CNS Movie Review: Valiant

Valiant

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- To paraphrase the old song, be kind to your fine feathered friends, for that pigeon may be a war hero. In fact, next time one lands outside your window, you might want to salute him rather than shoo him away.

During World War II, 54 nonhuman combatants were honored with the Dickin Medal -- England's animal version of the Purple Heart -- for distinguished military service. Of the recipients, which included dogs, horses and a cat, 32 were carrier pigeons, a statistic that inspired the telling of "Valiant" (Disney), a computer-animated adventure from the creators of "Shrek," about a tiny bird who comes up big.

Set in World War II-era England, the featherweight but whimsically entertaining tale centers on a runt named Valiant (cutely cooed by Ewan McGregor) who joins Great Britain's Royal Homing Pigeon Service despite naysayers who tell him he is too small.

The plucky pigeon makes his way to London where he is taken under the wing of artful dodger Bugsy (voiced by Ricky Gervais), a flying fleabag with a cockney accent who unwittingly enlists as well. Rounding out the recruits are monocled Lofty (voiced by Pip Torrens) and twins Toughwood (voiced by Brian Lonsdale) and Tailfeather (voiced by Dan Roberts), neither "the sharpest beak on the block."

A large portion of the paltry 75-minute film involves mildly amusing slapstick sequences of the brigade -- designated "Squad F" -- as they're whipped into flying shape by the gruff drill-pigeon Sergeant (voiced by Jim Broadbent).

Directed by Gary Chapman, the film takes flight when the misfits are deployed behind enemy lines in occupied France to relay an important communique safely back to England. Victory or defeat for the Allies rests squarely on Valiant's scrawny wings.

Flying between them and success, however, are a squadron of pigeon-eating German falcons: Panzer raptor General Von Talon (voiced by Tim Curry), who rules the skies with an iron beak, and his two lackeys Cufflingk (voiced by Rik Mayall) and Underlingk (voiced by Michael Schlingmann).

There are comical moments in the "Hogan's Heroes" vein, with Von Talon an avian Colonel Klink ("Ve have vays of making you squawk!"). There are, however, a few menacing moments that may be a bit intense for very young children.

The information that Valiant ends up delivering anchors the plot elements in history poignantly. The resolution is foreshadowed by a haunting image of the Allied fleet crossing a mist-shrouded English Channel.

Compared with recent animated films like "Shrek" and "Finding Nemo," the writing and characters in "Valiant" are a little thin in the plumage. The vibrant animation has a more classic old-fashioned look that, refreshingly, doesn't bombard you with hip pop-culture references. Adding to the movie's overall period feel is George Fenton's swing-era score. An opening 1940s' newsreel sequence is quite funny.

Despite its flaws, "Valiant" imparts a positive self-esteem message that "it's not the size of your wingspan, but the size of your spirit."

With it getting harder to find family entertainment that doesn't sneak in age-inappropriate content, "Valiant" is one movie that won't ruffle many parents' feathers.

The film contains some scary images that may frighten the youngest viewers and a few innocuous flatulence jokes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences.

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DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

END

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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