MOVIE REVIEWS - Turbo

Following a tried and tested formula that propels the film into the winner’s circle (albeit without any surprising detours), Turbo is a classic David and Goliath story enlivened with larger-than-life characters and high-octane action sequences.

The script written by Soren, Robert Siegel and Darren Lemke is simplistic, particularly the relationship between Turbo (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) and his snail sibling Chet (Paul Giamatti), who insists on casting dark clouds of doubt over the diminutive hero’s dreams.

“All these people believe in me, why won’t you?” implores Turbo.

It doesn’t take a genius to conclude the brothers will be reconciled beneath a fluttering chequered flag to enforce the message that anything is possible if you work hard and stay true to yourself.

When we first meet Turbo, he is toiling in the tomato patch with his ultra-cautious worrywart brother. Unlike his fellow molluscs, Turbo has big dreams: he yearns to put a pedal to the metal like his hero - French-Canadian Indianapolis 500 champion, Guy Gagne (Bill Hader).

So Turbo trains hard, managing to slither the distance of a standard ruler in... 17 minutes.

“This is a new record!” he whoops.

Outrageous misfortune sucks Turbo into the engine of a street-racing car and the snail is coated in nitrous oxide, which fuses with his DNA and allows him to perform bursts of death-defying speed.

My rating 8/10

Check your local cinema for show times.