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But rats being thrown into a pit to be torn apart by dogs while spectators bet on the results is a little dark for younger children. The story is well-paced and there are plenty of hair-raising moments. Elsewhere Gemma Arterton, David Thewlis, Rob Brydon, David Tennant, and Hugh Bonneville add to an impressive talent pool that really brings the characters to life. The list of A-List talent behind the animated characters is noteworthy, with Laurie ideally cast as the sarcastic, streetwise Maurice, Clarke as plucky young heroine Malicia, and Patel as the sensitive Keith, coming into his own through the demands of adventure.
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It's a knowing wink for adults and older kids, and a fun way for younger viewers to learn about techniques like framing devices and foreshadowing, making everyone feel in on the joke. The film has fun with the book's familiar element of breaking the fourth wall, incorporating the narrator into the story. The Amazing Maurice offers a touch of social commentary along with warm, funny characters and rollicking adventure. While page-to-screen adaptations of Terry Pratchett's work have been mixed at best, this fun-packed animation captures the magic that appeals on multiple levels to kids and adults alike. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Short scenes show characters smoking a pipe and drinking red wine, and there's a kiss on the lips toward the end. There's some diversity among the human characters: Keith has darker skin and is voiced by an actor of South Asian descent, while female character Malicia ( Emilia Clarke) is portrayed as clever, brave, and good at problem-solving. Expect a few scary scenes, including the presumed death of a character, a threatening rat king with magic powers and glowing eyes, and rats being thrown into a pit to be killed by dogs - accompanied by betting among spectators. While the characters lie and manipulate others, they show strong dedication to one another and value the importance of friendship. Main character Maurice (voiced by Hugh Laurie) is a streetwise cat who works with talking rats and a flute-playing human, Keith ( Himesh Patel), to trick towns into paying them to solve a non-existent rat problem. It touches on adult themes but remains warm and entertaining throughout. Parents need to know that The Amazing Maurice is a fun, fast-paced animated tale based on a book by Terry Pratchett.
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