THE AMAZING MAURICE

Germany/UK, 2022, 93 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis, Himesh Patel, Gemma Arteton, Julie Atherton, Rob Brydon, Hugh Bonneville, David Tennant.

Directed by Toby Genkel, Florian Westermann.

Very enjoyable.

And, very enjoyable for older audiences with Enid Blyton memories, with AA Milne memories, Peter Rabbit memories… And, of course, an entertainment for younger audiences. The added benefit is that it is based on a novel by celebrated British author, Terry Pratchett, an author of delight, 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 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 following him, diving into the river, the townspeople happy, and the rats emerging downstream, drying themselves off, congratulating 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, no food. Which makes the scam very difficult, they need to find some rats to be rid of! Lots of complications follow, Malicia taking initiatives, Maurice doing his best, 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 enjoying himself and reminding audiences of his past comic and serious roles, 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.

1. An entertaining animation film, German production, computer animated? British voice cast? An entertaining combination?
2. The writing of Terry Pratchett, his imagination, inventiveness? The full title, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents? An enjoyable adaptation?
3. The animation, bright and colourful, the characters and their liveliness, characteristics, the range of action, the music and song, the enjoyable plot complications, dangers, death, romance – and a happy ending for all?
4. Maurice, his character, large, his origins, ginger, Hugh Laurie’s voice and intonations? Leadership? Wanting to be called Maureece? With Keith, with the rats, his organisation, the scam, success? Moving on to the new town? The rat catchers, the musician, the mayor and council, no food? The need to find rats? Maurice and his working with Malicia?
5. The rats, audience response to them, their mischief in the town, the townspeople wanting to be rid of them, stereotypes of rats? But the group, individual characters, voices, personalities? The scam, following Keith, into the water, getting out, the great desire to find that paradise? Mr Barnsley, a rabbit wearing clothes, his happy home? The new town, no rats, the search, the dangers, the giants, sinister character, being a magnet to draw the rats, unwilling, the death of Dangerous Beans, the destruction of the rat character, the Grim Reaper, the small rat version, the confrontation and Maurice giving two of his lights, Dangerous Beans and his revival?
6. Malicia, her personality, talking to the audience, explaining the conventions of storytelling, reading the book, becoming part of the action of her storytelling, the mayor’s daughter, with Maurice and the plan, meeting with Keith, the attraction to Keith? The dangers, the confrontations, her leadership? And the romance with Keith?
7. Keith, quiet, racial background, voice? Music, timid, playing and leading the rats? His being part of the scam? The adventures, the recovery of the flute? The attraction to Malicia? The kiss?
8. The humans, in each of the towns, the mayor and his counsel, the rat catchers, sinister?
9. The variations on the Pied Piper, the role of the cat, his giving two of his lives for the recovery of Dangerous Beans? The sympathetic rats? And the happy ending?