I sat down with my 12 year old son to watch the 2022 animated movie "Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres" (aka "Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness"). I must admit that I wasn't really harboring much of any expectations for the movie, but of course opted to give it a fair chance.

And I will admit that writer David Collard, along with directors Ben Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet, definitely managed to put together a very wholesome and genuinely entertaining storyline. It is one that has something for both adults and children alike. And I was pleasantly surprised with it, I have to say that.

"Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres" is clearly inspired by "Indiana Jones", and it shows and also sounds; from Chickenhare's outfit, the music throughout the course of the story, the grand adventure and the general atmosphere of the whole thing. And guess what, it works. Oh yeah, it works.

The animation was good, smooth and very life-like, which definitely added something good to the overall movie. And the art style was good, especially since it brought the characters to life in a very good way and gave the characters unique traits and such. Lots of great details in the scenes.

The movie has some very memorable and outstanding characters, both the protagonists and antagonists. I definitely liked the character gallery in "Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres".

I was genuinely entertained by "Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres", and it is an animated movie that I can and will warmly recommend you sit down to watch. Well-worth taking the time to sit down and enjoy.

My rating of "Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres" lands on a seven out of ten stars.

The animation is very well done, it's funny, the characters are charming and the plot is very interesting. It's a fun movie for the whole family to watch.

Fun & humorous ride that's filled with of homages to Indiana Jones, Angry Bird, Lion King, Empire Strikes Back. Look closely and you'll also catch some Easter eggs.

What's good about it is that, despite borrowing 'ideas' from above movies, it does create original characters that get you invested. Especially Abe, the perpetually pessimistic turtle who views circumstances through the empty half section of the glass. But boy oh boy, does his wise cracks provide a big chunk of the laughs!

My gripe is the central, but ever recurring theme among animations, of self - discovery, i.e. The journey of chickenhare who discovers that he's, 'different' from others. Why do animations keep using this theme? It's has become annoying. For all of its ingenuity and smartness at weaving a story with the homages, chickenhare doesn't hesitate to use this plot device. And that to me, keeps it from at least an 8.