The Adventures of Tintin
Steven Spielberg has dabbled in animation for decades as a producer. So it should come as no surprise that his first foray into the animated realm as a director is noteworthy first and foremost for its innovative visuals.
A combination of 3D and motion-capture provide some unique eye candy in The Adventures of Tintin, a big-budget adaptation of the comic-book series by the Belgian cartoonist known as Herge.
The charming film provides its share of thrills and laughs for children and adults alike, even if it doesn’t have the substance to match its style.
The story follows a European teenager and aspiring journalist named Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) whose innocent purchase of a model boat known as the Unicorn in an outdoor market turns into a wild adventure once he realizes it holds a secret involving treasure.
That makes Tintin and his loyal dog Snowy the target of a sinister thief (Daniel Craig), who takes them prisoner aboard a ship where boy and dog team with the drunken captain (Andy Serkis) in a plot to escape from the bad guys while learning the secret behind the Unicorn’s past.
Spielberg keeps the pace lively, even frenetic, as he whisks Tintin and Snowy through a series of perilous globetrotting adventures involving pirates, pickpockets and bumbling detectives.
Children might identify with the precocious protagonist, and that certainly isn’t bad. He’s persistent and resourceful, and enjoys things such as art and books.
The script tries to pack as many thrill-ride moments into its running time and leaves an emotional void as a result. While the audience is entertained by Tintin’s adventures, it doesn’t care enough about the outcome.
However, Tintin feels like an example of a filmmaker taking a break from the norm and having fun with new toys. That playful quality extends to the top-notch voice cast, which includes expert motion-capture veteran Serkis.
The visuals seem like an appropriate match for Herge’s source material, which used a drawing technique that was a breakthrough in the early 20th century and has been copied many times since.
The film is the first of a planned big-screen franchise, of course, which certainly has prominent backers in Spielberg and fellow Oscar-winner Peter Jackson, who might direct the next installment.
Such a concept is off to a promising start with this first film, which provides breezy fun that should span generations.
Rated PG, 107 minutes.