A hypnotising effect on hero

to sink their teeth into!

Hart’s role is one of his least annoying as he’s forced to tone down his often overbearing comedic style and Helms is equally adept at voicing a cranky school principal as he is a delusional, pants-wearing wannabe hero – sometimes within seconds of each other in the same scene.

Nick Kroll lends his nasally tones to bad guy Professor Poopypants, who is terrible at trying to hide his evil agenda; trying to wipe out all of the laughter in the world.

Your funny bone won’t be given a vigorous workout with Captain Underpants, but Stoller does live up to his pretty stellar comedic background at times.

Some gags – a ‘trapped’ mime, relentless name-mocking – have been done before but there are other clever jokes, like ridiculing the cost of expensive action set-pieces and a running gag about the school secretary being on hold on the phone longer than someone trying to get an electrician out to the house when the TV is on the blink.

Themes of young friendship being tested and the power of imagination will resonate with kids and Captain Underpants is the perfect school summer holiday flick for primary pupils to lap up.

It may not transcend into age-no-barrier animation favourite territory, but right up until the manic ending it’s a guilty pleasure that proves to be a welcome 90-minute distraction from more serious life.

After all, it’s not every day you see a giant toilet going on a rampage!