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The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists (2012)

Director: Jeff Newitt, Peter Lord

Time Out rating

Average user rating

9 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Following the mildly disappointing Wallace and Gromit movie, rat-com ‘Flushed Away’ and the sweet but slight ‘Arthur Christmas’, a case could have been made that Aardman Animation were losing their mojo – that spark of madcap genius which made their early shorts so spectacular. Well, said spark is back with a vengeance in this deliriously entertaining tale of a pirate crew and their efforts to become internationally regarded scientific boffins.

Hugh Grant voices The Pirate Captain, whose attempts to become Pirate of the Year are constantly thwarted because, well, he’s not very good at his job. But when kidnapped naturalist (and girl-shy nerd) Charles Darwin points out that the Captain’s beloved parrot Polly is in fact the last living dodo, the Captain and his merry crew – who, in keeping with screenwriter Gideon Defoe’s 2004 source novel, all have names like The Pirate with Gout and The Pirate with a Scarf – set sail for London to present their find to the Royal Society.

Movies like the ‘Shrek’ series have largely devalued the idea of a film aimed at both children and parents, but ‘The Pirates!’ gets the balance spot on. Kids will be enthralled by all the action, slapstick and yo-ho-ho-ing while the olds will get a kick out of the intricate visual detail, sparkling wit (there’s not a single ‘avast behind’ gag) and wild historical inaccuracies: find me another movie in which Jane Austen chucks a beer mug at the Elephant Man.

The result is a brilliant mish-mash of styles and genres, crammed with ideas and intelligence and carried off with a sense of rebellious fun and breathtaking invention not seen since, well, ‘The Wrong Trousers’. Glorious.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2171: Mar 29-Apr 4, 2012

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User reviews of this film

scrumpyjack said...

Posted on May 11 2012 23:01 second view, confirm, no need to see in 3D

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Apr 12 2012 16:30 Very good but a tad disappointing...no Chicken Run or Wallace & Gromit tingle.....Thoroughly enjoyed it though and, YES...I too recommend 2D (Fan of GOOD 3D, not enough depth here to justify £1.50 extra) 7+/10

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Ian said...

Posted on Apr 07 2012 13:36 Just been to see it in 2D and if anything it is a better film in that format. Seen quite a lot of things I couldn't remember from the frst time. Its worth a second viewing.

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Ian said...

Posted on Apr 07 2012 13:36 Just been to see it in 2D and if anything it is a better film in that format. Seen quite a lot of things I couldn't remember from the frst time. Its worth a second viewing.

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Ron c said...

Posted on Apr 06 2012 20:59 What a wonderful film!
British filmmaking at it's best
Gentle wit,superb visual gags,cinematic references throughout.only problem was kids embarrassment at parental laughter.saw on 3d.it did add slightly visually,but that wasn't what the film was about.beat film for ages
Rob 46 and three quartets

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Ian said...

Posted on Apr 01 2012 15:43 I saw this in 3D and I think if anything it detracts from what is a "Cracking film."
The humour of Wallace and Gromit and the numerous sight gags and amusing background gags reminiscent of Aardman at their very best help raise this above the average. Look out for the "Live sport" posters outside the pubs in particular.
After half of the film I was feeling a bit disappointed but the film improves and with a superb sound track and the best supporting perfornance by a supporting character by Mr Bobo the chimp since Feathers McGraw helped.
Hugh Grant plays himself on top form as if this was a Richard Curtis comedy.
The kids will love it and the adults will find more than enough to keep them happy. Stay for the credits for some excellent music and brilliant small animations in the credits.
For kids entertainment over easter look no further.

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marie said...

Posted on Mar 31 2012 22:02 This was a rare treat. I saw the 2D version and I'm thinking about going to see it 3D. Just to see what difference does it make.
Anyway, the story, characters, jokes are just delightful. Having songs from The Clash and Flight of the Conchords, to name just a few.
No patronizing, stating the obvious and covering it in a loads of sugar, or even worse, artificial sweetener, as supplied by Hollywood.
To sum it up, it is a proper, charming, handmade pièce de
résistance.

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spot on said...

Posted on Mar 30 2012 09:23 Enjoyed this very much. Cute and random. Review is spot on. I saw the 2D version (actively avoiding 3D if at all possible) but there were no scenes that stood out as being 'meant for 3D'.

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Ed said...

Posted on Mar 27 2012 13:42 Would be really useful if you said if you'd watched it in 2D or 3D and, if it was the latter, did it work? thanks

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