Review: 'Tintin' Is An Uneven Adventure

By Michael Lopez

It seems like The Adventures of Tintin may have a tough time finding its ideal audience. Too dark for young kids, yet too tame for R-Rated action fans, this animated spectacle falls somewhere in the middle, all the while highlighting a character American moviegoers may not be too familiar with. That being said, it's still an amazing visual achievement and a worthy addition to the Steven Spielberg catalog.

The Tintin character has a huge following overseas. Created as a comic strip back in the 1930's by Belgian artist Herge, his travels with Captain Haddock and his faithful dog Snowy have been read by millions of die-hard fans. But in the states, the adventurous boy reporter has never really connected in the way cartoon crime fighters like Superman or Dick Tracy have.

Obviously Spielberg and his producing partner Peter Jackson are hoping their latest movie will change all of that. The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn works almost as an origin story, introducing audiences to the colorful world Herge created and sending our hero off on a quest around the globe.

The film starts off exciting enough, with Tintin and Snowy accidentally entangled in a pirate ship mystery. Taking a cue from Steven's Indiana Jones franchise, the young reporter is almost immediately thrust into a world of spies, gun-toting thugs, and legendary treasures. Before long, Tintin and his furry companion leave their small Belgian town for the high seas and brutal deserts.

Along the way, we meet the most colorful character yet. The grizzly Captain Haddock, a booze-swilling seaman who may hold some secrets about a mysterious "Unicorn" vessel. Hilariously voiced by Andy Serkis (Gollum from The Lord of the Rings), the Captain provides some of Tintin’s most memorable moments and makes a great comic foil for some of the duller leads.

Unfortunately, for all the fun that Captain Haddock provides, Tintin still suffers from a little too much bombast. The action sequences, though visually beautiful, seem a little too fast-paced, barely letting the audience breathe. And sadly, the slower paced "Unicorn" backstory leaves much to be desired. Worst of all, the climax feels like just a teaser for another sequel. But with all its bumps and bruises, Tintin is still a heck of a lot better than Spielberg's last adventure outing, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Bottom line: The Adventures of Tintin is definitely not a bad movie. And we certainly give Steven Spielberg credit for moving out of his comfort zone and helming an animated film. The problem is, it feels too much like a set up of things to come. With all of the character introductions and exposition, we have yet to see the Tintin team truly gel onscreen. Perhaps things will move a bit more smoothly come sequel time.

Are you planning on watching The Adventures of Tintin? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Serkis, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Comics, Hergé, Indiana Jones, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, The Adventures Of Tintin, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Tintin