Latest animated flicks on screen

The turtle team, the chef-rat and the surfer-penguin... are lined up to entertain you once your homework is finished.

Even the most diligent students need some downtime, and releases on DVD promise to provide it.

Ratatouille is the latest offering from animation studio Pixar. The film follows Remy, voiced by Patton Oswalt, who longs to become a chef, but there's one problem: he's a rat, and humans don't tend to favour rats in their kitchens.

As fate throws Remy and awkward garbage boy Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano, an unknown who works behind the scenes at Pixar) together, the pair form a partnership that will showcase Remy's passion for cooking while setting into motion a hilarious rat race that will have the audience laughing out loud.

The relationship between Remy and Linguini is an equal partnership, which brings many of the film's funny moments.

Writer-director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) offers a playful and bouncy script with magnificent animation bringing to life the flavours of Paris. It's a feast for any animation fan. Bird achieves a marvellously warm hand made quality.

It presents Paris as a real and modern place yet in a dream like manner. If you think animated flicks are kids stuff, think again.

Between Remy's sophisticated love of food, and a flawlessly cast Peter O'Toole voicing pompous dining critic Anton Ego the pleasures of Ratatouille are rather delicious for all adults.

Fresh and sweet

One downfall is the number of subplots, which may test the patience of some of the younger audience.

Funnier than Shark Bait, more exciting than Cars and fresher and sweeter than Meet the Robinsons. Ratatouille is a great family movie that parents, teens and younger children will enjoy.

The film never resorts to stupid jokes; Bird treats his audience with great respect and as a result has you laughing throughout the entire film.

Bird has the ability to somehow entertain and amuse all ages. He manages to include a sophisticated script yet has the visual comedy to keep the younger audience interested and involved. It speaks up to the audience rather than talking down to it.

Ratatouille is a lovely treat for the whole family to enjoy.

Surf's Up

Surf's Up follows a penguin named Cody (Shia LaBeouf) from the penguin burg of shiverpool, (a pun on Liverpool, England) Antarctica.

Cody dreams of being an awesome surfer just like his (apparently) deceased idol, Big Z. When a surf scout turns up in Antarctica looking for new talent Cody jumps at the chance. He makes his way to Pe Gu Island and enters the Big Z Memorial Surf Off — but wipes out during the early stages of the competition — bless him.

All is not lost though, as Cody is rescued by the cute little lifeguard Lani, voiced by Zooey Deschanel who in turn introduces Cody to her uncle, a washed up surfer, Geek, voiced by Jeff Bridges.

The visuals of the surfing animals are exciting and the beautiful computer animation of the scenic Pe Gu Island and the surrounding ocean are memorable.

Sadly predictable the old surfer dude is none other than Big Z himself, and slightly more predictable is Big Z training Cody to surf and teaching him some other life lessons. But who cares if it's predictable, it is a children's movie after all.

But perhaps the cleverest reference is casting Jeff Bridges as the voice of Big Z, playing his 'dude' character from the Coen brothers cult favourite The Big Lebowski. Bridges speaks sluggishly but yet wisely as the roly-poly ex-champion. LaBeouf and Deschanel are enthusiastic and energetic, but it's difficult to stand out next to Bridges, who is just so funny.

Directed by Ash Brannon, co-director of Toy Story 2 and Chris Buck director of Tarzan, Surf's Up takes a documentary-reality TV approach, it's a smart move as it adds energy to the film.

With it's mockumentary style the film does well with the behind-the-scenes approach keeping both the adults and children amused. Buck and Brannon cleverly include reality show-like confessions and real-life surfer Kelly Slater reporting for SPEN-the Surfing Penguin Entertainment Network—love it!

Like Happy Feet, Surf's Up also delivers a message, winning isn't everything-it's the taking part that counts — its about having fun.

Even though cinemas have been inundated with penguin movies lately with the likes of March of the Penguins, Madagascar, The Wild and the very successful Happy Feet, Surf's Up manages to stand it's own ground and provide great entertainment for the whole family!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

It's been 14 years since their third live action movie and at last The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back. Although, this time round the city looks much more sinister and edgy with even nastier looking villains.

The story has Leonardo the leader of the four brothers been sent to South America by Master Splinter to become a better leader, while Raphael grows distant from his older brothers.

Meanwhile Manhattan is experiencing some strange events. It's up to the famous four, April O'Neil, Casey Jones and Master Splinter to save the world. Underneath it all, though; this is a story about brotherhood and teamwork!

Character development doesn't really happen here and who really cares? For the older ones we all know that Michelangelo is the funny, goofy brother while Leonardo is the leader, Raphael is the serious brother who sometimes feels like an outsider; and then we have Donatello who is the peace-maker out of the four—they are still the characters we grew up with and loved. And as for the younger ones they will get to know what each brother stands for petty fast.

With all four brothers, along with very cool and headstrong April O'Neil, who this time round is an archaeologist not a reporter, and with the help of good guy Casey Jones and the wise Master Splinter, the whole gang are back! Cowabunga dude!

The film is well made and visually extraordinary, it's fun and true-to-its-roots thanks to writer, director and turtles fan Kevin Munroe.

The CGI is excellent and shines through many of the well-choreographed action-packed fight scenes. What is refreshing to see is the four main characters being voiced by unknown actors.

By doing this Munroe has ensured that a star-studded cast has not overshadowed and taken away any of the attention from the main story and core characters.

However, Patrick Stewart voices Max Winters, other names that you may recognise are Chris Evens, the Human Torch from Fantastic Four, Evans voices the character Casey Jones. Sarah Michelle Buffy the Vampire Slayer Gellar voices April O'Neil while Laurence Fishburne narrates.

The film will keep the attention of the under 10's but it may struggle to keep teenagers interested. Still, I'm sure older brothers and sisters who grew in the 80's would jump at the chance to take a trip down memory lane and revert back to their childhood and enjoy all the banter among the four brothers!