MOVIE REVIEW: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

October 31st, 2011

Grant Trimboli

Movie: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Director: Steven Spielberg

To say that I was just a tad nervous going in to see this film would be something of an understatement. I don’t know about the States, but here in Europe, Tintin is a legend. The books (and to a lesser extent, cartoon series) have defined many a childhood, my own included. Vivid memories of repeatedly renting the books from the library and leafing through them, often acting out the storyline with my brother and taking turns to do the voices, still linger joyously in my mind. There’s a simple and beautiful magic to the books that will never be matched on film, no matter how much of a cliché that is to say, and for all that the movie offers adventure and entertainment galore you will still be missing something of consummate importance if you don’t flick through at least one of the books. I say flick through. I mean read, re-read, and read again until the spines start to fall off, but I digress.

Happily, the dream team of Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg have done us Hergé nuts mostly proud. In a nutshell, this is a fine film. It will divide the faithful, and it’s not perfect, but it is a solid and loving tribute to some of the most wonderful books ever published.

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn takes its storyline from “The Secret of the Unicorn,” “Red Rackham’s Treasure,” and “The Crab with the Golden Claws.” For the uninitiated, Tintin is a youthful reporter of indeterminate age who travels all over the world and readily exposes various ne’er do wells. He’s Belgian, but (whisper it) the English language translations are actually more fun (and I have read the French originals). Here, he purchases a model replica of a ship called the Unicorn, and is swiftly set upon by various shady characters who demand to purchase it from him and hint at numerous mouth-watering secrets. His interest is piqued, and together with faithful terrier Snowy, he sets off on a mission to uncover the ship’s secret. Along the way he meets the drunken seafarer Captain Archibald Haddock (Andy Serkis), crosses paths with detectives Thomson and Thompson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), and uncovers a spine-tingling tale of lost treasure and the legendary pirate Red Rackham (Daniel Craig).

The film is rendered in motion capture animation, which – it should be noted – may not be to everyone’s tastes. The animation itself can’t be faulted for detail and vividness, but there is a sense that it derails the spark of urgency at times. For obvious reasons, it can’t quite match the immediacy of a live action and at times the performances can seem a bit laboured. That aside however, once you warm to the visual style, the movie should delight you. It takes some time to find its stride but once Tintin and Haddock have met and are on their merry way, it’s a delightful good old-fashioned boy’s own yarn, with lots of intrigue, set pieces, and suspense. It’s a Spielberg film, after all, and the childlike sense of eager adventure that so defines his work is tangible. An anarchic downhill chase, involving the unleashing of a rampaging river and destruction of most of a Moroccan city is a particular stand out – it’s straight out of the books, and manages to capture the easy charm and frolicking spirit of the Tintin legend. There are plenty of gags and although the humour doesn’t always convince (again, the animation seems to offset the timing), it’s often hilarious and evokes many giddy smiles.

Jamie Bell deserves special mention for bringing Tintin to life perfectly. There is no other word for it; he IS the loveable rapscallion ginger reporter with whom I grew up. His voice is boyish and inquisitive, intrepid and eager and the mannerisms are absolutely spot-on. Likewise, Snowy is brilliantly realised. Anyone familiar with the source material will understand that the terrier is a character in his own right, who frequently rescues his owner from inauspicious situations and has a clear voice of his own. The speech bubbles are missing here (rats), but Snowy is given a firm and irreverent presence and remains integral to events. The jury is still out on Serkis as Haddock however. He’s got the Scottish brogue down to a tee, but there’s something lacking in his portrayal. This could just be me, but Haddock’s too boorish here for my liking. Even as a drunken buffoon, he’s a strong and admirable character and I feel that he’s too often downplayed as comic relief. The Thompson twins aren’t given enough screen time (or “to be precise” quotes) and obviously miss the incendiary chemistry a live action would have offered, but they remain the loveably inept idiots they’re supposed to be. Craig’s performance as Red Rackham and his nefarious successor Sakharine is assured and competent – the former in particular is afforded a terrific entrance.

The movie is full of Easter eggs for the long time fans, giving it that extra sparkle – the opening credits are rendered in the books’ familiar font and depict such well-known features as the Black Island castle and moon rocket, while the opening scene involves a gallery of villains and Tintin’s flat has framed newspaper articles referencing earlier adventures. It’s a visual thrill, almost compensating for the sloppy pacing that seems to burden the first act and – dare I say it – a surprisingly misfiring score (John Williams! What happened, man?!).

Tintin is, ultimately, a warm and engaging piece of work. It’s awkward at times, and probably not the best adaptation it could have been, but it certainly makes an avowed effort to keep you smiling. If you’re a long time fan, I can’t promise it’s everything we wanted it to be, but it is an excellent start. If you’re a newcomer, allow me to assure you – ‘come with me, and you’ll be, in a world of pure imagination…’

Review written by Grace Duffy