There's just too much going on animation-wise for me. It's so busy and bright and I wish they went with the 'less is more' concept to drive the film. I loved the idea though and my kids and I enjoyed watching it. We were definitely entertained. There were also a few annoying scenes where even though on the journey they should've hit a dead end, something totally impossible unconnected to the story would magically get them out of trouble. But hey, it was a decent movie to watch on Netflix.
36 Reviews
Ideal for family viewing.
faer_kr28 March 2021
A crazy animation, based on the Hansel and Gretel classic.
It is about a special magic agency that has to rescue the king who has been kidnapped, for which they send the best spy and her brother on her mission.
Entertaining Quality.
Generic when it comes to spy and children's movies.
Although it does not bring something new to the genre, it does entertain.
Good animation.
Exaggerated imagination that works.
The music is chord.
Extremely colorful.
Although at times it feels elongated, for one situation after another in the development part.
With moments of light comedy and flatulence.
Talk about family, support, brotherhood, always helping each other. How the actions we ever do always have an impact.
Ideal for family viewing.
It is about a special magic agency that has to rescue the king who has been kidnapped, for which they send the best spy and her brother on her mission.
Entertaining Quality.
Generic when it comes to spy and children's movies.
Although it does not bring something new to the genre, it does entertain.
Good animation.
Exaggerated imagination that works.
The music is chord.
Extremely colorful.
Although at times it feels elongated, for one situation after another in the development part.
With moments of light comedy and flatulence.
Talk about family, support, brotherhood, always helping each other. How the actions we ever do always have an impact.
Ideal for family viewing.
I've seen Grimmer.
GiraffeDoor14 April 2021
God, I know, it's a bland title isn't it?
We get a lot of these movies marketed to families with young children and at their worst they're horrendous and at best they're usually just passable.
This one is actually a fair bit better than average. Not a classic but there is something distinctly charming in its characters and its handling as it tries to wring more material from that very old concept of the fairytale pastiche.
So he's a rascal illusionist and she's basically the magic police. Obviously I try not to think of her as a cop but she makes it hard. You know Gina from Paradise PD? Imagine a more grandma-friendly version of that. They make a pretty pleasing odd couple as they are conscripted to work together even though they "Can't stand each other!" (as the trailers were kind enough to point out).
I really liked how they really conveyed a sense of history between these siblings and used their respective skill sets (one is street smart, the other is academic smart) in a complementary fashion.
The plot is nothing too original and their journey often feels like a child's video game in how they simply move from place to place to face a new local challenge like progressive levels but at no point did this feel anything close to as excruciating or dumb as so many others like it. This movie was someone's baby and I can respect hat.
We get a lot of these movies marketed to families with young children and at their worst they're horrendous and at best they're usually just passable.
This one is actually a fair bit better than average. Not a classic but there is something distinctly charming in its characters and its handling as it tries to wring more material from that very old concept of the fairytale pastiche.
So he's a rascal illusionist and she's basically the magic police. Obviously I try not to think of her as a cop but she makes it hard. You know Gina from Paradise PD? Imagine a more grandma-friendly version of that. They make a pretty pleasing odd couple as they are conscripted to work together even though they "Can't stand each other!" (as the trailers were kind enough to point out).
I really liked how they really conveyed a sense of history between these siblings and used their respective skill sets (one is street smart, the other is academic smart) in a complementary fashion.
The plot is nothing too original and their journey often feels like a child's video game in how they simply move from place to place to face a new local challenge like progressive levels but at no point did this feel anything close to as excruciating or dumb as so many others like it. This movie was someone's baby and I can respect hat.
Spies and Magic
kerorogio13 May 2021
Passable, also thanks to his unexpected twist, which while relegating the film to a uniquely young audience, somehow puts to rest the angry ninja attitude of Gretel, a constantly cold character, and therefore not very lovable.
