Easter movie offers good mix for kids and parents
A mix of animated characters and live-action characters tend to
be a recipe for a bad movie
– think
”
Alvin and the Chipmunks.
”
It included three animated chipmunks who invaded the home of a
man named Dave (Jason Lee.) As a kid, I enjoyed the cartoon-version
of
”
Alvin and the Chipmunks,
”
but the mix of the animated animals running around a live set
was just a little too cheesy for me.
I expected the same thing when I went to see
”
Hop,
”
which is directed by the same person who directed
”
Alvin and the Chipmunks,
”
Tim Hill. But the movie was organized a bit differently. It
reminded me more of
”
Enchanted
”
than
”
Alvin and the Chipmunks.
”
The movie starts in an animated world on Easter Island and then
moves to the real world of Los Angeles.
Easter movie offers good mix for kids and parents
A mix of animated characters and live-action characters tend to be a recipe for a bad movie – think “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” It included three animated chipmunks who invaded the home of a man named Dave (Jason Lee.) As a kid, I enjoyed the cartoon-version of “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” but the mix of the animated animals running around a live set was just a little too cheesy for me.
I expected the same thing when I went to see “Hop,” which is directed by the same person who directed “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” Tim Hill. But the movie was organized a bit differently. It reminded me more of “Enchanted” than “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” The movie starts in an animated world on Easter Island and then moves to the real world of Los Angeles.
E.B. is a small rabbit who visits the Easter factory for the first time. His father is the Easter Bunny (voiced by Hugh Laurie) and someday it will be his job. The factory is a magical place where all the candy and eggs for Easter are made. As a young bunny, E.B. is excited at the prospect of delivering Easter baskets all around the world.
In the real world, near Los Angeles, a young Fred O’Hare (Coleton Ray) spies the Easter Bunny one Sunday morning. He tries to get a picture, but the bunny is gone before he can capture it on film.
Twenty years later, Fred (James Marsden) is an unemployed 20-something living with his parents. It’s to the point where his parents and siblings decide to hold an intervention to push him out of the house. His parents think some tough love will force him to get a job since he blows off every job interview he has. Only his sister Sam (Kaley Cuoco) takes pity on him. She gets him a job interview at a video game company and offers him a place to stay.
Sam’s boss is out of town and she was supposed to house sit his mansion. She gives her brother the key with explicit guidelines to feed the dogs and stay downstairs.
Meanwhile, it is time for E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand) to take over as the Easter Bunny. His father is ready to pass the magical egg scepter to him, but E. B. doesn’t want it. He wants to be a drummer. His father doesn’t like his dream and tells him he is selfish for not thinking of all the children waiting for their Easter baskets. E.B. decides to run away from home, rather than take over the duty.
E.B. heads to Hollywood, where he thinks all dreams come true. In a joke that was way over the heads of all the little ones in the audience, E.B. heads to the Playboy Mansion, where a map of stars’ homes says it is the perfect place for “sexy bunnies from all over the world.” Of course, E.B. is booted from the spot. He wanders around Hollywood at night – a place much cleaner and less crowded than the real Hollywood would be. He is wandering around near Beverly Hills when he is hit by a car.
Fred, of course, believes he’s just hit an ordinary rabbit and tries to put it out of its misery. But when the rabbit starts talking to him, he assumes he is hallucinating. E.B. plays like he is injured and Fred reluctantly invites him into the house. He offers E.B. some carrots and puts him up in the garage. E.B., of course, sneaks into the house and destroys the upstairs off-limits area. Fred tries to abandon him in the wilderness of the Hollywood Hills on his way to his job interview, but the bunny is hard to shake.
E.B. shows one of his magical tricks – pooping out jelly beans – and tells Fred he is the Easter Bunny. Fred reveals his sighting as a boy and agrees to keep the rabbit with him. The two soon begin to bond and Fred helps E.B. achieve his dream of being a famous drummer, including a scene that involves a cameo by David Hasselhoff. Fred doesn’t get as much help in the career department from E.B. In fact, E.B. causes trouble for him with his family and his job interview at the video game company.
Meanwhile, a scheming chick (Hank Azaria) is trying to take over the Easter operation from E.B.’s father. Carlos, the chick, is glad the heir is gone and he is tired of being the second-in-command without getting any of the glory. While a trio of pink beret bunnies hunt down E.B. on behalf of his father, Carlos tries to keep him gone just long enough to take over the reins before Easter comes.
The movie has plenty of jokes for adults, but the kids liked the physical comedy – such as Carlos’ training to be the Easter Bunny. Though E.B. is animated and the rest of the movie with him is live action, it’s not that jarring. Brand has the perfect sarcastic personality for the bunny and Marsden is enjoyable as the wayward slacker.
