(7) G-FORCE with Bill Nighy, Zach Galifianakis, Kelli Garner, Will Arnett and the voices of Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Penelope Cruz, Jon Favreau, Steve Buscemi and Tracy Morgan. Directed by Hoyt Yeatman. (Walmer Park, The Boardwalk, The Bridge and Garden Route Mall). Reviewed by Leon Muston ARTS EDITOR mustonl@avusa.co.za

THIS semi-live action, semi-computer animated adventure comedy is definitely aimed at children, yet one wonders if certain scenes and themes may not prove too scary for younger children who have come to watch a film about cute furry animals.

Zach Galifianakis plays Ben, a low-level FBI science officer who has been using a mixture of behavioural science and technology to help animals including flies, cockroaches and rodents communicate with humans and undertake dangerous missions. He sends his team of three guinea pigs: Darwin (Sam Rockwell), Juarez (Penelope Cruz) and Blaster (Tracy Morgan), mole Speckles (Nicolas Cage) and fly Mooch (Dee Baker) into the home of ex-arms dealer turned appliance company boss Saber (Bill Nighy) to retrieve vital information.

Ben suspects Saber of using his technology to try to take over the world.

But when the FBI hears that Ben has undertaken an unauthorised operation, compromising its own case against Saber, they shut down his operation and ship the furry agents off to a pet shop.

Convinced they are the only ones who can save the planet from destruction, the creatures find various ways of escape ranging from adoption to playing dead.

Once on the outside the film becomes a race against time to stop the bad guys in time.

On the positive side, a scene in which FBI agents in police cars chase the rodents in little rolling balls is every bit as exciting as any car chase scene you’re ever likely to see on screen.

But one problem parents may find is that some of the scenes are quite scary or shocking for children.

The scene involving a garbage truck seemingly crushing one character isn’t too overly graphic, but a later scene involving a transformer style robot destroying everything in its path, and people clinging on to objects for dear life may be more than some younger viewers can handle.

But most of the film is enjoyable for all ages, with funny lines, adorable characters and a storyline which will keep adults as interested as the children in the audience.