Cute rodents, cute lines and an interesting premise do not necessarily a good summer movie make. Even 3D can’t raise G-Force above ordinary in the flood of animated children’s fare.
Having set its own bar extremely high with Up, Disney’s in the unenviable position of being compared to itself. Up is an incredibly witty, wise and humane offering that is as entertaining for adults as it is children. G-Force isn’t. It lacks that certain something – clever warmth – that is essential to a successful film that spans the age boundaries.
It’s not lacking for talent – Tray Morgan, Steve Buscemi, Bill Nighy, Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz, Will Arnett, and Jon Favreau for heaven’s sake - and they give it their all. But they can’t stop a flawed film from sagging where it should be supple or boring when it should be tight and mighty.
This flm is not served by being shown in 3D. The edges look harsh and false and the characters are exaggerated and too bright. Animation needs warmth to cast its veil of wonder and fun but instead, G-Force is dark, dingy and industrial looking. Up achieved warmth with a cheery palette, which was enhanced and made quite magical in 3D.
G-Force is the name of a group of guinea pig spies hired by the government to put a stop to a crazed billionaire’s plot to destroy the world, in a nutshell. Okay, well it’s for children, so… Check. And they have a lot of personality. Check.
But complexity is lacking and by now, audiences are sophisticated even for animation, to expect a little depth. The bad guy – Bill Nighy who really doesn’t suit dark, jagged-edged 3D – is a non-entity. He is evil, says and does evil, but there is nothing to chow down – no history, no depth. He uses one expression throughout – grim.
What’s a cute rodent film without threat of capture and disposal? No one like rodents, right? Wrong. Cartoon rodents we love. But a subplot follows various ways in which the G-Forcers face doom and it gets a bit tired. Their ‘unit’ is threatened with closure, a nod to the recession, and death is always in the air.
Every single animal movie uses this cliché to wrest emotion from children and fragile adults. We need new thinking, maybe cute critters could head off to university or go back to the land or sign a Hollywood contract. Enough of this extermination nonsense.
In summary, good animation requires depth, perception, wit and plainly speaking, it should be actually visible. Leave muddy and dark for the Saw franchise.
Methinks producer Jerry Bruckheimer has met his Waterloo. He and animation do not go together.
3-D animated action adventure
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