CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS

OUT 24 JULY / CERT U / 89 MINS DIRECTOR David Soren CAST Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch, Ed Helms, Jordan Peele, Nick Kroll, Kristen Schaal

A GROWN MAN running around in tighty whitey underwear. A villain named Professor Poopypants. Fart gags. Toilet jokes. If you’re already chuckling, then chances are you’re the target audience for Captain Underpants. Or six. Based on a popular book series, it focuses on prankster pals george (Hart) and Harold (Middleditch). They convince their fun-loathing principal (Helms) he’s superhero Underpants, but run into trouble when a real villain shows up. It’s hit-and-miss, frontloading the madness then attempting to leaven it with chatter about friendships and kindness — two tones that don’t sit easily with one another. Only fitfully fun, albeit bolstered by spritely vocal work.