Ratburger

Ratburger is an odd one. It is a family film through and through, but some of the plot might be too dark for young children. I'm not going to give away any plot spoilers. Talia Barnett puts in a nice performance as the down on her luck girl, Zoe (an actress to look out for in the future), Mark Benton is hugely likeable as Zoe's hard working and caring father, Sheridan Smith clearly enjoyed playing Zoe's chavvy and abusive mother, Nigel Planer seems to be doing an impression of John Cleese in Clockwork and David Walliams is creepy and sleazy as burger van owner, Burt.

I saw this over Christmas and some of the people I was viewing it with questioned if they would show it to younger children. Although played for laughs and darkly comic some of the more sinister plot lines go a stage beyond Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It's a fun romp though and something enjoyable for most people.

David Walliams really gave it his all, portraying a really comedic villain and being the most entertaining part of the whole film. Without him the film will have been very basic and dull. His whole plan seems quite unique and can be a little gross.

Most the other actors are okay, not really given much to do or say. The main girl is never given much development or either is the rat. We never learn why the rat can dance or where it even came from. Overall the film needed a lot more time to develop the story or the characters and motivations. It is mostly harmless and does have some fun elements.

Not much to say here other than the fact that this movie has a basic plot, cringe jokes but a film that younger children could very much enjoy, a bit like the book.

The book obviously has licence to explain the characters in more detail. The movie does a good job of delivering the main contents. David Williams was amazing at playing a disgusting character and the young cast tried their best.

Zoe had a sweet life until her mother's death. Her father struggles and remarries horribly. She get bullied by bigger girl Tina Trotts. After losing a hamster, she finds a rat in her sock. The rat seems to dance and becomes her beloved pet. She gets suspended when her rat bites Tina.

It's a second-tier British kids movie. The lead is a newcomer. Her amateurism actually works in her favor. The general style is crass silliness. The production is second rate. The villain is deliberately ugly. It's all relatively fine. There is a sweetness to the movie despite all the ugliness. It's kind of a sweet ugliness.