Review: G-Force

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, but I've been out of the country for a while, not to mention starting new shift-work job. In my absence I have seen a fair few films, by far the best of which was G-Force.

For a long time Pixar has ruled the roost with kids films and rightly so. Disney itself is trying not to be eclipsed by its acquisition with the likes of Bolt and Narnia, and failing miserably. So to whom do they turn? To Jerry "Midas" Bruckheimer, of course.

The result defies all that makes Pixar work, but still it wins out. This isn't a film aimed at adults as much as kids, it's pure Saturday cartoon fare, though some jokes will still only be clocked onto by the savviest of children. Nonetheless, the appeal for adults lies in the fact that the film is joyous fun. When the three heroic secret-agent guinea pigs jump into a suped up hamster ball and go rolling down the street at 60mph it doesn't make the slightest bit of sense, but you'll still be wetting yourself with laughter.

Aside from the kind of crowd-pleasing bandstanding that Bruckheimer does so well, his secret weapon is the jaw-dropping cast. When the end credits roll, you'll be stunned to realise that you've just been listening to the voices of Penelope Cruz, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Steve Buscemi and Nicolas Cage; all capably wrangled by the live-action presence of Bill Nighy and The Hangover's Zach Galifianakis.

The effects combining the CGI rodents with their live-action counterparts are the kind of work that make Roger Rabbit redundant. If you judge your FX by how seamlessly they can imitate real life, then this outstrips Benjamin Button.

It all adds up to the best non-Pixar kids' film I've seen in years and that's only improved upon by the subtle, but winning 3D. Guaranteed to be a cult classic in coming years.