The Magic Roundabout (2005)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Directors:

Dave Borthwick
Jean Duval

Writers:

Serge Danot (characters)
Raolf Sanoussi (co-writer) ...

Release Date:

2 February 2005 (France)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Things Are About To Get Hairy.

Plot:

A group of friends embark on a dangerous journey in an effort to imprison their oppressor -- the evil wizard ZeeBad.

Plot Keywords:

CGI Film | Toy Soldier | Magician | Volcano | Girl

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Jan. 16

10:00 AM

TOON

Cast

Tom Baker	...	Zeebad (voice: English version)
Jim Broadbent	...	Brian (voice: English version)
Lee Evans	...	Train (voice: English version)
Joanna Lumley	...	Ermintrude (voice: English version)
Ian McKellen	...	Zebedee (voice: English version)
Kylie Minogue	...	Florence (voice)
Bill Nighy	...	Dylan (voice: English version)
Robbie Williams	...	Dougal (voice: English version)
Ray Winstone	...	Soldier Sam (voice: English version)
Daniella Loftus	...	Coral (voice: English version)
Ediz Mahmut	...	Basil (voice: English version)
Jimmy Hibbert	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Michel Galabru	...	Zabadie (voice: French version)
Dany Boon	...	Ambroise (voice: French version)
Valérie Lemercier	...	Azalée (voice: French version)

Also Known As:

Pollux - Le manège enchanté (France)
Sprung! The Magic Roundabout (USA)
The Magic Roundabout (UK)

Runtime:

France:85 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/4 | Ireland:G | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | Singapore:G

Company:

Action Films

Trivia:

A number of character have dialogue that references previous roles. Robbie Williams' Dougal states he likes Florence as he "offers her protection" a line from his song "Angels".

Goofs:

Continuity: After Train transports everyone across the narrow bridge over the lava, he slouches down to the ground in relief. In the next shot he is standing straight, looking normal.

Quotes:

Soldier Sam: [left for dead by Zeebad] Evil villains... can be so cruel.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in BikeBoy (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Sugar, Sugar

Time for bed for a new generation

All is quiet, it's teatime and before you know it Zebedee says those immortal words: "Time for bed children." But 'Boing'… Suddenly, as if by magic… Kylie Minogue is telling you that they're "coming to get ya" – a talking sugar addict dog, an opera singing cow, a stoned bunny and a wacky wizard with a spring instead of legs, man I think I've been eating too much sugar myself… It's true though – just when you thought it was safe to take a trip back 30 years to a place of innocence and fun – here comes the super slick all singing, all dancing, all action CGI Magic Roundabout. Yes, some brave filmmakers have taken on the daunting task of updating the British teatime favourite (originally from France) which was once the 2nd most popular show on the BBC – behind the news!! How on earth could this work? And who invited the lovely Kylie to not only voice Florence but also knock out a catchy Magic Roundabout single for the soundtrack? A genius team of Dave Borthwic, Jean Duval and Frank Passingham actually – and they've pulled off a minor miracle here. Aided by the superb voice cast of Tom Baker (Zeebadee), Jim Broadbent (Brian the snail), Lee Evans (Train), Joanna Lumley (Ermintrude), Ian McKellen (Zebedee), Bill Nighy (Dylan) and Robbie Williams (Dougal). And there's even a plot of sorts: the Magic Roundabout lies in ruin after an evil ice sorcerer Zebadee has escaped to freeze the world. Step up some unlikely heroes, Brian, Ermintrude, Dylan and Dougal to challenge the chill by recovering three magic diamonds. Okay, so the plot might as well have been from a computer game and it is all a bit far removed from the genteel original but it's just mad to see Dougal and crew trekking over fiery volcanoes, jungle temples and snow-capped mountains. Plus McKellen manages to instill the spirit of Gandalf into Zebedee and even gets a heroic 'fall from a high pass' scene after battling his icy nemesis Zeebadee. This leads to Dylan almost quoting Pulp Fiction with "Zeb's dead babe, Zeb's dead"; this and some of the original's trippy substance references will keep adults of a certain age smiling. What can I say? I was amazed at how much I enjoyed this slight bit of nonsense, maybe it was sheer nostalgia but then my son Luke loved it too which I wasn't expecting.