Jonathan Romney 

The Nut Job review – a functional crime caper strictly for the kids

Jonathan Romney is underwhelmed by an animated heist film whose characters and imagery are familiar
  
  

The Nut Job, film
The Nut Job: a 'mechanical affair'. Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex

While hoods plan a bank heist, furry critters conspire to raid the nut store that's the gang's hideout. This Korean-Canadian 3D animation passionlessly recycles a lot of familiar imagery and character design. Shades of Ratatouille and Over the Hedge – it's all been done better, even the figure of the benevolent leader who's revealed as a ruthless tyrant (Monsters, Inc, Toy Story 3). Solid voice talent includes inimitable rasper Will Arnett as Surly Squirrel – and they don't come more surly-sounding than Arnett – but he brings little joy to this mechanical affair. The end credits wheel out Psy and Gangnam Style for one (let's hope) last weary time. Small, undemanding children might find this distracting; small, tree-hopping rodents may be mortally offended.

 

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