DreamWorks Animation makes a virtue of the infantile in this slapstick adaptation of the books by Dav Pilkey.
Tra la la! Two highly imaginative boys, George (Kevin Hart) and Harold (Thomas Middleditch), accidentally hypnotise their uptight principal (Ed Helms) into believing he is the superhero Captain Underpants. This delightful animated feature based on the popular book series boasts endearing characters, while the friendship between George and Harold is to be treasured. These two intelligent boys become friends on their first day at school when they both fall about laughing at the mention of Uranus in the classroom. They both love pranks and soon begin to write their own comic books featuring their beloved hero Captain Underpants. And when the principal abandons his clothes to become their hero, they can’t believe their luck. “Stay there and look angry for no reason,” they tell Underpants when they want him to pretend he is still the principal. And then the megalomaniac Professor Poopypants (Nick Kroll) enters the scene, threatening world domination but also providing the boys with more opportunities for their rude, mischievous humour. This is David Soren’s second feature – following Turbo (2013) – and again he demonstrates a deft hand at organising a highly energetic adventure. Captain Underpants is a really enjoyable film and great fun for the whole family.
GEORGE SAVVIDES
Voices of Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Thomas Middleditch, Nick Kroll, Jordan Peele, Kristen Schaal, Dee Dee Rescher, Lesley Nicol.
Dir David Soren, Pro Mireille Soria and Mark Swift, Screenplay Nicholas Stoller, from the series of books by Dav Pilkey, Pro Des Nate Wragg, Ed Matthew Landon, Music Theodore Shapiro.
DreamWorks Animation/Scholastic Entertainment/Mikros Image-20th Century Fox.
88 mins. USA. 2017. Rel: 24 July 2017. Cert. U.
