A curious mix of Britpop music cues and moppet-bait storytelling makes for a diverting, if derivative kids' animation.
The House of Magic
Belgium, United Kingdom, France · 2013
Rated G · 1h 25m
Director Ben Stassen, Jeremy Degruson
Starring Grant George, Shanelle Gray, Joey Camen, Cinda Adams
Genre Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
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Thunder, an abandoned young cat seeking shelter from a storm, stumbles into a strange house, owned by a magician and inhabited by a dazzling array of automatons and gizmos. When the magician’s scheming nephew tries to sell the mansion, Thunder must enlist the help of some wacky magician’s assistants to protect his new home.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
Time Out London by Cath Clarke
The 3D effects are dazzling, but the script creaks and the characters are thin.
It’s a thin premise that cues much cheery knockabout comedy, with ample scope for impressively whooshy 3D tracking shots.
The humour is scant and there's no real risk of peril (Grant George's nephew and his dastardly plans seem more psychopathic than threatening). Yet when you have a film that's colourful, easy on the eye and full of positive messages about friendship and trust, then kids will be happy.
Lawrence’s mechanised menagerie and the directors’ stereoscopic smarts entertain most.
Washington Post by Mark Jenkins
“Thunder” doesn’t boast a distinctive look or a cast of famous voices. But its characters are engaging and its action sequences exhilarating.
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
It is soulless, like something that has been generated by a computer programme.
The Telegraph by Robbie Collin
This script has not exactly been laboured over into the wee hours, and an audience used to Disney and Pixar will rightly expect better than this, whether they’re under 10 or not.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service by Roger Moore
It’s too bad the script lacks the sight gags or one-liners that could have made this good looking picture more animated.
Village Voice by Sherilyn Connelly
The story is serviceable enough.
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