AKA: Svein And The Rat – Runtime: 72 Minutes – Country: Norway – C: Suitable For The Youngest
This film is focusing on Svein (Thomas Saraby Vatle) and his daily life with his rather unusual house pet Halvorsen, which actually is a rat. Steady facing certain differences, his main aim consists of convincing the world he lives in about the advantages that rats – as house pets – can bring. And this certainly is not an easy task… since he has to face everyday problems that are occuring when you keep yourself a rat – mainly referring to the overall nibbling on the cables; the mess that they are leaving behind…
One of the scenes taken from the interesting animated Intro in which the camera is actually following the way that human excrements go…
Later on, there is a success in sight – the local animal contest will be taking place soon, where one special pet will be distinguished as the pet of the year. With the help of Melissa (Celine Louise Dyran Smith) Svein is trying to teach his rat some tricks – but it seems that this is not that easy as expected. What makes it even more difficult: a bunch of classmates, with Kim (Benjamin Gulli) and his cat as their leader, are steady trying to tease Svein and Melissa…
Svein and Halvorsen are just best friends, no matter what the people in their environment would think or say
There are further topics that are spoken to, for example: Melissa, who could be Sveins first love… but what about his best friend Dan (Luis Engebrigtsen Bye), who now feels aggrieved ? And what about Svein and his family, who barely tolerate the rat as a rather expensive house pet ? However, some scenes reminded me of the Dennis-films – with the difference that the parents are now indirectly yelling at Svein - with a rat as the delinquent. Of course, most of the characters were not very believable, it is mainly aimed at a temporarily jocularity (for example, take the school headmaster or the new teacher) – but that is ok with me. Such as the appearing of the bad guys (who are even trying to get Halvorsen hunted down!), which is steady underlined with the same musical tone…
Svein and Halvorsen are participating in an animal contest… with a rat ? The people are not really taking him for serious
The most outstanding aspect of the technical part: the overall camera work. You will get the impression that the camera is steady positioned where it could not be – in a small corner behind the washing machine, in a small rack, in a cooking pot, often on the ground – it is definitely offering some unlikely impressions. Just as referring to the cutting – it is just a freshening and entertaining experience. The rats are animated sometimes – but not too obvious, it looks good – and there are still enough scenes with real animals. Main part of the acting achievements are certainly referring to Thomas Saraby Vatle – who did a good job indeed, referring to his so-far experience.
Their overall performance at the animal contest turns out to be different… can they still convince in the end… ?
A film that is perfectly suitable to a children’s audience, even the younger ones should not have any problems with it. I would call this to the rather valuable children’s film – since it offers a true meaning on friendship; and of course: the relation between children and their pets. Certainly, you can not expect to see anything spectacular or groundbreaking here, but still: it is a nice, entertaining and heart warming flick for the whole family – 7.9/10.
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