Movie Review: The Pirates: Band of Misfits
Posted by Sarah W on April 28, 2012
Pirates are way up there on the top of the ‘kid’s love this’ list. What could make them even more appealing? Making the pirates a little silly, a little clumsy, and the underdogs of the pirating world.
The Pirates: Band of Misfits comes from those ever-likeable creators of Chicken Run and Wallace and Gromit. If you haven’t seen those, check it out for a fun afternoon of British comedy in cartoon, family-friendly form.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, life as a pirate isn’t easy. As the villain of the story, Queen Victoria is out to rid the world of pirates. Her motto? “I hate Pirates.” Joining Queen Victoria in the movie’s comical use of historical characters, you will see Darwin, Jane Austen, and even the Elephant man from a new perspective. 19th century England is up for grabs as the Pirates make their way around the globe in search of what else? Pirate booty.
Our band of misfit pirates, led by their lovable Pirate Captain, are out to prove themselves. The Pirate Captain’s luck is sure to change at the Pirate of the Year awards, but being misfits, the captain and crew face some challenges in their quest for gold, fame, and fortune.
Aside from the physical comedy (they are pirates – people get hit, stabbed, and so on –all in cartoon fun), there is a surprising underlying theme centered on science. The pirates have discovered something that makes even Darwin envious, and they end up teaching him a thing or two about the world, planting a few seeds of evolutionary thinking. There’s also heart-warming lessons about family, the silly humor of pirate life and a few jokes in there for parents, too.
Of all the pirate movies out there, The Pirates: Band of Misfits make a place for themselves, the sweetest pirate family you’ll ever see. Plus, have fun trying to guess the voices of the star-studded cast. You might be surprised by a few of them.
Enjoy the fun, interactive play online, too. Check it out here. Be sure to click on the red bullseyes throughout and view the site as if you were looking through a spyglass.
