David Soeren (director)
Dreamworks (studio)
U (certificate)
96m (length)
16 February 2014 (released)
16 February 2014
Ryan Reynolds the push-me-pull you of quasi A-listers. For every 'Buried' there is a 'Green Lantern', for every 'Just Friends' there is an 'RIPD'. So, up next at the starting line is the animated racing kids' film 'Turbo'. Which side of the trash or treasure Reynolds filmography will the skidmarks settle?
Well this latest Dreamworks offering zooms past our peepers with enough technicolour intensity to placate it's youthful audience whilst at the same time maintaining that all important afterthought; keep the parents awake!
Van WIlder voices Theo the Snail, harangued by his brother (Paul Giamatti) whilst enduring the every day grind of his gardening job. Theo's hero is the world's greatest racing driver (an excellent Bill Hader) and due to a freak accident his DNA ends up mutating with that of a racing car. Yes, unlike Pixar's somewhat confusing 'Cars' universe, humans exist in the world of 'Turbo'. Reynolds' Theo discovers the need for speed and goes about entering the Indianapolis 500.
Although this crazy catalyst for crustaceous carmageddon may sound head-scratchingly surreal the film's vibe is anchored with enough pathos and sweetness to help the audience allow for some of the less credible elements, loose structure and casual world building.
All voice work is lively and fun and sometimes self-depreciating. None more so than in the persona mocking performance of Samuel L Jackson. He shines as the head of a troupe of snail racers (happily lampooning his bad mother f***er image), Hader provides his usual chucklesome vocal dexterity and, yes, Reynolds supplies an amiable vocal lead and offers 'Turbo' up as one of his trophy winners instead of a false start.
'Turbo' cannot catch up with 'Wreck It Ralph' but he is miles ahead of Lightning McQueen, leaving the far inferior 'Cars' movies eating his dust.
'Turbo' is available now on DVD and Blu-Ray.