Flushed Away

It's fair to say that "Roddy" the rat has been spoilt rotten by his wealthy Kensington family so he's totally ill-prepared for the arrival up the drainpipe of "Sid". He's a bit rougher and wilier round the edges and so encourages his host to take that special jacuzzi down into the sewers where he is swiftly completely out of his depth. "Ratropolis" turns out, though, not to be as daunting a place as he initially thought and after a shaky start he manages to ally himself with the no-nonsense "Rita" and her boat the "Jammie Dodger" as she fends of the nefarious "Toad" who requires a red ruby that she has supposedly purloined from him! As the chasing ebbs and flows, we begin to realise just what his evil plan could mean for rodent-kind and for the second half of a World Cup final that actually features England. (Yes, I know, but remember this all about talking animals so anything is possible!). With the intervention of "Le Frog" and his Peter Lorre-esque minions what chance "Roddy" and "Rita" can save the day and, of course, have a little bit of romance too? No, I don't suppose there's a lot left to chance here but it's really quite good fun with plenty of characterful action as it paddles along entertainingly for ninety minutes. Teamwork, cameraderie, a tiny bit of social commentary and a quite cleverly written script all provides us with template for some typically meticulous Aardman animations which, as usual, contain as much for the adults in the detail as you observe each scene as they do for the weans watching the action unfold. Add to it all a lively score from Harry Gregson-Williams and you're on a roll!