‘Hop’ to it and enjoy
GET WOKEN UP: FAMILY FRIENDLY MOVIE WITH NO WOKE LIFE LESSONS The Easter Bunny’s son follows his dream to Hollywood.
Animated movies these days automatically come with life lessons included. It’s okay, but in the case of streaming and circuit releases over the past few years, these lessons have become too woke, too in your face, and consequently, they successfully deflate every other merit that the storyline may have to offer.
It has become a yawn for adults, who have to sit through it, and none of the flicks have managed to hold the attention of kids – not mine, anyway.
Then along bops Hop. It’s a delightful film about the Easter Bunny which caters for a family audience without trying to teach us all a Hollywood lesson.
It’s about Easter, but even though the holiday has past, the movie is a fun watch throughout the year.
It also marks a welcome return of Russell Brand to screens as the voice of main character bunny, EB, and a surprise cameo.
Hop tells the story of EB, short for – you guess it – Easter Bunny.
He is the teenage son of the current Easter Bunny, and they all live at their giant chocolate bunny and egg factory on, well, Easter Island.
EB is next in line for the throne, but has other ideas.
The young bun would rather be a drummer in a band than assuming the reins, managing the production of millions of treats and delivering them to kids around the world.
Note the similarities in legend between the bunny and Santa? Here, the North Pole becomes Easter Island; the toy factory a fascinating churn of chocolate confection; Santa’s sleigh is the bunny spaceship-like coach, pulled across the sky not by reindeer, but by hundreds of chicks.
Easter is not often explored in film, especially when considering the raft of Santa movies released every festive season. And while the themes are akin, it’s fresh as a daisy, too.
So, EB gets a bee in his bonnet and runs away to Hollywood to pursue his dream, leaving his dad’s succession plan in tatters and opening the door for a rebellious chick-foreman in the chocolate factory to try and stage a coup.
EB, meanwhile, is in Los Angeles where he meets Fred, an aimless young man who accidentally hits him with his car and, of course, discovers he’s encountered a talking rabbit who just happens to be the Easter Bunny. The evidence? EB poos jellybeans.
Together, the pair trips through two adventures, scuppering rebel-chick’s plot to take over Easter Island and its operations, and EB’s entry into showbusiness as a contestant on The Hoff Knows Talent. Yes, you read right. David Hasselhoff stars in a fantastic parody of himself and well-known talent shows. It is nothing short of brilliant.
The intersection between animation and real-life characters is seamless and a major step up from decades-old combos like Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
It feels real, believable and the cast’s interaction with animation is flawless.
It is a visually engaging experience.
As the story unfolds, the lessons do creep in, but it’s told via the adventures of an animated buddy movie that’s got all the formulaic aspects down pat without being boring.
My kids did not take their eyes off the screen, and neither did I. Because there are bits and bobs in the flick for everyone.
The life lessons focused on are the themes of responsibility, family expectations and, of course, following your dreams.
Brand’s voice artistry injects a good measure of humour into situations. He turns EB into a playful, somewhat mischievous character that’s irresistibly lovable.
Hop is one of the finest animated family movies in a long time. It celebrates traditional values, has a real-life and voice cast which binds together a solid movie that will inspire and entertain.