Jimmy L. FLUSHED AWAY (2006) is an adventure tale about a pet rat from a posh London neighborhood who is flushed out of his home and into the sewers, where he discovers a thriving rat city.Hugh Jackman voices Roddy, the rat from "up top" who doesn't realize how lonely he is until he gets a taste of life in the outside world. Kate Winslet voices Rita the sewer rat, a street-smart woman-of-action who captains a ship and hunts for treasure to support her poor family. Roddy hopes Rita can help him get home, but his bumbling gets her into trouble with the sinister Toad (voiced deliciously by Sir Ian McKellen).FLUSHED AWAY is a film from the British-based Aardman Studios (of Wallace & Gromit fame). Released through Dreamworks Animation, it is a rare foray for Aardman into the realm of feature-length computer animation, which is stylized to approximate the studio's signature stop-motion aesthetic (particularly with the staccato mouth movements).The animation in the opening scene at Roddy's house seems well below the industry standard, surprisingly poor for a major studio release in 2006, but the film looks better once the action moves to the sewers.Any shortcomings in the animation are easily overlooked because the film is so creative and so much fun. The movie is packed with visual gags and a wonderful sense of comedy. It's a rather unique story, full of delightful quirks. The Toad is a riot and his French cousin Le Frog (Jean Reno) and his team of scuba suit-wearing henchfrogs are hilarious. (The mime gag is comedic genius.) The singing slugs provide well-timed comic relief, and are much funnier (in an oddball way) than the popular comic relief minions of DESPICABLE ME (2010).Very much a British film, the action is set in London around the hoopla of the soccer World Cup. The Toad has a collection of Royal Family memorabilia and even has a tragic personal history with Prince Charles. The filmmakers also have fun with cultural stereotypes, spoofing American tourists as well as Frenchmen, Italians, etc. (as seen through British eyes).And for a movie about toilets and sewers, the script tries to go easy on the really gross stuff. The full implications of the premise are glossed over to make for a more stomachable film, though there are a couple gross-out gags that the filmmakers couldn't pass up.With so many wonderful characters (in addition to those mentioned, Andy Serkis and an almost unrecognizable Bill Nighy voice the Toad's odd couple rat henchmen to hilarious effect), some truly great character animation (the Toad and the bouncy frogs in particular), such a brilliant sense of humor, and an adventure story that is both exciting and full of heart, FLUSHED AWAY is an entertaining flick. Its creativity, especially in the creation of the rat city (built out of miniature odds and ends from the human world above) and the sewer civilization of anthropomorphic critters, is impressive. It's nice to see a film that's not derivative, and one that's so much fun.6.5/10

Cinemibus This is a superb animated feature from the guys who brought us Chicken Run and Wallace and Gromit. It features an all-star cast, is devilishly funny and can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. However, it did not do very well at the box office. Why? Well, for a variety of reasons. The main one, in my opinion, is that it was killed by Happy Feet, which in no way lived up to its spectacular ad campaign. Funny how this movie is, in a way, just the opposite; it had a lousy ad campaign but is in reality a hilarious and remarkably entertaining movie.Despite an all-star British cast, this movie has the rather unappealing premise of a pampered pet rat who somehow contrives to be flushed down the toilet into an incredible world of sewer rats and their underground city. Now, at first this seems to be a premise that has gross-out comedy built directly into it. What the ad campaign regrettably failed to explain is that that premise only sets up the real one. The real premise sets up a cracking adventure story that features a gallery of hysterically funny characters and situations. What really amazes me about this film, however, is how constantly it entertains. There was not a single moment during this film in which I was not being totally entertained by its antics. Any movie that fills out its mission statement that effectively is worthy of recognition. However, this movie never got it, neither financially nor, to a certain extent, critically. Some might be kept away by the premise, or maybe the all-British cast, or maybe even because there are other films(like Happy Feet) they would rather see. Well, I am here telling you not to miss out.

FilmFanInTheHouse Flushed Away (2006, Dir. David Bowers & Sam Fell) Roddy (Jackman) is a rat who lives in the best lifestyle possible, but when stranger Sid (Richie) appears, Roddy tries everything to remove him. Unfortunately for Roddy, not everything goes to plan, and he himself ends up in the sewers. Gaining the assistance of Rita (Winslet), Roddy tries to get home, whilst dodging the evil Toad (McKellen).Flushed Away proves that Aardman, DreamWorks and Computer Animation can work together, as this film is a colourful and hilarious delight to watch. The choice of voice talent is perfect and each voice and the well written script makes each character so identifiable and interesting.After a hard day navigating the sewer pipes, there's nothing better than relaxing in a Jacuzzi whirlpool bath. – Roddy (Hugh Jackman)

long-ford This film turned out to be solidly entertaining. The animation is a blocky Aardman-like, but done using CGI. The results are fine. The story is light, basically just an excuse for an adventure through London's sewers where there's an entire community of creatures living, Dickens style. Ian McKellen is tremendous voicing the villainous Toad. Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet are dependable as a pair of constantly bickering opposites who ultimately attract. There are some inappropriate Americanisms throughout the production, which otherwise retains a typically British sense of humor. Recommended.Overall 7/10