MOVIE REVIEW: Turbo

GENRE: 3D computer-animated sports comedy

RUNNING TIME: 106 minutes

STARRING: Ryan Reynolds (The Proposal), Samuel L. Jackson (Django Unchained), Snoop Dogg

DIRECTED BY: David Soren (Shark Tale)

RATING:      

Currently screening at Ster-Kinekor Northgate.

PLOT: Theo (Ryan Reynolds), an ordinary garden snail, dreams of being the fastest snail in the world and practises his skills every night. After a freak accident gives him the power of super-speed, Theo and his brother Chet (Paul Giamatti) are captured by “head-in-the-clouds” taco truck-driver Tito (Michael Pena) and entered into a snail race where Theo astounds everyone with his speed. Theo changes his name to Turbo and aims to compete in the Indianapolis 500; the fastest car race in the world. Together with a team of racing snails who eventually become his pit crew, Theo aims for the big time.

THE GOOD: This is a classic “rise-of-the-underdog” movie filled with humour and fast-paced racing. The most beautiful part of the story is the parallel relationships of snail bothers Theo and Cheto with that of human brothers Tito and Angelo. There are many life lessons to be learned from this film.

THE BAD: There is nothing new about the story or the angle used to tell it. That the characters are voiced by renowned actors makes it difficult to see the characters as independent from their famous voices.

VERDICT: The actors give a great performance and the choice of snail for the hero is fascinating, fresh and funny. It is a great children’s film as it is entertaining and contains many life lessons. But if you’re looking for something new and different, Turbo is not it.

*SPECIAL THANKS TO STER-KINEKOR NORTHGATE WHO MADE THE REVIEW POSSIBLE.