Susan Granger’s review of “Valiant” (Walt Disney Pictures)
It’s not “Chicken Run,” but it’s a fresh twist on “the little bird who could,” touching on truth since carrier pigeons were really used by British Intelligence during W.W.II to elude the Nazis and transmit Top Secret messages across the English Channel to the French Resistance. The spirited story begins in 1939, when fierce German Falcons were decimating the Royal Homing Pigeon Service and the country’s most decorated hero, Wing Commander Gutsy (Hugh Laurie), was looking for new recruits. In the tiny rural town of West Nesting, plucky, patriotic Valiant (Ewan McGregor) tells his friend Felix the seagull (John Hurt) he’s going to volunteer In London’s Trafalgar Square, Valiant, literally, bumps into Bugsy (British comedian Ricky Gervais), a fat ‘n’ cheeky con-pigeon who winds up in the war by mistake. Valiant and Bugsy join a posh bloke named Lofty and brothers Tail Feather and Tipwood in Squad F.. With their homing training under Sarge (Jim Broadbent) only half complete, they’re ordered to report for duty. Can Valiant and his cohorts rescue a kidnapped POW (John Cleese) and elude the evil Von Talon (Tim Curry)? Will Valiant ever wind up with the sweet nursing dove (Olivia Williams)? What distinguishes this animated entry about an undersized pigeon with an oversized heart is that it’s the first major computer-generated film to be made in England. Produced by John H. Williams (“Shrek,” “Shrek 2”), it delivers a timeless message of courage although it’s surprisingly short, a mere 70 minutes. Certainly Ewan McGregor and the other vocal talent chirp amiably enough but the CGI is hardly inspired. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Valiant” is a funny, high-flying, family-friendly 7. As Sarge puts it: “Fall in, featherbrains!”
