A plucky little effort

During the war, the Royal Homing Pigeon Service defied German falcons to take messages across the Channel and deliver them to the French Resistance.

This animated British movie is about one such little wood pigeon, Valiant, who has difficulty joining the elite Service.

Voiced by Ewan McGregor, he inveigles his way in to become a hero in the end. Ricky Gervais provides the voice of Bugsy, Valiant's conman friend, and Tim Curry is Von Talon, the chief falcon villain.

Other famous British names are in there, too - John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, John Cleese - some of whom don't have enough to do and others who aren't given much in the way of memorable dialogue.

While the animation is not quite up to Nick Park's Chicken Run standards, it is inventive, and Gervais carries all before him in the chief comedy role. But the young children to whom it must appeal know little or nothing about the war, while the older generation may feel that the farting and belching jokes (which the kids love) often get in the way of the story.

It is not told straight enough to excite, but it's not funny enough to pass muster either. Pleasing in parts, irritating in others, Valiant is trying to cover all options. It's a brave effort but not an entirely successful one.

Valiant
Cert: U