>>REVIEW
VALIANT
STARRING THE VOICES OF Ewan McGregor, Ricky Gervais and Tim Curry
DIRECTED BY Gary Chapman
Opens Friday, August 19
Check listings
There is a concern that Valiant might fly under the radar. It doesn’t help that Disney has a second computer-animated bird movie (Chicken Little) coming out soon, or that the latter seems to be getting more of the advertising pie. Still, I suspect that Valiant won’t take long to find an audience, because it’s G-rated and it’s actually quite good.
During the Second World War, a sinister flock of German falcons has been downing British carrier pigeons before their messages (vital to the war effort) can be delivered. New recruits are needed and brave young Valiant (Ewan McGregor) answers the call. Sweet-talking his way past the recruiter’s size restriction, the little guy finds himself in Squad F of the Royal Homing Pigeon Service (RHPS) and is rushed into active service with barely any training. A disastrous airdrop leaves the squad deep in occupied France without a leader. The squad decides to carry on with the mission and winds up meeting some mice from the French Resistance, before attempting to rescue a captured messenger (John Cleese), and finally facing the Luftwaffe’s deadliest falcon, Gen. Von Talon (Tim Curry) beak to beak.
Disney may be distributing the film, but Valiant is really a British production, from the legendary Ealing Studios – Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Ladykillers (1955) – with a talented voice cast sure to appeal to Anglophiles everywhere. The material is suitable for all ages, although very young viewers might blanch at the scary falcon attacks or the brief glimpse of stuffed pigeons (still in their RHPS leather helmets) on display atop Von Talon’s mantelpiece. Plus, viewers squeamish about needles should be aware that two scenes involve injections with giant syringes, although neither scene actually shows the jab itself. One of these scenes is just an immunization shot from a friendly nurse, although the other scene takes place during an interrogation and is intended to be frightening. However, Cleese babbles so amusingly after his shot of truth serum that the horror of the situation is diluted.
There are no memorable lines of dialogue to speak of, but Valiant’s simple story and appealing presentation make it a winner. For entertainment value, it’s on par with A Bug’s Life (1998), The Rescuers (1977) and Chicken Run (2000). Parents and kids will be glad they came. |
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