Review: G-Force

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It’s hard to take a film like G-Force seriously. Then again, melodramas are hardly meant to be taken seriously, and G-Force comes pretty close to a melodrama classification. The film, which follows three guinea pigs in their secret agent activities, has little going for it when classified as an action film. However, it has much going for it when considered a fun, cute, family adventure film.

Darwin (Sam Rockwell), Juarez (Penelope Cruz), and Blaster (Tracy Morgan) are three rodents on a mission. In order to prove their worth, they break into the home of Leonard Saber, a top appliance manufacturer believed to have hidden, dark motives. When their mission appears to have failed, however, the FBI shuts G-Force down, and the three guinea pigs must make a run for it.

The team finds itself in a pet shop surrounded by a lively crew of characters including Bucky the hamster (Steve Buscemi) and Hurley the guinea pig (Jon Favreau). Together, they must find a way out of the pet store and back into the action to solve the mystery before the global extermination begins.

It’s easy to understand why these guinea pigs are not taken seriously by their superior FBI officers. Viewers may have an equally hard time taking G-Force seriously. If the premise of the film is cheesy, the film’s ending comes with an even more unexpected yet melodramatic ending that will have many viewers laughing in unbelief. The acting, however, equals the best in the industry, especially the almost unrecognizable voice of Nicholas Cage as Speckles the super-smart mole, who plays a major role in the film’s climax.

The plot and it’s conclusion are aimed mainly at kids, which probably lends many reviewers’ reasons for considering it kids version of Transformers. Yet G-Force is strangely lovable by both children and adults when viewed in the right mindset. When expectations aren’t too high, G-Force will please most viewers.

Special features on the DVD and Blu-ray give “rodent lovers” more to enjoy, too. The DVD includes features for both an adult and young audience and includes bloopers, deleted scenes, music videos, “Boot Camp” orientation for kids who want to join G-Force, and “G-Force Mastermind,” which gives viewers a look at the story behind G-Force. The Blu-ray version also has extra features including two different behind-the-scenes looks at how the G-Force’s lovable animal agents were animated as well as a look at Jerry Bruckheimer’s CG work.