DVD Review: ‘The Adventures of Tintin: Season One’ Lacks Excitement, Extras

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CHICAGO – For fans of comic strip legend Georges “Hergé” Rémi’s celebrated investigative reporter and trusty canine sidekick, director Stéphanie Bernasconi’s short-lived TV series from the early ’90s represented the ideal adaptation of the Belgian author’s work. Unlike Belvision’s series of the late ’50s and early ’60s, Bernasconi stuck to the original design, structure and spirit of Rémi’s internationally beloved books.

Yet for American audiences unfamiliar with Tintinology, it’s doubtful this low-key French-Canadian co-production will get their pulses pounding and minds enticed for Steven Spielberg’s big screen version, which has already made a sizable splash overseas. The show is an ideal fit for youngsters—it has a gentle spirit and remains upbeat even during cliffhanger episodes, but still has enough tangible danger to excite kids. Older viewers, however, are guaranteed to find this show a dull, blandly animated babysitter.

DVD Rating: 2.5/5.0

With a lanky physicality and pompadour that suggests the love child of Conan O’Brien and Uncle Pennybags from “Monopoly,” Tintin is the most polite lad ever to be charged with crackling a case. As voiced by Colin O’Meara, the plucky hero’s line delivery is so flat that it doesn’t convey the necessary inflections. When he exclaims, “I don’t want to sell, gentlemen!” it sounds like he’s saying that he doesn’t want to sell gentlemen, which would be an entirely different show. Tintin’s “aw shucks” reaction to getting trapped by malevolent enemies is also chortle-worthy. “Well, this is just great!” he moans. Yet to be fair, the show really belongs to its ensemble headed by Captain Haddock (David Fox), a gruff Yukon Cornelius-type who rants and raves at every opportunity but is still a teddy bear at heart.

The Adventures of Tintin: Season One was released on DVD on Nov. 22, 2011.
Photo credit: Shout Factory

Haddock is merely a drunken pawn in the game of crooks when he first crosses paths with Tintin and quickly becomes his partner, but the sailor’s alcoholism is noticeably sanitized for the program, as is the violence. In practically every episode, Tintin is knocked unconscious, yet the altercations never rise above the level of bloodless slapstick. This is most apparent in scenes involving twins Thomson (Dan Hennessey) and Thompson (John Stocker), a pair of detectives so clumsy that they can’t step foot on a staircase without crashing to the floor. Wayne Robson scores a few chuckles as Professor Calculus, the Magoo-like scientist who misinterprets simple statements and provides a perfect foil for the cantankerous captain. But the real scene-stealer is fox terrier Snowy (adorably yelped by Susan Roman), the Gromit to Tintin’s Wallace. I like the way he places his paws over his eyes during a gunfight.
 
With a group this charming, one would expect “Tintin” to be a rollicking good time. Unfortunately, the show’s adventures are more stale than spirited, with action-packed set-pieces that unfold in slow motion. There’s an odd lack of visceral energy in the animation that is most noticeable during fight scenes. When two characters engage in a swashbuckling showdown, they merely appear to be slapping their swords together. “Tintin” fans have praised the show for recreating actual frames from Rémi’s comics, but as Zack Snyder has proven with his unmemorable page-to-screen transfers, sticking to the original blueprint is not always the best choice. The show feels limited rather than liberated by its faithfulness toward its dated source material. Each of the first season’s thirteen episodes is directly based off of Rémi’s yarns. Spielberg’s film was inspired by the only three-part adventure on this set, “The Secret of the Unicorn,” which culminates in “Red Rackham’s Treasure.” It’s difficult to imagine a thrilling blockbuster spawned from this Saturday morning fodder, but again, it’s only an outline.
 
“The Adventures of Tintin: Season One” is presented in its original aspect ratio and includes no extras or subtitles. Though the series was reportedly dubbed into thirteen languages, this disc features only two audio tracks: English and Spanish. Only die-hard fans that cherish “Tintin” as part of their childhood nostalgia are advised to spend money on this set. Young moviegoers are advised to wait for next month’s release of Spielberg’s “Tintin,” which promises a far more engaging vehicle for the heroic boy and his dog.

By MATT FAGERHOLM Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com matt@hollywoodchicago.com