A sewer rat comes up the pipes, and an aristocratic rat goes down them in the latest Aardman animated feature FLUSHED AWAY. Roddy, a high-class pet rat voiced by Hugh Jackman, is enjoying a wonderful vacation in his owner’s posh London estate, when a sewer rat name Sid crashes his party. After Roddy attempts to dismiss Sid via the toilet, which Roddy sells as a Jacuzzi, Sid turns the tables on him and flushes him down to the sewer system. Roddy is introduced to a whole new world down below as he embarks on a journey home.
There’s no place like home, seems to be the most popular animated theme this year, and FLUSHED AWAY follows this trend. Leave it to Aardman, the creators of WALLACE AND GROMMIT, to present the best spin on this message. Not only does FLUSHED AWAY bring the Brits wry sense of humor, but it turns the tables on several animated clichés with a wonderful assortment of oft beat characters, including a host of slugs that steal the show. The slugs are as funny as they are strange, and infuse the film with humor, especially when you don’t see it coming. Ian McKellan, voicing bad-guy ring leader Toad, and Jean Reno as Le Frog, create memorable bad guys. Although tight at only 84 minutes, FLUSHED AWAY never feels rushed. A collection of screenwriters move Roddy and Rita from one sewer stop to the next in quick, but not forced scenarios. FLUSHED AWAY is a real treat, for kids and adults.
Grade: B+
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