Valiant Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)August 16th, 2005
VALIANT
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): **
VALIANT, a harmless kids' movie from Disney, possesses an undeniable but limited charm. Although based on a promising premise about heroic carrier pigeons risking their lives in World War II, the script is the movie's fatal flaw, never creating a story that really works or a single compelling character. It's the type of film that will likely engage your little ones minimally while in the theaters but will leave them without any desire to get the DVD later in order to see it again.
The uninspiring voice talent of British stars, including Ewan McGregor, Ricky Gervais, Tim Curry, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, John Cleese and John Hurt add nothing to the movie's enjoyment. McGregor provides the voice to the little bird named Valiant, who is the story's lead character and the bravest of the bunch. As a proud new recruit in the Royal Homing Pigeon Service, he will, of course, save the day and rescue his comrades in the process.
Wing Commander Gutsy (Laurie) lectures Valiant, "It's not a bloke's wingspan that counts. It's the size of his spirit." With James Bond and other jokes thrown in to amuse the adults, Gutsy, who likes his bug juice "shaken, not stirred" tells the bartender, "Danger is our business, and business is good."
The movie's CGI animation is okay in the foreground, but the backgrounds are pretty bland. VALIANT isn't a bad movie. With a decent script, it might have been a good one.
VALIANT runs a little long even at just 1:16. It is rated G and would be acceptable for all ages.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, August 19, 2005. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
