RELEASING: Universal Pictures

CREW: Director - Tim Hill; Screenplay - Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, & Brian Lynch;
Story - Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio; Producers - Chris Meledandri & Michele Imperato Stabile; Cinematographer - Peter Lyons Collister ASC ; Production Design - Richard Holland; Editors - Peter S. Elliot & Gregory Perler; Costume Design - Alexandra Welker; Animation Supervisor - Chris A. Bailey; Score - Christopher Lennertz; Characters Designs - By Peter De Sève; Special Effects Supervisor - Alan E. Lorimer; Visual Effects and Animation - Rhythm & Hues Studios; & hundreds of Animators.

CAST: Fred O’Hare… JAMES MARSDEN; E.B. (Voice)… RUSSELL BRAND;Sam O’Hare… KALEY CUOCO; Carlos/Phil (Voice)… HANK AZARIA; Henry O’Hare… GARY COLE; Bonnie O’Hare… ELIZABETH PERKINS; E.B.’s Dad (Voice)… HUGH LAURIE; Alex O’Hare… TIFFANY ESPENSEN; David Hasselhoff… himself; Mrs. Beck… CHELSEA HANDLER; Cody… DUSTIN YBARRA; Voice at Playboy Mansion… HUGH HEFNER.

SYNOPSIS: On the island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, just off the coast of South America, and under the giant stone heads resides an Easter candy factory to rival that of Willy Wonka. Here the Easter Bunny reigns over a team of bunnies and chicks who prepare the candy-filled baskets to be delivered to children around the world come Easter morning.

As the eve approaches when E.B. (voiced by BRAND) will be ordained as his father’s successor as the Easter Bunny, E.B. bolts and heads to Hollywood in pursuit of his dream of becoming a drummer. Wandering the streets, E.B. “bumps” into Fred (MASDEN). After a loving intervention Fred is kicked out of his parents’ home and accidentally runs into E.B. Feigning injury and shocking Fred with his ability to talk, E.B. convinces Fred into providing him shelter and the palatial home he is house sitting.

Back on Easter Island, E.B.’s father has sent out the elite girl strike force – the pink barites – to bring him back. The Easter Bunny’s second in command, an oversized chick named Carlos, seizes the opportunity to plot a coup. Now it is up to Fred and E.B. to battle Carlos and his minions to save the holiday.

REVIEW: Director Tim Hill gives HOP more of an “Alvin and the Chipmunks” polish then “Despicable Me.” That’s a shame because Hill has a bizarre and twisted sense of humor evident in his writing credits on such Nick shows as “Rocko’s Modern Life” and “Sponge Bob Squarepants,” including the Sponge Bob movie. The closest they come to that kind of weirdness in HOP is when E.B. proves to Fred he is the Easter Bunny by pooping jelly beans.

HOP is obviously geared more towards younger kids, as adolescents might find HOP a tad silly. The cameos are more about catering to the older audience members then the jokes or gags. I enjoyed the casting and Russell Brand is fun as E.B. James Marsden seems a tad old to reach the kids but it seems obvious that he is tipping his hat to Jimmy Stewart’s performance in “Harvey,” had slackers been around in Stewart’s time. Hank Azaria is loads of fun as both Carlos and Phil, but there is really not much else to the other chicks running the candy factory although they feel like kin to their minion brothers in “Despicable Me.” It just might be their similar yellow color.

The animation is amazing. You can see all the hairs flowing on both the chicks and the rabbits, and there is such a depth of soul in their eyes. E.B.’s dad’s costume design is reminiscent of Willy Wonka’s costume – both films - but minus the purple latex gloves. You would expect the animated candy shop to be just as grand, or at least as massive as Gru’s lair in “Despicable Me,” but it’s not. That’s a tad disappointing.

What HOP lacks is a cohesiveness and seamless flow between the gags and scenes. It’s choppy, even more so as they cut between the scenes on Easter Island and Hollywood. The pacing feels like cuts between pieces on a show like Saturday Night Live. You could hear the younger kids squirming.

HOP is fun film for younger kids. It lacks some of the creativeness and ingenuity found in “Despicable Me,” or even some of the wit the Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin’s Easter specials have. With Easter still about two weeks away I’m not sure this Easter romp will have the theatrical longevity to make the holiday. Oh, and make sure you stay thru the credits for the “Easter egg” at the end.

HOP official website – www.iwantcandy.com

**Based on the regular $13.00 ticket prices at a Manhattan Theater.