Aardman’s Victorian-Themed Comedy: A Review
Aardman Animations, ever true to its roots and British sensibilities, presents a comedic adventure steeped in Victorian charm.
The Pirate Captain, a character brimming with ambition, dreams of winning the coveted Pirate of the Year award. However, his crew is perpetually plagued by misfortune, their most significant “catch” being the renowned naturalist Charles Darwin. Darwin makes a startling claim: the captain’s plump parrot is, in fact, an extinct species, potentially a prize-winner at a London science convention. Despite the looming threat of execution by the formidable Queen Victoria, the pirates set sail for London.
Watching an Aardman film is akin to wandering through a flea market or a craft fair. You never know what treasures you’ll unearth around the next corner. The purpose of some items may be unclear, but you’re irresistibly drawn to examine everything closely.
A Treasure Trove of Victorian Curiosities
“The Pirates!” amplifies this feeling with its encyclopedic context. Queen Victoria collects exotic animals, Darwin houses 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, not to mention the countless other gems that flash by, barely noticed.
This film is based on the first book in Gideon Defoe’s “Pirates!” series. It marks the second collaboration between Aardman and Sony Pictures Animation, following “Arthur Christmas.” The original voice cast features the talents of Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Jeremy Piven, and Salma Hayek.
Aardman’s Unique Brand of Absurdity
These whimsical creations, like fish in 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, championing strange combinations and daring to experiment. Peter Lord’s team, known for their “Creature Comforts” series of mockumentary-style interviews with animals, also possesses a keen sense of British restraint. Their absurdity is always tactful, and their mischief is tempered with 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 steadfast Jeeves. And rest assured, after all the escapades, you’ll be offered a cup of tea.