow of crass, computer-animated kiddie flicks are flung onto screens month by Hollywood after month, "The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists" is by all means a great breath of fresh air. Made in good old stop-motion animation, the film concerns the adventures of the Pirate Captain and his crew of sillies, possibly the world's worst pirates. Attempting to win Pirate of the Year award, the Pirate Captain ends up accidentally kidnapping a young Charles Darwin. So begins the eponymous adventure, with a pirate-despising Queen Victoria as a villain.
The film is by all means lots of fun. It doesn't take itself seriously by all means, and its ludicrous intentional misuse of history and historical figures makes it all the more enjoyable. Unfortunately, as with some of Aardman's feature films to date, the film seems to suffer from the fact that these productions have to be made in partnership with Hollywood studios with brainless executives calling the shots. Moments of brashness and contrived sentiment are hammered into what is a film with very British sensibilities. Needless to say, the more enjoyable aspects of the film certainly make up for these flaws, and the quality of animation is certainly top-notch. This band of misfits certainly gets my seal of approval.
The film is by all means lots of fun. It doesn't take itself seriously by all means, and its ludicrous intentional misuse of history and historical figures makes it all the more enjoyable. Unfortunately, as with some of Aardman's feature films to date, the film seems to suffer from the fact that these productions have to be made in partnership with Hollywood studios with brainless executives calling the shots. Moments of brashness and contrived sentiment are hammered into what is a film with very British sensibilities. Needless to say, the more enjoyable aspects of the film certainly make up for these flaws, and the quality of animation is certainly top-notch. This band of misfits certainly gets my seal of approval.