The stormy relationship between the two brothers is functional. Technically the film is nothing special, fairly good with ups and downs, and apart from the witch Baba Yaga who belongs to the Slavic folklore, together with perhaps the animated sweets (also present in "The Stolen Princess"), the rest appears as a classic medium cost product of pure American or Canadian manufacture.
It is obvious that these are no longer the times of Atamanov and Ivanov-Vano, but honestly, from an Eastern European product, albeit collaborative, one would like something alternative and possibly elegant, rather than a mediocre copy.
The stormy relationship between the two brothers is functional. Technically the film is nothing special, fairly good with ups and downs, and apart from the witch Baba Yaga who belongs to the Slavic folklore, together with perhaps the animated sweets (also present in "The Stolen Princess"), the rest appears as a classic medium cost product of pure American or Canadian manufacture.
It is obvious that these are no longer the times of Atamanov and Ivanov-Vano, but honestly, from an Eastern European product, albeit collaborative, one would like something alternative and possibly elegant, rather than a mediocre copy.
Good
xxmartynnxx12 April 2021
Made for kids
ksmail-15 April 2021
As a young adult myself, this felt like it was made for 4-10 year olds.
The little humor that it contained was very childlike and often reminiscent of old cartoon slapstick humor.
The cupcake minions were way too similar to the yellow minions from Despicable me. The villain's evil plan was quite cliché as well.
The story was unengaging and not so memorable. I didn't really like any of the main characters, and the obstacles they came across were somehow overcome very easily.
The only redeeming factor was that it was usually aesthetically pleasing, and with a somewhat immersive world.
Definitely made for kids.
The little humor that it contained was very childlike and often reminiscent of old cartoon slapstick humor.
The cupcake minions were way too similar to the yellow minions from Despicable me. The villain's evil plan was quite cliché as well.
The story was unengaging and not so memorable. I didn't really like any of the main characters, and the obstacles they came across were somehow overcome very easily.
The only redeeming factor was that it was usually aesthetically pleasing, and with a somewhat immersive world.
Definitely made for kids.
Loved It!
whatidothatdefinesme20 July 2021
I am a 28 year old man, but i still enjoy watching good animation. This movie was very well done, it was visually stunning, the story was always entertaining as were the characters, the fantasy world and elements created were awesome. Another review mentioned that less is more, i disagree, especially in an animated fantasy film. It always bothers me when people dont explore the imagination in fantasy movies when anything goes, fantasy is meant to be fascinating and visually appealing and this movie was both. Two thumbs up, the best animated movie ive seen in quite awhile....(take that disney)
I guess it's family time
Sh31kh_H0kv519 November 2021
THE BEST FAMILY MOVIE
mikaelaskari25 March 2021
It's good.
aquarius3573 July 2021
I love this cartoon. I was surprised that Russian produced so great story. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. It remained me The Shreck story. Watched it without children. I'd needed to relax and get some happiness. I've got more than expected.
It was alright, enjoyable but not memorable.
thepianomanman19 June 2021
I'm a 21 year old man and watched this to get my mind off all the negativity in my environment. The film surely accomplished that for me. I was immersed in its creative world building which was amplified by decent, colourful animation. The story had me surprised at times, not because of plot twists, but because it developed so quickly. The main characters overcome every obstacle with ease. I would have liked to see them struggle more, though I suppose their emotional and family struggle replaced their situational struggles. The emotional struggle was resolved rather quickly too though. I wished they'd given that more time.
Over all, I liked this movie. One thing that REALLY bugged me was the lack of people of color. Almost. Everyone. In. This. Movie. Was. White. You're not telling me this world full of magical creatures and wizards and crazy candy barely have any people of other ethnicities? The only person of color I saw was the technician character. (She was awesome, by the way.) I had hoped for some more diversity, or at least an explanation for the lack thereof.
Simple film. Good animation. Life lessons? Not so much. I did like that the main characters were a brother and a sister instead of the classic trope where the main character falls in love. Though I did think they were gonna be a couple at the beginning (since I didn't know they were siblings.) I was pleasantly surprised by that. I hope the team behind this makes more with everyone's feedback in mind. They have the power to make a masterpiece.
