Hop (B+)

Hop is a delightful family comedy, with a few particularly good parts to balance out the most cliché elements.

When the Easter Bunny (Hugh Laurie)’s teenage son (Russel Brand), about to inherit the family job, runs away from home (on Easter Island, of course) to pursue a career as a musician, he is accidentally hit by the car of Fred, a young adult (James Marsden) just kicked out of home by his parents in the hopes he will finally get a job. The bunny decides that he can get some much needed shelter sticking around the human, but the man intently believes he is hallucinating and attempts to keep the bunny secret to prevent upsetting his father. Meanwhile, Carlos (Hank Azaria), the Easter Bunny’s right hand chick (old chicks do not age into ducks or roosters on Easter Island) attempts to throw a coop—sorry, coup—due to his frustration that his boss’s role is inherited and always given to a rabbit. Of course, the opening narration showed Fred saying this was the story of the first human Easter Bunny.

Seeing as Easter has not been a holiday mined to the extent of Halloween and Christmas by Hollywood, I had hoped this film would add in some interesting new elements or at least make the original ones look cool (for example, The Polar Express’s title train). Sadly, the movie merely anthropomorphizes bunnies and chicks—the Easter factory looks like a normal factory with a Christmas-y feel, the Easter Bunny travels around in an actual sleigh. Even the animals seem a little too artificial and out-of-place.

Fortunately, the colors shown of the Easter lair are so bright and vivid the movie has a festive feel in and of itself (the picture is directed by Tim Hill, who also did the original Alvin and the Chipmunks) Furthermore, the musical element is a nice touch, and keeps the movie rock-and-rolling along.

The humor is not constant, but is present (David Hasselhoff charms in a rather large cameo as himself). Better, though, are the relationships—Marsden’s Fred is a loveable slacker who the audience can’t help but root for.

The ending is of course upbeat, but not too absurd. We get that (spoiler, though I doubt people reading my review are going to this movie for the suspense) the young Easter Bunny’s musical career is going to have to take the backseat to his holiday responsibilities. Much of this is simply a set-up for a sequel, but I like the fact that we don’t have to watch E.B. celebrate his total lack-of-commitment to the job he is “destined” to hold, instead it is stated that family and friendship are far more important.

Uncomfortable—and a far larger issue with others—is the fact that this movie marks a huge step in the secularization of a sacred holiday. Christmas is an event celebrated by pretty-much everyone, but Easter is still much more embraced by Christians. I think it is a bit sad, but the holiday was going to be celebrated regardless. In fact, it might lead people to curiously learn more about the day they originally enjoyed just for the candy.

Overall, Hop is cute and charming.