Hop - Easter Bunny or Superstar

After Santa Claus seems to have a holiday monopoly in the cinema for many years, now the Easter Bunny tries to challenge him with "Hop - Easter Bunny or Superstar" this supremacy. But despite the high cuteness factor, the family film by Tim Hill ("Alvin and the Chipmunks") unfortunately gets bogged down and offers nothing more than garish humor of the shallower variety.

Actually, E.B. (voiced by Alexander Fehling in the German version) is supposed to take over the job as Easter Bunny from his father (voiced by Wolfgang Stumph) this year. But E.B. would much rather make music and live a life without the big responsibility that lies on the Easter Bunny. So he decides to secretly leave the Easter Islands and try his luck in New York. There he meets Fred (James Marsden), who is just trying to get his life together. The chance acquaintance with the talking and music-making rabbit, however, first brings Fred's life back into disarray. But soon everything points to the fact that E.B. could actually make a career and Fred could profit from it as his mentor. But the bunny has no idea that the overgrown chick Carlos (voiced by Detlev Buck) is planning a rebellion at home and that the aging Easter Bunny urgently needs help.

Tim Hill makes it relatively simple and varies the story of his hit movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks" only marginally. In addition, several set pieces from various Christmas movies are simply transferred to Easter, without really incorporating their own ideas. For example, Santa's helpful elves are simply replaced by chicks, who also replace the reindeer and pull the Easter Bunny's sleigh. Sure, "Hop - Easter Bunny or Superstar" has some funny and cute moments to offer. But the flick, which in the first few minutes seems like a promotional video for the candy industry, lacks not only originality, but most especially charm.

While E.B. (short for Easter Bunny) is really cutely animated and is guaranteed to win the hearts of many children quite quickly. But unfortunately, he doesn't really get to do much more than the also very musical chipmunks before him. The gags are harmless, but also very shallow, whereby the viewer is always reminded by the not exactly unobtrusive soundtrack, which scene is now meant to be funny and where rather big emotions are called for. If you can't get enough of movies like "Alvin and the Chipmunks" or "Garfield", you'll certainly get your money's worth with "Hop - Easter Bunny or Superstar". But those hoping for original humor or even anarchic wit will be bitterly disappointed. After all, the adventures of E.B. do have something in common with Easter: the film is brightly painted, tastes as sweet as a chocolate bunny, but is just as hollow inside and the gags have to be searched for like well-hidden Easter eggs. If that doesn't bother you, you can safely hop into the cinema

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp