High concept but sadly uninspired
Director Ash Brannon brings Pixar and Sony bona fides to the animated feature “Rock Dog,” an adaptation of rocker Zheng Jun’s graphic novel, which mixes Tibetan culture with contemporary Brit-rock and adds a splash of mob movies for kicks.
We start in a village on Snow Mountain, where a young mastiff, Bodi (Luke Wilson) discovers rock music on a radio dropped from a biplane and is soon obsessed with the tunes of Angus Scattergood.
After a rift with his father over playing music or protecting sheep from wolves, Bodi heads for “the city” to find his tribe. Through sheer fannish persistence, he connects with super-cool, super-isolated rocker Angus (Eddie Izzard), a lean, white, Wayfarered cat, a sort of Gallagher brother, by way of Russell Brand and Blur.
Soon they’re writing songs and eluding capture by the wolves, who are now suited up and organized into a crime organization.
While a mix of “Zootopia” and “Sing!” with hints of “Kung Fu Panda” seems like a great idea, “Rock Dog” doesn’t gel and lacks the kind of visual kinetic energy we’ve come to expect from films of this ilk.
“Rock Dog” is a perfectly fine and inoffensive afternoon at the movie theater, with a few great tunes, classics and original.
Noodle-limbed feline rocker Angus Scattergood is an inspired creation.
But you’ll hardly be itching for a re-watch anytime soon — there’s just not enough there to inspire any passion.
“Rock Dog.” Running time: 1 hour, 20 minutes. Rating: PG, for action and language. Playing: In general release.