The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists Blu-ray Review

Director: Peter Lord

Cast: Hugh Grant, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Martin Freeman, Salma Hayek

Running Time: 87 minutes

Certificate: U

Extra Features: Filmmakers’ commentary, ‘From Stop to Motion’ featurette, ‘Creating the Bath Chase Sequence’ featurette

Synopsis: When The Pirate Captain (Grant) sets out to become Pirate of the Year, he and his band of swashbuckling misfits find themselves crossing the seven seas from Blood Island to foggy London town, and getting mixed up with Charles Darwin and an evil Queen Victoria. But will the quest for booty (and ham) sever the bonds of friendship forever?

From the wonderfully screwball pre-credits sequence (with a brilliant sight gag about location captioning) to the glorious tones of Desmond Dekker over the end titles, THE PIRATES! is riotous fun throughout. There are more gags per minute than any film in recent memory and no doubt plenty we missed (eagle-eyed viewers may spot a specimen jar in Darwin’s office containing a pickled Facehugger from ALIENS). One of the things that separate a family film from a children’s film is to what extent the adults will like it. And though there were a few wee nippers running around, the audience was 90% grown up, and I’ve not heard laughter at a cinema like that since TEAM AMERICA.

This owes so much to the inspired script by Gideon Defoe, which he adapted from his own novel (also a daffy masterpiece). The supporting cast, including Brendan Gleeson, Ashley Jensen and Jeremy Piven among others, are pitch perfect (although Russell Tovey does over-egg the pudding somewhat). Director Peter Lord does a terrific job marrying the vocal work with the mannerisms and physicality of their on-screen clay equivalents, in particular that of Martin Freeman whose Pirate With A Scarf channels his loveable sidekick persona perfectly. Notable also are David Tennant as Charles Darwin and Imelda Staunton as the villainous Queen Victoria, whose evil antagonist exceeds even her role in ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.

But there are three stars of the show, and only one of them is human. First, the two animals. Polly the dodo-come-ship’s parrot is a sweet and charming creation, whose endearing expressions remind us of what makes Gromit work so well. Polly is the McGuffin of the piece, but unlike the average narrative device, we care about her. As The Albino Pirate says, “She’s like an auntie. With a beak.” The funniest character is probably Mister Bobo who, like Polly, is completely silent, but communicates through a hilariously unending amount of word cards that he keeps on his person, somehow. And then of course there’s our hero. The Pirate Captain. Hugh Grant gives his best performance in years as the swash buckling charmer with a taste for gold and ham.

One of the arching joys of Aardman’s oeuvre is the little details; such as when The Pirate Captain is at his lowest end, he dips a custard cream into his tea, which breaks off and falls into the cup. A tiny moment, but so universal (to a British audience anyway) and was met with howls (actual howls) of appreciative laughter. And for every little moment, there’s a thrilling set piece, such as the-bathtub-down-the-stairs chase (you read that right) that is as inventive and exciting as it is funny. And it is very, very funny. Lord handles the action sequences with an expertise that is all the more mind boggling when you remember it is ENTIRELY stop motion. Unreal. Also, keep an ear out for the tip-top soundtrack. The rousing ‘Swords of a Thousand Men’ over the opening credits sets you up for a rollicking adventure, The Clash’s ‘London Calling’ is juxtaposed comically with the Pirate movie aesthetic and Desmond Dekker’s ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ over the closing titles leaves you feeling positive and smiling as you leave what is the most feel-good film of the year so far.

Defoe’s dialogue, the superb voice work and practically perfect animation combine to make THE PIRATES the best animated movie since UP. Although it won’t make you cry, you’ll laugh harder than at anything you may find from the CGI competition. Its been said that Aardman is the English Pixar. I believe that Pixar is the American Aardman. This is as good as it gets

THE PIRATES! IN AN ADVENTURE WITH SCIENTISTS is available on Blu-ray and DVD now.