Pirates: Band of Misfits (2012)

Plunder-rated

Aardman Entertainment has been responsible for some great films, and the wildly hilarious "Wallace and Gromit shorts. Their new film "Pirates!" has its place among their ranks, but hardly qualifies as great. Though the film is funny, and manages to remain entertaining, the story follows the same plot structure as many other family films: main character betrays his roots, loses all his true friends, and has to win them back through some glorious scheme. It offers little in the way of surprise, but that fault doesn't ruin the enjoyment. The writing is well paced, and laden with enough pop sensibility, that make it the perfect spoof of Disney's extremely corporate "Pirates" films. Mix the over-the-top slapstick with Aardman's dry humor, and you have a great film for everyone to enjoy.

Grade: B
3D: If you must
Easter Egg: No

Starring: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven
Director: Peter Lord & Jeff Newitt
Writer(s): Gideon Defoe
RT: 88 min
Rating: PG for mild action, rude humor and some language