Hop Review

• 28th Mar 2011

From the creators of Despicable Me, comes a fun Easter frolic starring a likeable bunny. Hop is billed as a comedy about candy, chicks and rock and roll and it certainly had all three in abundance.

Hop has live action coupled with CGI and I didn’t, for one moment, wish it didn’t have one or the other as there was enough of both to make it a believable film. Even though the animation on its own wasn’t really state-of-the-art, the combination with live action totally worked for me.

We start in Rapa Nui (more commonly known as Easter Island) which has the most enormous confectionary factory anyone has ever seen. It’s supervised by the Easter Bunny with Carlos, his right hand man, and troops of adorable rabbits and chicks. They create every conceivable sweet desired and deliver the Easter dream to the world. Hop tells the story of EB (voiced by the multi-talented, stand-up, broadcaster, actor and heart-throb (to some) Russell Brand), who’s decided to finally tell his dad, the Easter Bunny, that he doesn’t want to follow in his footsteps and take over his title. Needless to say, his dad (voiced by the mighty Dr Gregory House/Hugh Laurie) doesn’t accept his ‘metaphorical sock’ analogy or his desire to be a drummer in a rock band. So EB runs off, emotional baggage intact, to Hollywood where he hopes to fulfil his dreams.

Fred O’Hare (James Marsden) is out of work and trying to pull his life together after an intervention during a family dinner where his entire family proceeded to tell him he needs to grow up and stand on his own feet. Fred ends up crashing into EB with his car and, having nowhere to stay, EB exaggerates the severity of his injuries until Fred allows him to stay with him. The relationship between the two is slightly predictable but nevertheless rather amusing to watch, purely down to the dialogue between the two. What I also found interesting was the similarities between Fred and EB, in that both were struggling with their identities and ultimately wanted to make their fathers proud. EB persuades Fred to take him to ‘Hoff Knows Talent’, hosted, obviously, by David Hasselhoff who loves EB’s drumming and asks him to come to the final.

Meanwhile, the Easter Bunny has sent the Pink Berets (ninja rabbits) to look for EB. While at the final, the Pink Berets capture Fred thinking he’s killed EB and they take him back to Easter Island. Carlos (Hank Azaria) is using EB’s absence as an opportunity to take over the factory and become the next Easter Bunny and with his scheme underway both Fred and the Easter Bunny are in danger.

After a heart to heart with the Hoff, EB rushes off to Easter Island to save the day. Amazingly or perhaps ironically, will EB’s drumming save the day? Has Fred finally found his destiny? The ending ensures Easter is saved and the Egg of Destiny is in safe hands. Carlos also turns into a very unattractive bunny/chick hybrid which is enough warning for me never to mess with destiny!

I must mention the songs featured in the film. They seem fairly random but are actually quite apt; I especially enjoyed EB and Fred’s I Want Candy performance. There are also some very charming segments of EB’s drumming which will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Hop is entertaining and definitely a good watch. The kids in the audience will find the bunnies and chicks adorable and at the same time hilarious. The older ones can relate to EB’s quest to break free and will also find the dialogue and characters very amusing. Watching this film was a very pleasurable way to spend a spring afternoon.

Mo Tulloch