Storks (U)
Let’s face it, most of us were told the story of storks delivering babies by awkward, nervy parents when our curiosity got the better of us in between playing with toys and watching cartoons on TV.
The Warner Animation Group follows up its critically acclaimed Lego Movie with a neat twist on storks’ extracurricular activities as the long-necked birds transition from babies to turning up on doorsteps with parcels.
Like the studio’s first big screen outing, Storks has two directors, with prolific comedy helmer Nicholas Stoller (the Bad Neighbours flicks, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) teaming up with debut director Doug Sweetland.
Stoller also wrote the script and his penchant for rattling the funnybone shines through in what is one of the funniest animations to hit cinemas in years.
Co-leads Andy Samberg ( Junior) – a stork – and Katie Crown – voicing teenage human Tulip – trade barbs like the genre’s best double acts; the grouchy former sounding a lot like The Lego Movie’s Batman, Will Arnett, and the latter an ever-imaginative and energetic presence.
Kelsey Grammer (Hunter) has his best role in years lending his distinctive tones to Junior’s high-powered boss; a loathsome figure who only sets up base in a glass office to watch oblivious birds fly into the windows and uses