Self-centred squirrel Surly (Arnett) is cast out from the park after he destroys the tree housing everyone’s winter stash of nuts, so he decides to steal nuts from a local closed-down nut shop. Unfortunately, being situated next to a bank, it’s the hideout for a group of thugs planning a heist, so Surly has to dodge the baddies in order to get his hands on the nutty stash.
A very odd part-Korean-made movie, this fails mainly because the central character is so unlikeable, so audiences have no one to really root for, but there are other problems despite some bright animation. The bad guys seem to be dressed and behave like 1940s B-movie gangsters though not much else in the movie seems that retro, and even more confusingly, the action is backed by that 2012 hit ‘Gangnam Style’ which was already out of date when the movie was made (an animated Psy, the Gangnam musician, also appears over the end credits).
Disappointing, humourless fare.
None.Is The Nut Job suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
If you like this, why not try: Ratatouille, Madagascar, Bee Movie, Kung Fu Panda, Open Season,