Helm: “What you doing?”Venus: (Snapping the arm off a robot she is fighting) “Just making a wish.”I didn’t really know what to expect with this film. I am a big fan of Duncan Jones. I think we can all agree that Moon was a phenomenal film. I enjoyed Source Code as well.I do love sci-fi, but I am not the biggest fan of animated films.We are placed in the middle of a battle for Nu-Earth. The Southers Vs the Norts. Infantry of genetically enhanced soldiers, bred for war with blue skin so they can withstand chemical attacks. These soldiers have a chip inside their heads that if it is collected within 10 seconds of their death. Then they can be put into a new body and live again.In the meantime these chips can be stored in other army equipment. In a gun, a backpack, a helmet etc. During this time they can still talk and control the aspects of that item. This film balances the harrowing aspects of war mixed with moments that are absolutely hilarious. This is not an easy thing to do and I was really quite surprised by just how violent this film is. Like having to cut the top of your soldier friends head off to remove the chip, it’s pretty barbaric but it needs to be done. Then soon after you’ll be laughing about something else.The camaraderie is captured perfectly. You really believe that these guys have been through training and inventory together. They all tease and give each other a lot of shit which is extremely funny.There is some great characters and voice work. Hayley Atwell voices Venus, a strong soldier who has found another calling. There are two brother played by British comedy legend Matt Berry and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) who pick up the spoils of war.Our main protagonist is soldier number 19, voiced by Aneurin Barnard (Dunkirk) He is a great character, trying to get back to the drop zone. Trying to do the right thing and trying to get his friends safely into new bodies. There is a lot of heart to this character and he is really well written, thought out and executed by Barnard.Reece Shearsmith (British TV show The League of Gentlemen, High-Rise) is a British comedy legend. He voices Bagman who is by far the funniest character. There are so many hilarious comedic situations that he creates, from singing his heart out, to refusing to help 19 in a fight because he is busy conducting a stock inventory!We also have Sean Bean and Diane Morgan (Cunk on Life) as bickering Commanding Officers. It is great how the more human characters are made to look a bit more monstrous. There’s a good variety of characters in this and 19’s colleagues all have different accents, personalities and traits which is a really clever way to make it easy to tell them all apart and know exactly who is talking, when. I couldn’t help but notice that there is a Sergeant Major character that is made up to look and sound just like Windsor Davis from It Ain’t Half Hot Mum which was fantastic to see. I haven’t thought about that (old British) TV show in years. It works perfectly for the scenes he is in as well. This film has a nostalgic and rocking sound track to go along with it. Being a British film based on a British comic, 2000 AD. The comedy is very British but I think it can be appreciated by everyone. I never thought I’d find myself in a cinema in 2026 singing along to Chesney Hawk’s 1991 hit, I am the One and Only. (from the film Buddy’s Song)I do not go in for animated films all that often and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this all the way through. Plus the animation is excellent. There is a character, Truant who is confused and scared and it is portrayed so well just by how he is drawn.I highly recommend this film, if you are a fan war films, action, comic book films or just comedies in general. There is a lot to like for everyone in this extremely well rounded film.That you to the team at Cité internationale du cinéma d'animation for the early screening.Notes:Although this is from its own comic, 2000AD. The home of Judge Dredd. This film did make me think about Gone with the Blastwave. (Link) Another post apocalyptic war comic that is also very funny.
