Spark: A Space Tail, film review ★★★★★

Thirteen years ago the evil dictator Zhong seized control of the planet Bana (inspired by the inhabitants love of bananas) and blew it up into hundreds of shards, sending the remnants out into the dark unknown of space. Fast forward to present day and we meet Spark (Jace Norman) a young monkey living with his friends Vix (Jessica Biel) and Chunk (Rob deLeeuw) as well as a robot nanny 'Bananny' (Susan Sarandon) on one of the shards that they call the trash heap.

Spark longs for adventure as he faces one of the biggest changes in his life so far – becoming a teenager. Realising that there is a whole world, or rather many pieces of that world to explore, Spark leaves all he knows behind him to put his home back together (literally) while discovering some life altering revelations about his long-lost family along the way.

Spark is at its core a tale of good versus evil, one that shows how anyone can possess the strength to stand up and make a difference to the world for the better.

Though sweet in its intentions, Spark: A Space Tail just doesn't pack the same punch as other animated children's films. Take Oscar Award winning Zootopia (2016), which turned the classic anthropomorphic genre on its head by creating a more complex, three-dimensional world in which the characters' stories become incredibly human at heart. In comparison, Spark often feels flat and misses out on that big stand-out moment you'd expect from a fantasy adventure film.

Although the film boasts big names, including Susan Sarandon and Sir Patrick Stewart, the film is let down by a basic plot which doesn't develop much beyond the inevitable 'boy saves world, side-kick in tow' adventure saga. The outcome is wholly predictable, which is great, if you're a kid who just wants to cheer on a hero and see evil defeated.

There are plenty of jokes for the adults in the audience, however. Little ones should look out for banana motifs scattered throughout, like Disney Easter eggs. We recommend playing 'spot the banana in the scene', should your mind wander from the story.

If you're looking for an easy watch over the May half-term, this film will certainly have your little sparks laughing along. Prepare for a journey to the great beyond with Spark and friends.

We recommend this film for ages 4-10