Rollicking ‘Pirates’ couldn’t be jollier

Animated yarn brims with wit and brilliant sight gags.

The gang at Aardman Animations, producers of the whimsical and wonderful “Wallace & Gromit” films, have turned to the high seas for their new animated tale, “The Pirates: Band of Misfits.”

This tale of a pirate and his crew is the company’s most entertaining venture — without a Brit and his best buddy dog — yet.

It follows the effort of a pirate captain (voiced by Hugh Grant) to finally win pirate-of-the-year honors. He’s out of the running until he meets Charles Darwin (David Tennant), who notices the ship’s favorite parrot is actually a thought-to-be-extinct dodo.

The buccaneer boss looks to use the bird to win a science prize and take the loot he gets to win the pirate prize.

From background scenes that are so detailed that there’s no way to appreciate them fully in one screening, to a funny script by Gideon Defoe based on his own novel, this film from directors Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt works on every level.

The voice casting — especially Grant as the captain — is spot on. He brings a bravado to his voice that he normally doesn’t use. It’s a perfect “The Pirates: Band of Misfits” Grade: A- With of Hugh Grant, David Tennant, Jeremy Piven, Brian Blessed and Salma Hayek. Directed by Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt.

for mild action, rude humor and some language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 44 minutes. Bottom line: Smart, funny, for kids and adults. selection that makes the captain sound like a character from a Monty Python sketch.

The other voices — Jeremy Piven, Brian Blessed, Salma Hayek, etc. — are equally as interesting, and made even better by a bounty of funny jokes — many delivered by the actors and some hidden in the background by the animators.

The film is that wonderful blend of smart writing that adults will love and sight gags that will keep young ones entertained.

The Aardman army is best known for the look of its clay animation films, and that’s where this effort shines.

Yo-ho-go!