 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hop
- Review Date: March 27, 2011
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Silly animated/live-action holiday comedy is fun for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this live-action/computer-animation hybrid Easter comedy has a positive message about reaching for your dreams. Characters occasionally use insults like "idiot," "stupid," and "freak," and there's some slapstick violence and one brief scene in which it looks like the Easter Bunny might be in trouble -- but even kids will be able to tell that everything will be OK. In one early scene, E.B. tries to get into the Playboy mansion because he thinks it's a haven for rabbits, but only adults will get the related jokes, and nothing risque is shown. Although the movie is Easter-themed, it doesn't include any references to the holiday's religious meaning (which could be a plus or a minus, depending on your family's own beliefs).
What's the story?
The Easter Bunny (voiced by Hugh Laurie) lives on Easter Island, preparing for another year's trip around the world to deliver baskets full of treats. He's preparing his son, E.B. (Russell Brand), to succeed him, but E.B. isn't interested in taking over for his father -- he wants to be a drummer. Afraid of his father's expectations, E.B. takes a rabbit hole trip to Hollywood, where he hopes to make it big as a rock musician. Instead, he almost gets run over by Fred (James Marsden), an aimless twentysomething whose parents would really like him to move out and get a job. Fred can't believe his eyes (and ears) when E.B. starts talking to him, and the two of them end up becoming unlikely friends who help each other save Easter -- and their goals for a fulfilling career.
Is it any good?
Director Tim Hill is a kids' flick veteran, and, after Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties and Alvin and the Chipmunks, somewhat of an "expert" at comedies that feature both live-action and computer-animated creatures. It's a shame that most movies that attempt that form of hybridization (Yogi Bear, Marmaduke) are just plain awful, but in a way HOP benefits from the low expectations that adult moviegoers will have for this subgenre of family films. Still, while it's unquestionably better than the atrocious Yogi and passably better than Marmaduke, ultimately it's just a generic holiday movie with a bunny swapped in for good ol' St. Nick.
Marsden is a talented, appealing actor. He's one of those dashing-looking types who's best known for supporting roles (Enchanted, X-Men, Hairspray) and can pull off most characters with his easy charm. So it's a tad ludicrous that he was cast as Fred, since the 37-year-old in no way looks like an early-to-mid-20s slacker, and the role would have been more believable in the hands of a lovable loser-style comedian. His miscasting aside, the movie manages to be amusing enough thanks to Marsden's rapport with Brand, who raises his voice to sound a bit younger as the rock-loving adolescent bunny. Special mention must go the voice-talent genius of Hank Azaria, who plays Carlos the Chick, the Easter Bunny's candy-factory foreman who wants to usurp E.B. as the next Easter Bunny. Azaria makes Carlos the scene-stealer of this lighthearted jellybean of a comedy.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's messages. Why is it important to pursue your dreams? What if you don't succeed?
What does the movie say about father-son relationships? Do you think parents should support their kids' job choices and dreams no matter what? Which father did a better job of understanding his son's goals, E.B.'s or Fred's?
For viewers who celebrate Easter, how do the movie's themes compare with your family's ideas and traditions surrounding the holiday?
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AGE
I would not recommend this movie for children. I personally will not buy it or ever watch it again. The bunny goes to the playboy mansion. The fact that the playboy mansion is even mentioned in a movie targeting children is DESPICABLE!! And one of the theme songs..."I Want Candy" is a COMPLETELY inappropriate song! the lyrics are terrible and DISGUSTING!
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AGE
Most of the children at that show were 8 and above. They sat quietly, laughed during the funny parts and sang or moved during the musical parts. They all seemed to enjoy it and parents seemed happy with the movie as well.
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AGE
Horrible movie! Poor acting, racist and racy
I found this movie to have poor acting, sexual undertones and blatant racism.
The "human" actors were not funny, not well acted and were stereotypical. The parents wanted their child to find a job, any job, and move out of the house. They made it clear that they found their son a failure.
There were many sexual undertones...Chelsea Handler, David Hasselhoff, Hugh Hefner all had roles. The bunny talked about open relationships, being a sexy bunny, and getting into the playboy mansion.
The racism was very uncomfortable. There was a scene where the Easter Bunny hadn't yet "cracked China" of the bunny getting thrown out of a Chinese grocery store in China. There is an adopted Chinese daughter living with the human family, who thinks she's great but has a horrible singing voice. She even says "I think I was adopted to make up for your son's lack of ambition." There is a band of blind black men, who just pretend to be blind as a gimmick. And there is the Latino chick (as in chicken) that is laughed at when he asks to become the new easter bunny, even though the job was vacant. He is the villain in the movie.
This movie was just plain horrible! Please beware of these when taking children to the movie. There is nothing sweet or innocent taking place. It is full of mean spirited characters.
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AGE
More for Little Kids
I recently watched Hop and the age I think it would be is about 2-11. For littler kids it has words like stupid, or idiot...but nothing really bad. To me, it wasn't very "educational" but it did have a positive message. There was nothing inapropriate really, and I thought there were some good role models. If your kid is 2-11 I think they really may enjoy it!!
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Kid, 11 years old
April 24, 2011
AGE
Great funny movie!
I saw this movie and it was very funny, now that it's Easter! And, instead of 3D glasses, they gave me a set of E.B.'s ears!
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AGE
The movie was cute and pretty funny. It encourages people to not be selfish and self centered. WARNING: On two occasions a major and some minor chracter go to the PLAYBOY MANSION and speak over a loud speaker to a man that sounds like Hugh Hefner on top of that the PLAYBOY BUNNY LOGO is clearly displayed. We will not buy HOP because of this. I don't want my kids associating something positive and mostly innocent with a pornographic icon.
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AGE
Fun, but not Funny
All of the kids and parents saw this today, and the kids liked it a lot. It had a decent story line, and was the first movie my 5-year-old watched, followed, and didn't get bored of partway through.
That said, it just wasn't very funny. Pleasant, but not funny. Normally, my kids giggle and laugh through movies like this (they thought Alvin & the Chipmunks was a laugh riot), but my 8-year old only laughed once. I laughed about 6 times...but really, if you can count your number of laughs, that's a bad sign.
Overall, the characters were nice - and there wasn't anything we had to explain or contradict afterward. Very very little violence and nearly no scary parts (about 3 intense minutes near the end, and one slightly creepy character morph). My husband was thrilled that there was no love interest.
Our other thumbs up is that the characters all act pretty realistically - they talk to each other, and there's very little lying or contrived Three's Company-style situations.
It was a fun little movie - I just wish it had been funnier. Oh, and stay through the credits. There's a little bit at the end.
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AGE
know your older grade school kids
This movie was cut relly short. that said there is a pretty good amunt of product placement and the playboy mansion mentioned in a few scenes and EB considers himself sexy when he reads his map that says the playboy mansion is for "sexy bunnies" this could lead to some akward cnversations about what th playboy mansion is
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AGE
disappointed
I do not understand why the playboy mansion was even put into the movie. Regardless of whether the younger kids understand, it is the ones 9-10, that question why the bunny is sexy and what is that place. There is no need.
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AGE
used jerk a lot, and referrenced playboy mansion.
used jerk a lot, and referrenced playboy mansion.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, holidays |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Tim Hill |
| Cast: | Hank Azaria, James Marsden, Kaley Cuoco, Russell Brand |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 95 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 1, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | March 20, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some mild rude humor |
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