Aardman’s Victorian-Themed Pirate Romp: A Review
Aardman Animations, ever true to their quirky British sensibilities, sets sail with a comedic, Victorian-era adventure in “The Pirates! Band of Misfits.”
The Pirate Captain, a well-meaning but perpetually unsuccessful buccaneer, dreams of winning the coveted Pirate of the Year award. His crew, however, is more accustomed to mishaps than treasure. Their fortunes take an unexpected turn when they capture naturalist Charles Darwin, who identifies the Captain’s plump parrot as a potentially prize-winning extinct species. This revelation leads them on a perilous journey to London for a scientific convention, where they risk facing the wrath of the pirate-hating Queen Victoria.
Watching an Aardman film is akin to browsing a vibrant flea market or a charming craft fair. You never know what delightful oddity awaits around the corner. The purpose of each item might be unclear, but the urge to examine everything closely is irresistible.
A Treasure Trove of Victorian Eccentricities
“The Pirates!” amplifies this feeling with its encyclopedic array of Victorian-era references. Queen Victoria collects exotic animals, Darwin keeps Easter Island statues in his mansion, and Victorian scientists showcase electricity, airships, and a “culinary volcano” at their symposium. These are just the large-scale artifacts; countless other gems flash across the screen, disappearing as quickly as they appear.
The film is based on the first book in Gideon Defoe’s “Pirates!” series. This is the second collaboration between Aardman and Sony Pictures Animation, following “Arthur Christmas.” The original voice cast includes Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Jeremy Piven, and Salma Hayek.
The Aardman Touch: Absurdity with Good Manners
These whimsical wonders, like fish wearing yarmulkes, panda roasts, and pirate Elvis impersonators, would never find a home at Pixar, a studio increasingly focused on sentimentality. Aardman, however, embraces the British love of the absurd, favoring strange combinations and fearless experimentation. Led by Peter Lord, who previously created the “Creature Comforts” series of animated animal interviews, the studio also possesses a keen sense of British restraint. Their absurdity is always tactful, and their mischief is invariably accompanied by good manners.
“The Pirates!” is quintessentially British. The Captain and his Number Two, along with Darwin and his silent monkey butler, not only echo Aardman’s own Wallace and Gromit but also continue the tradition of pairing a hapless Wooster with a reliable Jeeves. And rest assured, after all the adventures, you’ll be offered a cup of tea.