“The Adventures of Tintin” is the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” sequel Steven Spielberg might have made if he hadn’t felt the need to keep Shia LaBeouf on the payroll. A rollicking, breezy, motion-capture animated romp, Spielberg & Co. have adapted the comic book character Tintin in a way that avoids all that worry about killing stuntmen and all that fuss about obeying the laws of physics.
In this world — datable to the mid-1950s, thanks to the presence of a Jeep, a World War II-vintage tank and a Triumph TR3 — the freelance journalist and his intrepid dog Snowy are well-known figures with an eye for trouble. And being modestly famous doesn’t keep them out of danger.
One of the great conceits of the Herge comic book this is based on is that Snowy, a white wire fox terrier, is usually a couple of clues ahead of his master. So Snowy has to wait for Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) to figure out that the model sailing ship he bought from a street vendor has a hidden clue in it, a clue to the lost treasure of that very ship — the Unicorn.
A pushy American wants the model; so does a conniving professor type (Daniel Craig). Before Tintin can figure out why, bullets are flying, and he and the dog and a sea captain (Andy Serkis) with a serious weakness for drink are on the run, off on the search for clues. Daring escapes from a freighter, a seaplane, a stranding in a desert and a chase by tank will conjure fond memories of “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” And the funny way the dog is used brings to mind “Wallace and Gromit.”
The trio of Brits who scripted this movie ensure that the Belgian Herge’s character becomes much more British — and flippant.
“Mrs. Finch,” Tintin informs his landlady, “a man’s been shot on our doorstep!”
“Not again.”
Co-writer Edgar (“Shaun of the Dead”) Wright’s biggest contribution may have been landing his pals Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as the voices of matching Interpol inspectors who help Tintin in his quest.
