It’s rare to get children’s films that are anything but safe these days. The exception to this comes in the form of Aardman Animation’s The Pirates! Band of Misfits, a delightfully off-beat, witty and clever pirates adventure.

In typical Aardman fashion, the film blends stop-motion animation with scenery-enriching computer graphics that actually add to the visual appeal of the film. In tradition with Aardman’s past films, such as Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit, The Pirates! Band of Misfits’ visual style is rich, unique, and refreshingly textured. With an added history background of 1800’s England with such figures as Charles Darwin (voiced by David Tennant) and Queen Victoria (voiced by Imelda Staunton) prominently featured throughout the film’s 88 minute running time.

Hugh Grant voices the Pirate Captain, a mediocre pirate with high ambitions – winning the coveted Pirate of the Year Award. This quest takes the Pirate Captain and his ragtag gang of shipmates from the high seas to the streets of victorian London, along with such voice talent as Martin Freeman, Jeremy Piven, Selma Hayek, Brendan Gleeson, Anton Yelchin, Al Roker and more rounding out the list.

From the opening shot, the clever, typically hidden gags, come fast and often, as co-directors Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt packs each shot with detail and action. An issue throughout the film is the main jokes tend to make less of an impact compared to the small moments of wittiness. The story here is pretty light and fluffy, as it relies on these moments of truly delightful hilarity, making the film seem much longer than it’s relatively short running time.

What does work here is so refreshingly funny, that these gags make the film worth exploring on their own merits. Not only are they exceedingly clever and funny, but are packed into the film so tightly, you’ll have a hard time appreciating each one. The talent on display here is quite impressive, as Lord and Newitt add their own unique signature to the picture. The inclusion of Charles Darwin and a science-based storyline is welcome, however both the pirate and science aspects of the story feel incomplete, particularly when it comes to a rather lackluster final act which fails to display the originality of the film’s promising set-up.

While the action doesn’t reach as high as the film’s wit, the messages are successful. With any children’s film, the underlying themes are as important as anything, and one of the many reasons why Pixar has been so successful throughout the past few decades. In The Pirates! Band of Misfits, the themes of friendship and knowledge as power over personal wealth and triumph comes through strongly. Not only are these worthwhile themes, but they are worked smoothly into the film’s narrative.

While not rich on story, and featuring a rather lackluster final act, The Pirates! Band of Misfits is a visually rich, exceedingly clever and witty animated adventure from the great Aardman Animation. With a delightful and accomplished vocal cast, strong thematic messages, and a unique vision and execution, the film works on several levels earning its place as a strong animated film that works for all ages.

Grade: B-

Rated: PG (for mild action, rude humor and some language.)

The Pirates! Band of Misfits opens nationwide on April 27, 2012.