Since the first pooping jellybeans commercial I was looking forward to seeing this film. Finally something new from Hollywood! Finally a movie name that didnt have a 2,3 or 4 after it.
Hop is the Easter Bunny mythology meets teen angst. EB, our bunny protagonist, wants to be a rock and roll drummer rather than take over the Easter Bunny business from his father. So he runs away to Hollywood and shacks up with a complete loser 20-something human being who cant seem to get a job. Meanwhile, back at the Easter factory, the workers (baby chickens) are tired of the bunny's getting all the privilege so they stage a revolt.
This movie has multiple interesting plots and characters with great potential but where it falls short is that none of these plots lines or characters are explored or developed to any satisfying amount. While kids movies should generally keep things simple, Hop introduces complex feelings and relationships, such as bunny vs chick, owner vs worker, father vs son, responsibility vs free will, ect ect. Then it sorta leaves them hanging in order to have a tidy ending.
I think the bigets sore point I have with the movie is the choice of human actor James Marsden. This film has been certainly influence by Tim Allen's Santa Claus series (which were great) but imagine that movie without Allen as lead to carry things through. This James Marsden is far too clean cut for the role is suppose to be playing (20 something with no ambition living in parents basement), and though central to the story the human charecter doesnt really do anything except witness things. The charecter is just there and things are happening around him, and this James Marsden guy has "just being there" down to a science. He's not funny. He doesnt seem to improve anything. He's just there. Its wasted potential I dont understand since between with Hugh Lorie and Hank Azaria on the cast they prob could of done better by that character even without a lead. And what is with Hugh Lorie, one of British comedy's great geniuses taking 2 bit parts in animated films. This is the 2nd movie where I've been excited to see him in the cast then let down by any depth to his character. Hasllehoof had more of an influence on this movie.
Finally, since this is a kids movie, I should mention that its prob not going to be a favorite amongst kids. Hop is primarily a story about the relationship between dads and sons during that growing up and leaving the nest phase of life and I dont think kids younger than 10-12 are going to be able to identify with either of the protagonists. Well, to be honest no one is going to identify with James Marsens character. But the bunny is a stereotypical teen dealing with the issues of identity m independence and taking responsibility in the adult world. If he werent a cute fuzzy bunny with big eyes he'd be seriously morose and depressing. There are several references to Playboy, a couple scenes where the bunny is passively "checking out" women walking by and even one where he caresses and sniffs lustly at the hair of a women who picked him up thinking he was a toy. The bunny even checks his pits from time to time and little kids arnt going to get any of his behaviors.
Anyhoo I'll give a C+ and lets all hope this was just laying the groundwork for strong sequels and whatnot because they have some original, interesting concepts and charecters there if they choose to use them.
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