A Fitting Tribute to Classic Adventure

Rating: 7/10 (10 April 2019)

Since its creation more than eighty years ago, The Belgian comic Adventures of Tintin has been one of the most successful entries in the 'boy adventure' genre, with millions worldwide following the exploits of the young reporter. Yet the strip has never gained a particularly wide following in the States. But that may be about to change thanks to Steven Spielberg's brilliant film adaptation.
Wasting no time on set up, Tintin jumps strait into the action, with the purchase of a model ship leading almost immediately into a rousing, highly improbable series of adventures that will take Tintin across oceans and deserts in search of a fabulous sunken treasure. Along the way, Tintin, his faithful dog snowy, and the perpetually drunk Captain Haddock will face off against mutineers and Arab tribesmen, narrowly escape all manner of sudden death, and receive the dubious aid of the bumbling detectives Thompson and Thompson.
Lacking even a hint of subtlety, Spielberg's Tintin is one of the most ridiculously -and awesomely- over the top adventures since the original Indiana Jones films, with its sheer implausibility never becoming a problem. With this kind of movie, knowing that the hero would be dead a hundred times over in real life is part of the draw. After all, in a world where a baby faced reporter and a small dog can survive plane crashes, shootouts, and a high speed chase with rocket launchers, it's not hard to imagine that you could be a dashing hero as well.
Tintin is heavy on the action, with lots of fisticuffs, gunplay, chases, and -via rum-fueled flashback, swashbuckling pirate action strait out of Hollywood's golden age. There are also plenty of laughs, mostly related to Haddock's continual inebriation and the Thompsons' incompetence. Perhaps the funniest moment in the film comes when Haddock finally sobers up. The film is rather weak on character development, but that's forgivable given that this is an action thriller and a kid's movie. I also found some of the big twists to be fairly predictable, but I'm sure that most younger viewers will be suitably surprised.
Visually, Tintin is a real treat for the eyes. Utilizing the very latest in CGI, the animators have created a world that is remarkably lifelike and yet at the same time highly evocative of the original comic's art. The soundtrack, by veteran composer John Williams, is excellent as well. Although it may lack the spectacular flourishes of his work on Star Wars and Jurassic Park, Tintin's jazz infused score provides a good counterpoint to the onscreen action.
It may not be Spielberg's best movie, or even his best kid's movie, but Tintin is still great family entertainment, fully on par with Pixar's recent offerings. And it's a fitting tribute to the venerable comic, lovingly made by one of its biggest fans. I'm sure that Spielberg had lots of fun making Tintin. And I'm sure you'll have lots of fun watching it.