The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle film review

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THE ADVENTURES OF ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE

The eponymous cartoon heroes (moose and squirrel respectively) are little more than fading memories for British babyboomers, but they still hold a place in American hearts, as they were a staple diet of US television until 1964. Hence the reason for bringing them out of retirement and giving them the full Roger Rabbit treatment in a colourful full-length romp that's part-animation, part live action. It's a deeply silly and pointless movie and one which will undoubtedly have limited appeal outside of the United States: which is a shame because it's one of the more infuriatingly watchable and amusing Hollywood films of the last 12 months.

Having spent nigh on thirty years in retirement with nothing to do, moose and squirrel cohabitants are forced out of their boredom by the return of Fearless Leader (De Niro on top Nazi form), Boris (Jason Alexander as his useless sidekick), and Natasha (Russo as his even more useless sidekick). Their plan is indeed fiendish: take over the world by hypnotizing everyone. How? By hijacking tv stations and blasting out RBTV (Really Bad Television), of course. R & B to the rescue then with only their narrator (a punfilled performance by Keith Scott) to help them.

Desperate to get to New York before De Niro arrives, the animal activists encounter FBI Agent Karen Sympathy (Piper Perabo) who, despite being one of the youngest interns in the Bureau, is the only one who has figured out the threat posed by the evil trio. It is Perabo who has to do a Bob Hoskins in this film as she has to carry most of the scenes with the animated Rocky and Bullwinkle. The result is a complete success, and the interaction between actor and cartoon character has rarely been so proficient. It's also due to Perabo's appeal: a star is born as she goofs her way from obstacle to obstacle, generally clears the path for our heroes and steals every scene she is in.

That's not to say that De Niro doesn't have any fun: at one point he even parodies his 'You talking to me' speech from Taxi Driver. Given that he co-produced the film, it's not surprising that he approached the part with such relish. But it's still bizarre to think of the moody star of the 70s embracing such a daft role with vigour. Unfortunately, too little is made of his sidekicks Alexander and Russo, who are largely left to run around after the great would-be dictator.