Great, summer holidays. Let's watch Pokemon

Disney ditch the high quality for cheap 'n' cheerful animation but make up for it with a funny, fast paced film.

Nigel Bell

Of the four big children's films being released this summer (Shrek, Dr Dolittle 2 and Cats and Dogs are the others - we won't mention Help, I'm A Fish), Recess could well be the dark horse winner.

Like Rugrats and Pokemon, this is a TV series which has been brought to the big screen.

This animation stinks. I want a Lion King job

On the telly, it's always about 10-year-old TJ and his gang against the teachers. The film version starts that way but pretty soon the former enemies unite to take on new villains.

In this case it's an education reformer whose radical plan is to do away with summer holidays.

Not that that's clear from the start when TJ is left alone after his five friends go off to various summer camps.

School's out kids. Hey, I'm bored already

One day he notices a satellite dish emitting a green beam from the top of the school roof. Aliens? Must be, thinks TJ. The only trouble is his parents and the police won't believe him.

Out of desperation he tells Principal Prickly who, naturally, thinks it's yet another far-fetched tale.

When the principal disappears it's time for TJ to bring back the rest of the gang and save the day.

It transpires that former principal Dr Benedict (voiced by James Woods) wants to use a tractor beam to move the moon and so obscure the sun. This would mean there'd never be summer holidays again.

Bored. Check out a little online help to fill your summer recess

Can the kids save the day? Well, with a little help from their teachers they can.

Recess has latched onto the formula that's making a lot of children's films genuine family entertainment. With references to the late 60's/early 70's (and a soundtrack from the same period) the movie ensures there's something of interest for everyone. There are even Ninjas for goodness sake.

The message - that we were all young once and that children and adults should never forget that - is put across well, especially as the admiration builds between erstwhile enemies TJ and Prickly.

One not to be ignored.