Flushed Away

Year: 2006
Directors: David Bowers and Sam Fell
Voice cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Andy Serkis, Bill Nighy

Now here's an animated movie that's rather different from the others. We have talking animals again, sure. But no adventures into the wild to rescue fellow animals in distress this time. And the jokes are not too childish either, which is good.

Flushed Away takes place in jolly ol' England, in Kensington to be exact. Roddy is a pet rat who lives the high life in his owner's lavish home. When they are away, Roddy plays around like he's Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone. Things are going well for him, until he gets an unexpected visit from a sewer rat named Sid.

He tries to flush Sid down the toilet bowl, but ends up getting flushed by Sid instead. Roddy ends up in Ratropolis, a city of rats in the sewer. In an attempt to get back home, he enlists the help of a female rat called Rita, who owns a ship that can take him home. But Roddy's clumsy actions land the both of them in trouble with Toad, a mafia type frog that hates all rats in the sewers. Roddy and Rita manage to escape, taking something with them that is of great value to Toad. So Toad despatches his hitman cousin, Le Frog to get it back. In the meantime, Roddy agrees to pay Rita if she agrees to help him get home. Will he succeed?

I have to admit, this film didn't quite appeal to me when I first saw the trailer. But after seeing it, I'd say it's worth your time. You'd love the many funny moments that it has to offer. Ian McKellen does a splendid over-the-top performance as Toad, and Jean Reno is hilarious as Le Frog. Imagine a frog with a French accent that does karate, and you'll get the picture. Andy Serkis and Bill Nighy also shine as Spike and Whitey respectively, the hired rat goons of the Toad. Hugh Jackman's voice isn't immediately recognisable as Roddy, though you'd recognise Kate Winslet's voice as Rita easily enough.

This film has it all: drama, laughs and music. Ah, but not just any music. Slugs who sing background music! If you don't get what I mean, well...watch it. The singing slugs were quite creative, though at certain points of the film I got rather irritated somewhat. I guess sometimes it was just too much.

If you want an animated film with a difference, this is it. Bring the whole family, including those who love soccer. There's something in it for them too haha. (4/5)