PLAYMOBIL: THE MOVIE
Everything is yawn-some…
OUT 9 AUGUST
The German rival to Lego, Playmobil has been around since 1974, but its figures and playsets have always aimed for the younger end of the market. So it goes with Playmobil: The Movie, a helter skelter of a movie that lacks (deliberately) the self-awareness of the Lego movies. By comparison, this animated adventure plays it unwaveringly straight.
Opening in live-action mode, it sees orphaned 10-year-old Charlie (Gabriel Bateman) and his older sister Marla (Anya TaylorJoy) get sucked into a Playmobil universe, where they’re turned into plastic figures. As Marla and Charlie try to escape, they encounter Vikings, cowboys, pirates, knights… you name it, there’s a Playmobil spin on it.
Directed by Disney veteran Lino DiSalvo (head of animation on Frozen), its plot skids around as Charlie and Marla get separated – after he’s captured by Roman leader Emperor Maximus (Adam Lambert), she sets out to save him, with the help of food-truck driver Del (Jim Gaffigan) and suave secret agent
Rex Dasher (Daniel Radcliffe). It’s all very trippy and daft as a brush but, with the exception of Radcliffe’s Bond-like spy – who comes with his own theme tune – much of the humour misfires.
Instead, we have relentless chase scenes, with brightly coloured worlds whizzing by at top speed. At one point, aviator Amelia Earhart is even invoked – “Adventure is worthwhile in itself,” we’re reminded. True, but it doesn’t hurt to bring a sense of direction along. James Mottram
THE VERDICT
Definitely one for the under10s, with little cheer for accompanying adults.