The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Does anyone else remember when pirates were viewed as villains? I’m sure there are some who were/are nice people but the general act of pirating is illegal and often dangerous. Now with that reminder fresh in your mind, there is the animated satire The Pirates! Band of Misfits. The film follows a group of pirates who are uncool compared to the popular, successful pirates around them. Their leader, The Pirate Captain, dreams of winning the “Pirate of the Year Award” but his lack of “booty” holds him back. From there the film goes on a wild goose chase, which includes Charles Darwin, a pirate hating queen and a meeting of world leaders eating endangered species.

The plot is as ridiculous as it sounds, but the events are rooted with basic themes that are relatable to the young target audience. The pirates learn to be happy with who they are. Of course that doesn’t mean the woman pirate who wears a fake beard and pretends to be a man reveals her ways. But the overall gist of the movie is clear. Running under 90 minutes, it’s odd to say but the movie seems too long. In actuality the hi-jinks that occur aren’t always that compelling. This is the same issue I’ve run into when watching Chicken Run or Wallace and Gromit, two of the other features made by Aardman Animation.

Ultimately, The Pirates! Band of Misfits succeeds in being appropriate for all ages. The tension comes from an emotional basis and there is never a real threat of bodily harm. The film is a comedy that presents some unpredictable moments funny for young children, their older siblings and their parents. It’s quite likely that British viewers will get a few more laughs than us Americans. That’s just the nature of British comedy. They probably wonder what they’re missing when they watch Eddie Murphy movies. Sorry Eddie, I didn’t mean it. I actually really like Dr. Doolittle.

Each film earns either zero, a half or a full arrow in five categories. The categories are Acting, Writing/Directing, Emotion, Innovation and Overall Impression. The arrows are added up to equal the full score.