Triplets of Belleville was already awarded Best Animated pic by the New York Film Critics so there was a little bit of anticipation for me to see the film, but it only took about 15 minutes for me to want to run from the theaters looking for a copy of Finding Nemo to remind me what made a good animated film.
This French animated comedy surrounds a grandma destined to please her grandson, Champion, by any means and finds that his passion his bicycle riding so grandma sets out to make him the best.
He is soon riding in the Tour de France, but oops he is kidnapped by the French mafia and grandma and the family dog, Bruno, set out to find him and on the way meet the “Triplets of Belleville”, three eccentric female music-hall stars from the 30’s who decide to take Madame Souza and Bruno under their wing.
Stupidity ensues and by the end you have wasted an hour and 20 minutes of your time.
Triplets uses very little dialogue if any lending to a film dominated by sound effects, which work their way into your head until they are pounding on your ear drum.
Grandma has a habit of blowing a whistle to encourage Champion to rid harder during training and she blows, and blows, and blows. Also Bruno has a nasty habit of barking at trains as they storm by the upstairs window of every house they are ever in, and boy does he get a chance to bark often.
I will say that the animation is great and something to be marveled but it takes a little more than great animation to make a great animated pic. My suggestion is to steer clear of this one and rent Nemo.
