Starring: Voices of: Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis, Himesh Patel, Gemma Arterton, Julie Atherton, Rob Brydon, Hugh Bonneville, David Tennant
Distributor: Icon
Runtime: 93 mins. Reviewed in Jan 2023
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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Maurice is a large ginger cat, he is friendly with a team of rats – Educated Rodents – and works with them to clear towns of rats. But, there are a lot more adventures, dangers, and a touch of romance.
A very enjoyable entertainment for younger audiences. And, very enjoyable for older audiences with Enid Blyton, AA Milne memories and Peter Rabbit memories . . . The added benefit is that it is based on a novel by celebrated British author, Terry Pratchett, an author of delightful imagination.
The credits remind us that the original story by Terry Pratchett was called The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. So, a cat and mouse story, so to speak, with some nods to the Pied Piper, playing with the tradition and Robert Browning’s poem.
The film is a computer-generated animation. A German/United Kingdom production, the animation and directors German and the amazing voice cast, British.
But, the question arises, who is Maurice? And why is he amazing? The character who answers these questions at length during the film is, of course, Maurice himself. He is a large ginger cat, rather desperate to be known as Maureece. But, the film is opened by a young woman, Malicia, an avid reader who tells the animated story of Mr Barnsley, a well-dressed rabbit. And then she herself, the mayor’s daughter, becomes a character in the story she is telling (and as she asks, why not).
The town where we find Maurice is being plagued by rats, and the screenplay spends some time creating different characters, the Boss, Peaches, the wise old counsellor, Dangerous Beans. What can the townspeople do to rid themselves of the rats. Maurice produces a nice young man, Keith, who plays the flute – and, the rats all follow him, diving into the river. The townspeople are happy, and the rats emerging downstream, drying themselves off, congratulate themselves on the scam and the money Maurice raised. And, why not do it again. They want enough money to find a paradise like the character in their favourite book, Mr Barnsley.
In the next town there are no rats, but two sinister rat catchers holding the town to ransom. Which makes the scam very difficult, they need to find some rats to be rid of. Lots of complications follow, and a whole lot of adventures, the challenge of a power that draws rats to itself, a glimpse of the Grim Reaper (and a small skeletal rat version), romance, Malicia and Keith, of course, and some wonderful self-sacrifice by Maurice.
The animation is bright. The action is lively. The screenplay is humorous. And, a wonderful voice cast, Hugh Laurie is enjoying himself as Maurice. Emilia Clarke has experience in being a leader from Game of Thrones and makes a vigorous Malicia. Himel Patel (Yesterday) is Keith. Hugh Bonneville is the Mayor. And David Tennant is the wise Dangerous Beans.
Watching The Amazing Maurice again would be very enjoyable.
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