Stars Nicolas Cage, Penélope Cruz, Jon Favreau, Bill Nighy.

The Gerbils need saving, never mind the world.

Such is the force of Hollywood über-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, it was inevitable that this one-man film-making powerhouse would be at the forefront of the current cinematic preoccupation: 3-D movies.

G-Force is Bruckheimer’s first attempt at cashing in on this new market and it marks Disney’s first foray into a proper 3-D feature. On paper, it sounds like an undisputed triumph.

Blending live action with astonishing CGI animation, G-Force is an action-comedy aimed squarely at the family market.

The G-Force of the title is a band of cognisant guinea pigs, specially trained to take on a mission for the US government to prevent megalomaniac billionaire Leonard

Saber (Bill Nighy) from taking over the world with – of all things – household appliances. 

Can Darwin (Sam Rockwell) and his crack team of furry friends overcome obstacles including a pet shop, a malicious youth and a traitor in their midst to succeed in their task?  You would hope so – the world depends on it.

The main live action roles feature a cast of dependably funny actors, including Bill Nighy,

Will Arnett and The Hangover’s Zach Galifianakis but even they can’t save this uninspired action-heavy excuse for entertainment.

While the 3-D element showcases the marvellous animation and makes the film all the more appealing to younsters, adults in the audience will most likely rue agreeing to take them to see this ditchwater-dull flick.

Action specialist Bruckheimer ensures there are plenty of on-screen high-octane shenanigans but a film like this, like all the best animations, depends on the characterisation and script.

These critters need to be cute and funny but sadly they are neither. Not even a cameo from Steve Buscemi is able to lift it.

Through your special glasses, things might appear three-dimensional but, in reality, the characterisation is strictly 2-D despite vocal talent that includes Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz and Tracy Morgan. 

There is also little attempt to make any of the characters, animated or otherwise, original or particularly quirky and ultimately they fail to engage us.

It’s a shame that G-Force fails to benefit from Bruckheimer’s golden touch but it will probably prove a box office hit regardless. He is, after all, the man they call Mr Blockbuster.

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