アーリーマン 〜ダグと仲間のキックオフ!〜

I've liked a decent amount Nick Park's work. I grew up on _Wallace & Grommit_ and _Chicken Run_ and enjoy them even now, but I think that maybe you have to like other things if you want to enjoy _Early Man_, things I personally, don't. _Final rating:★★ - Definitely not for me, but I sort of get the appeal_.

I'm not so fond of the Aardman full length features. The standard of stop-motion animation is always great, but the stories and characterisations can prove to be a bit on the thin side - and that's certainly true here. Some prehistoric folks are harmlessly going about their business when an asteroid strikes the planet. Aside from robbing them of their dino-dinners, this presented them with a glowing sphere that they realised they could kick about - the beautiful game is born! Years later, "Dug" and his pal "Hognob" are caught up in an hunt for mammoths that introduces them to the sophisticates that are the "Bronze Age" warriors who live in a fortified city under the ruthless dominion of the "Lord Nooth", who is bent on world domination! The cavemen must abandon their homes and flee for their lives - all except "Dug" who is mistaken for a footballer and a bet ensues. His team versus the bronzies. If he wins, then they can return home in peace. If not - then it's the mines for all of them. There's not much going on with the plot: that's fairly predictable, and the comedy is very much in the slightly slap-stick vein of "Wallace and Gromit" but to be fair to Nick Park, if it ain't broke.... The simple characters are engaging and the dialogue and action scenes keep the film moving along steadily for what ought to have been just an hour or so. I did like the football action replay hut - shades of "Saint & Greavsie" for the Brits who recall Saturday lunchtimes. What this isn't, is a kids film - which is good news. There is a bit of double-entendre in the humour and though not their best work, it's still easily worth a watch.