G-Force
Don the snazzy, plastic spectacles for producer Jerry Bruckheimer's first 3D film, which proves that if you want a job done properly, hire a team of guinea pigs.
Don the snazzy, plastic spectacles for producer Jerry Bruckheimer's first 3D film, which proves that if you want a job done properly, hire a team of guinea pigs.
Screening in the eye-popping format in selected cinemas and 2D everywhere else, G-Force is a light-hearted romp laden with gizmos including jet-propelled rodent balls that allow the cuddly characters to swerve through traffic in the film's centrepiece action sequence.
'We need back-up! Tell them we're in pursuit of three guinea pigs in mobile spheres,' barks an FBI agent, charged with stopping the furry operatives, as director Hoyt H Yeatman Jr keeps the tone light.
The turbo-charged screenplay panders to the short attention-span of children by packing as many thrills and spills and poop gags into 88 minutes as is possible.
However, there are a few concessions to parents, such as a verbal nod to Die Hard when one heroic guinea pig attacks a killer espresso machine yelling, 'Yippee ki-yay coffeemaker!' In the battle against terrorism, governments are thinking outside of the box.
Thus G-Force is born: a covert task force of four-legged operatives with special skills assembled by geek Ben (Zach Galifianakis) and his assistant Marcie (Kelli Garner), who collectively make up the most potent crime-fighting force in America's proud history.
Furry squad leader Darwin (voiced by Sam Rockwell) proudly spearheads each mission, flanked by sassy weapons expert Blaster (Tracy Morgan) and seductive martial arts expert Juarez (Penelope Cruz).
Technical support comes courtesy of surveillance fly Mooch and computer-expert mole Speckles (Nicolas Cage).
FBI special agent Kip Killian (Will Arnett) shuts down the department after a disastrous reconnaissance mission at the mansion of shady billionaire Leonard Saber (Bill Nighy).
The animals escape the clutches of Killian's goons, agents Tristad (Gabriel Casseus) and Carter (Jack Conley), and end up in a pet store run by Rosalita (Nash) and her assistant Terrell (Justin Mentell).
While Blaster and Juarez find homes, Darwin is left behind with slacker guinea pig Hurley (Jon Favreau) and a neurotic hamster called Bucky (Steve Buscemi).
Thankfully, the resourceful rodents escape their cage and they head back to headquarters for a final assault on Saber Industries.
G-Force is fast-paced and inoffensive, throwing a giant robot into the mix for a pyrotechnic laden finale that tests the critters' ingenuity and courage to the limit.
The human cast takes a back seat to the digital trickery, and the vocal performances warmly bring the animal characters to life.
Favreau and Buscemi snaffle many of the laughs, while Cruz purrs her lines as the femme fatale who has both colleagues hot beneath their collars.
The 3D technology isn't overused, but there is a terrific sequence which trails Mooch as he swoops through the pet store, darting through the snapping jaws of some Venus Fly Traps.
Kids will whoop at each explosion and pratfall, while parents steel themselves for the inevitable pleas from their excitable offspring about buying a real guinea pig.
Release Date: Friday 31 July 2009
Certificate: PG
Runtime: 88mins
