There is a crafty talking tomcat and his bunch of equally brilliant rat pals who are giving it all to cheat a poor medieval town in peril. The Amazing Maurice will have you in stitches as a clever take on fairy tales, anthropomorphized animals, and predictable plot structures. The film serves as a slick CGI twist on the classic Pied Piper of Hamelin. There’s a darker tone that hearkens back to the original wary intent of fables and folklore. I especially got a kick out of the characters’ goofy names.
Based on Terry Pratchett’s novel, “The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents,” this film begins with an extremely funny swindle scene. An articulate orange cat named Maurice (Hugh Laurie) is provoking panic among the residents of an easily tricked society. It is through rats that they would die from plague epidemic. Then hordes of rodents rush in to frighten hell out of them and squeeze their last pennies from their shaking hands. To save themselves, he calls for reinforcements. Being good at playing flutes Keith (Himesh Patel) convinces mesmerized mice to jump into the river
Drenched rats staggered from water upbraiding Maurice for bringing them there. Two others Dangerous Beans (David Tennant), Peaches (Gemma Arterton), Sardines (Joe Sugg), yeah, you heard right are puzzled by why they pretend drowning instead? Shrewdly opening Mr Bunnsy has an Adventure, Maurice stands facing children who do not believe him about where he needs to go next so that people could respect both animals and humans there as well as people respect one another elsewhere but Mr Bunnsy thinks in terms of toys only when any other story has secondary animation lines which are realized in 2D stylization. Will cost lotsa money – getting there though.Rather than grumble let’s get on with it and trick the next lot.
Bad Blintz is the eerily hushed town where they arrive. No crumb of food is left there. The desperate mayor (Hugh Bonneville) offers to pay a half dollar for every dead rat. Food must not be stolen or Bad Blintz will die of hunger. Maurice is over the moon with joy because his predictions have come true. They had struck gold. However, this excitement would soon turn to fear as they realize that they are mired in an evil conspiracy.
The Amazing Maurice uses a unique plot device to great effect. Beginning from the start Malicia (Emilia Clarke), the mayor’s overly intellectual daughter, narrates this modern fable.Then along with the main story that runs in traditional 2D animation we have such moments where she compares Mr Bunnsy’s tale with what actually happens to Maurice which seems silly and naïve. Every so often when she gets bored being part of the gang, either of them breaks through fourth wall directly addressing audience members; each character presents her/his own arguments They even laugh at each other on their way away and hate to make anything predictable if it does not happen like that traditionally since their adventure has turned out quite unexpected Mocking what traditionally happens when their adventure takes unexpected turns.This is very nicely done and adds some imaginative distinction to the film.
Maurice and rats can talk while other animals cannot utter a word.Their reasoning sounds like some kind of Secret of NIMH parody.It was a way for them to acquire those ridiculous names.They always thought that self-awareness came with its price but now… They see what mankind does to their kind as prey species who are trying hard just not to get killed out.They are caught, poisoned, or used for sport in wicked rat coursing games.These scenes have serious tones reminiscent of learning animal subjects.Hence even animals feel pain and fear.
The Amazing Maurice entertains until falling into the silliness trap it had brilliantly satirized. An overblown climax looks impressive but becomes exhausting. That said, the film had me pleasantly surprised most of the runtime. It succeeds in brashly poking fun of “Disneyfication” while still appealing to youngsters.
Watch free movies on Fmovies