Over all, I liked this movie. One thing that REALLY bugged me was the lack of people of color. Almost. Everyone. In. This. Movie. Was. White. You're not telling me this world full of magical creatures and wizards and crazy candy barely have any people of other ethnicities? The only person of color I saw was the technician character. (She was awesome, by the way.) I had hoped for some more diversity, or at least an explanation for the lack thereof.
Simple film. Good animation. Life lessons? Not so much. I did like that the main characters were a brother and a sister instead of the classic trope where the main character falls in love. Though I did think they were gonna be a couple at the beginning (since I didn't know they were siblings.) I was pleasantly surprised by that. I hope the team behind this makes more with everyone's feedback in mind. They have the power to make a masterpiece.
Great concept bad executions
sisubalan3 August 2022
Idk about others but for me its enough & tolerable. The storyline was kinda basic, not a fan of the animation as it didnt go well with the plot. The villain was okay, wouldve been better if they made her insane and much evil. Not a fan of the comedy side of the movie, not funny at all. Great concept bad execution. Recommended.
One of the worst..
savageogre1 April 2021
Surprisingly good
jarkkoksanen29 March 2021
Gretel is just a rude, obnoxious, bully!
gerick_goldwyn9 September 2021
I watched this film with my kids last night, and we won't ever be watching it again. The character Gretel was so hard to stomach. In fact, I think she is literally the worst animated character I have ever seen on screen, and I have seen a lot over the years. In almost every scene, she is abusing, physically assaulting, or lashing out at her brother, Hansel, whenever things don't go her way. And in one scene, she literally throws him to the wolves to be eaten. And, when she is not beating down her brother or telling us how amazing she is, she is telling us how useless Hansel is, and that everything is always his fault, and somehow, she is the protagonist of this film. Explain that one? Overall, I thought Gretel was a horrible example for young children today, especially for my daughter. So, I think we'll be moving back to Frozen 1 and 2 and some good old classic Disney films. Just do yourself a favour, and avoid this one. Go back to the classics.
Excellent animation
durgeshpkshirsagar9 June 2021
Dont waste your time
jpmk-751834 May 2021
Is this the worst animated movie I've seen? Maybe
kaegori29 April 2021
It's certainly the worst I've seen in a long long time. Even the "acting" of the animated characters is overdone. It's like a bad community theater production that was turned into an animated film via a one button automated conversion software or something. "what a cruel world" is right. These glowing reviews are suspect.
Amazing
nefelieleftheria25 March 2021
Kids even didnt like
sinemakurdu17 April 2021
"Charlatan"
daisyisabaker4 October 2021
What's so bad about being a charlatan? The constant accusations get annoying very quickly. Literally ruined the whole movie. Plot was weird and their pronunciations of people's names were wrong "Greddel" & "Barbar Jaegar" instead of Gretel and Baba Yaga. It's just cringe when it's featuring classic characters, yet they can't even say them correctly.
I'd skip this if I was you!!
aebmusic328 January 2022
I really didn't like this movie. Very few laughs in it. The language used isn't very child friendly. Gretel calling Hansel a 'jerk'. Babar Jager as they pronounce it (Baba Yaga I think it's supposed to be!) calling the kids 'insane'?? At one point Hansel says he doesn't want to be a child again because he doesn't like homework, eating vegetables and detention. What is this teaching our kids? The Gretel character is insufferable. At one point in the movie she is banging her head against a wall due to the situation they're in. The soundtrack is awful. It's also very hard to get passed the sometimes extremely prominent footstep sound effects???! It's clear this was made on a shoe string budget. Don't waste your time I would say.
Russians do it right with this one!
babydmeg27 March 2021
Check your reality at the door, sit back and absorb the fun and energy that this colorful romp exudes at every unexpected turn. The color, design, pallette, character development and just plain characters will open your eyes to the future of cgi and computer animation brought to you by Russian writers and engineers. Watch out Pixar! The Russians are coming!
See also
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