Displaying items by tag: JeanChristian Tassy

PETS ON A TRAIN/ FALCON EXPRESS

France, 2025, 99 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: English version: Wyatt Bowen, Chimwemwe Miller, Mark Camacho.

Directed by Benoit Daffis, Jean-Christian Tassy.

Here is an enjoyable animation film, principally for the younger audiences but enough to keep mellow parents and grandparents entertained as they share the youngsters’ enjoyment.

In fact, despite the look of the animation, the action, the characters, their voices, it is not an American film but rather a French film, proudly stating that it was filmed in the south of France. In the English version, the voices are very American. And, with the animation, the animals do resemble their American counterparts in such films as Zootopia, Bad Guys…

Our hero is Falcon, a genially wily raccoon, whose real name it is revealed is Maurice (adopted by a kindly pigeon though Falcon will claim Falcon genealogy). With a group of hungry animal friends, he is planning the hijacking of a luxury train, to offload all the food so that they can all have a happy Christmas dinner. And, he is being helped by a huge lumbering bear-like character, Hans, who has all the technical know-how.

And this is a Christmas story gone wrong. Hans, is in fact, an arch-villain, having spent five years in the pound’s imprisonment, caught by police dog, Rex. And, in the carriage along with a selection of pets, is Rex himself, highly suspicious of Falcon, dismissive of Rex. And, there are some sympathetic birds, a sympathetic python, a continually-sugar eating little animal, and a most sympathetic and enterprising cat, Margie. There is also a rather snobbish greyhound who has to face up to reality.

Older audiences will appreciate the satire on exploitative television news covering of disasters, all smiles the camera but cynical and career-boosting behind the scenes.

Basically, this is a drama of a runaway train, Hans taking control, going faster, going slower, speeding through the countryside, heading towards a large bridge, in danger of crashing into the centre of a town, all the usual ingredients, including unlocking back carriages in all kinds of dangerous situations.

And, all done with heroism and humour, Falcon proving himself, his pigeon mother coming to support him, Hans always an obnoxious villain, Rex rather arrogant in his police status but learning to mellow, and Margie full of ingenuity and suggestions – which work.

So, plenty of action, plenty of different animals, humorous voices, dangerous situations, luck and courage, and heroism at a happy ending.