TURBO (B)

Bottom Line: Not snail-paced and anything but the pits, this backyard, garden-variety version of Pixar’s CARS is more fun than it has a right to be…  Unceremoniously shoehorned into the summer lineup, this rather simplistic yet comically charming underdog flick bobs-and-weaves its way through the heavy traffic of 2013’s animated movie speedway – and comes pretty darn close to taking the pole position.  It rarely breaks new ground and there are a few cinematic speed bumps, but it’s lighthearted, fun and an affectionately heartfelt ode to the bonds of brotherhood.  The voice work is enthusiastic, the characters are colorful and the imagery is grand.  Weighing this against the likes of MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (still my favorite of 2013; B+) and DESPICABLE ME 2, my boys both picked it as their favorite of the year thus far (but Disney’s PLANES opens in a few short weeks – so they may be making that statement again).  Butter up your jumbo bag of popcorn, folks (and go easy on the salt!) because these need-for-speed snails deliver an enjoyable adventure for both kids and parents alike…

Starring the voices of: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena, Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Hader and Snoop D-o-dizzle-G

Directed by: David Soren (SHARK TALE)

Rated: PG

Running time: 96 minutes

Story: A garden snail dreams of becoming the fastest snail in the world. Dreamworks

Trailer: www.turbomovie.com