As stupid and inane as it is funny,
Hop is Hollywood's single (I think) attempt at an Easter movie. Combining very good computer animation with live action footage,
Hop succeeds at one and fails at the other. The story revolves around the Easter Bunny's son: E.B. He appreciates what his father does, but is not inspired to follow in his footsteps, E.B. wants to be a drummer in a band. He runs away from Easter Island (yep, that Easter Island) to Hollywood, and proceeds to run into fellow slacker Fred O'Hare (seriously, writers, do better with the names...geez) who is having problems of his own, be it keeping a job or moving out of his parents' house. The two get into some zany, slapstick, tired and played-out situations, make self-discoveries, happy ending, roll credits. Very vanilla and by the numbers.
Hop does have its share of genuinely funny bits, all at the hands of the CGI characters. Ironic that the real actors are out performed by the fake ones, but I digress. The animated characters look very convincing in the real world, but when real actors are placed in CGI environments, the illusion falls flat.
Russell Brand is E.B. I am liking this guy more and more, his delivery is great, and he really has that English charm that Dudley Moore brought to the screen. He has really grown on me. Hugh Laurie is the Easter Bunny, using his natural English accent. It's kind of weird, I grew up watching him on the BBC's
Blackadder, so I know what he normally sounds like, but after almost a decade of
House, I can't hear his voice without waiting for the American, snarky, wise-ass remark at the end of a sentence. Hank Azaria voice work is brilliant as always, playing the disgruntled Easter chick Carlos. Gary Cole, Kaley Cuoco, and Elizabeth Perkins are the remaining human cast.
Like I said, equal parts stupid and funny,
Hop is definitely one for the family. Kids will love the cute animation and goofy, slapstick humor, and parents.....well, let's just say you won't hate it and have probably been forced to sit through much worse choices. Give it a shot, you might be surprised. 6.25/10.
See you tomorrow, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!
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