Hop

op, a part live action/part CGI animation film, is only the second release from Ilumination Entertainment (owned by Universal) after box-office success Despicable Me.  It follows E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), a bunny who dreams of being a drummer, but destined to become the Easter Bunny. The night before he is due to take over duties from his father (voiced by Hugh Laurie), he runs away to Hollywood, where he manipulates Fred (James Marsden) into letting him live with him, and help him fulfil his dream.

The film opens with a series of rabbit versions of well-known portraits, and a voice over by James Marsden. The rest of the film isn't from his point of view, nor does he continue to tell us the story - there is just this first minute, where he reveals the ending of the film. Most people would be able to predict the ending without the opening sequence, but there doesn't seem to be any real need for it either. The only possible explanation is they tell us early, so when Fred does become the Easter Bunny, it doesn't seem quite so ridiculous.

E.B. and Fred are supposed to be roughly the same age, as they are both shown as young boys, and then 20 years later, when most of the story is set. Who knew rabbits lived for that long. Or chicks, for that matter. But whatever age he was supposed to be, E.B. is cute and fluffy, as you would imagine a bunny should be. Russell Brand's voice, however, is not. Brand voiced the character of Dr. Nefario in Despicable Me, which could be why they chose him for Hop. But not only does his voice not suit the character at all, how E.B. could have an Essex accent when his father speaks like Hugh Laurie, does not make sense.
Most funny moments were courtesy of the Easter chicks, Carlos (Hank Azaria, with a Spanish accent), the villain who is sick of always being second to bunnies and Phil, the chick who loves to dance. There is no explanation as to why any of the animated characters have the accents they do, so the cliché of the villain having a strong Spanish accent is easily forgivable, and Hank Azaria is quite funny with it. Dancing chick Phil is adorable, and the moments in which he is on screen were possibly the best. If you love the minions from Despicable Me, you'll love Phil as well.

The fully animated portions, mainly inside the Easter factory, are beautiful to watch, filled with lots of colour. It's interesting that with majority of family films now coming out in 3D, they decided not to make Hop in 3D. While the film works perfectly well without it, it could have made it slightly more attractive to its target audience. In essence Hop is a stereotypical "Christmas" movie, except it is all about Easter. There are bunnies, and chicks, and candy, rather than Santa Claus, reindeers and presents; and the main characters end up trying to save Christmas Easter. They even go so far as giving the Easter Bunny a flying vehicle that the chicks pull along, with a little bit of magic to help. And it all works out in the end.

Hop will keep kids entertained, and its perfect for the Easter holidays. Once it gets going, there are plenty of funny moments, and a few laugh out loud ones. Though they are less likely to work as well on adults, the adorable dancing-chick climax will entertain everyone.

Hop comes bouncing into UK cinemas on April 1st