The Powerpuff Girls

Sugar, spice and a generous dash of Chemical X is what Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup - aka Cartoon Network superstars the Powerpuff Girls - are made of. This full length marketing opportunity clarifies the creation of the wide-eyed trio, in the lab of Professor Utonium, who yearns to make his home of Townsville a safer place. But as anyone who's watched the TV show will anticipate, the Girls' superpowers wreak unintentional havoc on a massive scale, leading to a showdown with their nemesis Mojo Jojo. There's much to adore about this animation on the big screen: heavily reminiscent of 1950s American kitsch, deceptively simple, but with bold computer effects giving an edge to action scenes like the catastrophic game of playground tag. Kids will particularly savour the surreal gross-out quality of Mojo Jojo's villainous schemes. Adults should appreciate its mischievous elements and a snappy soundtrack comprising the cutest drum 'n' bass you'll ever hear. It's just a shame that the frenetic pace begins to flag some 15 minutes before the end. Stretched beyond its usual episode length, the Girls' adventure doesn't pack the nifty punch they're famous for.