A film hit theaters Friday starring former vagabond Russell Brand (well, his voice at least) as the Easter Bunny. Though it was April Fools Day, it's no joke when I say that Brand not only makes the transition to family film star, he does so convincingly.
Hop shares the legend of the Easter Bunny, an honored position passed on through generations of rabbits, with a fine mix of animation and live action shenanigans. Basically we're talking about Santa Claus meets Easter, with candy replacing presents and baby chicks standing in for elves. Russell Brand stars as E.B., the soon to be successor to the candy delivering empire, who's far too concerned playing drums in a rock band. The rebel rabbit high cotton-tails it for the real world and runs into jobless slacker Fred (James Marsden), turning both their lives upside down.
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2011.