*i wrote this for my university's newspaper, so bare with the format, please!
This past year has been big for animated movies. Hits like "Cars" and "Open Season" have been box office successes. So what exactly do directors like David Bowers and Sam Fell consider while trying to make "Flushed Away" stand out? For starters, it helps having a creative and original plot. And whether or not Bowers and Fell actually thought about gearing this movie directly towards kids, they were clever enough to add jokes that can be enjoyed by adults.
Hugh Jackman voices Roddy, a sophisticated mouse who lives as a pet to an upper-class family in a Kensington neighborhood. When a sewer rat named Sid comes out of the sink, he immediately becomes keen on the lifestyle Roddy lives. In attempt to get Sid back to his home, his plan backfires and Roddy finds himself in the sewers. It seems there is a whole other world, which Roddy was never aware of, living in the sewers. Desperate to get back home, Roddy meets Rita (Kate Winslet), a scavenger who agrees to get him home in exchange for some of his families' (well, owners') jewels. Little does anybody know that this "city's" fate is doomed, as the villainous Toad (Ian McKellen) plans to unleash a wall that will leave the entire metropolis flooded. And since Rita has taken the wire needed to do so, she and Roddy are forced to take a detour on their way up top, to avoid running into Whitey (Bill Nighy) and Spike (Andy Sarkis), employees of the Toad. After seeing this "city" where rats live freely, and witnessing Rita with her family, Roddy feels lonely and questions whether he belongs on top.
"Flushed" is a creative and well-written animated film. A film well suited for every age, I will admit that I laughed on more than one occasion. With a cast whose voices were both playful and energetic, they were easily able to charm the audience with their witty one-liners. In fact, "Cars" may have some competition come time of the Oscars. Although I question the mad rush of animated films, "Flushed Away" is one that is definitely worthwhile.
This past year has been big for animated movies. Hits like "Cars" and "Open Season" have been box office successes. So what exactly do directors like David Bowers and Sam Fell consider while trying to make "Flushed Away" stand out? For starters, it helps having a creative and original plot. And whether or not Bowers and Fell actually thought about gearing this movie directly towards kids, they were clever enough to add jokes that can be enjoyed by adults.
Hugh Jackman voices Roddy, a sophisticated mouse who lives as a pet to an upper-class family in a Kensington neighborhood. When a sewer rat named Sid comes out of the sink, he immediately becomes keen on the lifestyle Roddy lives. In attempt to get Sid back to his home, his plan backfires and Roddy finds himself in the sewers. It seems there is a whole other world, which Roddy was never aware of, living in the sewers. Desperate to get back home, Roddy meets Rita (Kate Winslet), a scavenger who agrees to get him home in exchange for some of his families' (well, owners') jewels. Little does anybody know that this "city's" fate is doomed, as the villainous Toad (Ian McKellen) plans to unleash a wall that will leave the entire metropolis flooded. And since Rita has taken the wire needed to do so, she and Roddy are forced to take a detour on their way up top, to avoid running into Whitey (Bill Nighy) and Spike (Andy Sarkis), employees of the Toad. After seeing this "city" where rats live freely, and witnessing Rita with her family, Roddy feels lonely and questions whether he belongs on top.
"Flushed" is a creative and well-written animated film. A film well suited for every age, I will admit that I laughed on more than one occasion. With a cast whose voices were both playful and energetic, they were easily able to charm the audience with their witty one-liners. In fact, "Cars" may have some competition come time of the Oscars. Although I question the mad rush of animated films, "Flushed Away" is one that is definitely worthwhile.