This is a fun movie. Big Idea Productions improved their movie making skills from their last feature "Jonah". The movie is longer and yet feels shorter and more free flowing than Jonah. Yes, the Biblical message is quite buried, but definitely there. The animation has majorly improved (again, still not up to Pixar levels), the songs are still good (with the exception of "Yo Ho Heroes"), and the pacing of the movie is very good. The side jokes are very funny and are thrown in all over the place without interrupting the story flow. This makes for a very streamlined production that keeps its focus and yet feels free flowing and not forced at all. And the scriptwriting for the the 3 main characters makes them feel like real pals who know each other well. This movie nowhere achieves the greatness of Pixar films, but taken on its own terms, it is very solid.
And the best thing about the movie is that since it markets itself to kids, it is at its heart a children's movie. It keeps a sense of wonder and innocence about itself and doesn't try to win an adult audience deliberately. Recent animated features frequently market themselves to children, but then have such adult humor or violence in them that it makes the whole movie inappropriate for kids. "Pirates" is a bona-fide kids film that is fun, action packed, and entertaining. And it is refreshing in its kid-like nature that it will be a delight to parents to.
And the best thing about the movie is that since it markets itself to kids, it is at its heart a children's movie. It keeps a sense of wonder and innocence about itself and doesn't try to win an adult audience deliberately. Recent animated features frequently market themselves to children, but then have such adult humor or violence in them that it makes the whole movie inappropriate for kids. "Pirates" is a bona-fide kids film that is fun, action packed, and entertaining. And it is refreshing in its kid-like nature that it will be a delight to parents to.