Review: 'Hop' Blends Comedy, Animation & A Lot Of Heart

By Michael Lopez

We know what you’re thinking. There’s no way I’d drag myself to a family-friendly Easter movie unless I had screaming tykes dangling from my arms. Well, believe it or not, Hop’s making very good use of that PG rating, by blending colorful cartoon characters for the kiddies with lots of witty adult humor.

The Hop creators deserve credit on multiple levels. First off, the technical wizardry is amazing. Though it doesn’t have any of that 3D pizzazz you saw in Toy Story 3, the film’s ability to simulate rabbits on Sunset Blvd, peeping chick sleighs, and a wondrous Easter Island candy factory more than makes up for it.

Another reason to give the Hop team kudos is for the very original storyline. Sure we see tons of Christmas and Halloween movies every year, but when was the last time you had 90 minutes devoted to the Easter bunny? The magic, the candy, the colored eggs – this genre is truly untapped and Hop does a great job of highlighting the holiday’s best moments.

Each of the actors, both the live ones and the cartoon voice-overs, do great work with their roles. James Marsden deserves twice as much credit, since most of his scenes were filmed with a rabbit puppet (which was replaced in post-production by animated hero E.B.) and Kaley Cuoco probably gets one of the biggest laughs in the movie for a scene the trailer may have unfortunately spoiled.

On the animation side, Russell Brand comes off surprisingly sweet as good-natured bunny E.B. Though known for his adult brand of humor, he’s able to convey a naïve innocence with the character. Hank Azaria is also a standout as the voice of bad guy Carlos. And though some Latinos may be upset that a Chilean chicken was played by a Greco-American actor, he does nail the accent perfectly.

Hop’s actual plot conveys plenty of uplifting messages about following your dreams and standing up for what you believe in. Though E.B. has his rebellious moments and turns his back on his Easter bunny duties, he’s definitely a rabbit you can root for.

Bottom line: We dare you not to have fun at Hop. But those with a sweet tooth beware - the Hershey’s Kisses, Peeps, and Gummi Bears from the Easter factory may make you want to leave your seat and rush to the concession stand.

Are you excited to see Hop? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Easter, Holidays, Hop, Hot Stuff, James Marsden, Movie Reviews, Movies, Movies & CineMás, Russell Brand