The technique for blending animation with live action is one that has been used regularly over the years, but since its release in 1988 the benchmark has been set rather loftily by Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Robert Zemeckis created a remarkable world where toons and humans seamlessly co-existed.

This film then is not only the latest to attempt to pull off the cross over, but it also features a rabbit as its hero. But has this new jumpstart got what it takes to chase the tail of Roger and co?

Deep beneath the iconic statues that adorn the Polynesian Easter Island is where you will find the headquarters of the Easter Bunny. It is a well-oiled machine, mostly performed by chicks, preparing chocolate eggs and baskets for the annual Easter festivities.

The current Easter bunny (voiced by Hugh Laurie) is about to pass on his title to his son E.B (voiced by Russell Brand). The thing is, E.B has plans of his own that do not involve delivering choccy goodies around the world. Instead, E.B wants to be a drummer in a band, so decides to head off to the glamorous hills of Hollywood in search of fame and fortune.

There he meets slacker Fred O’Hare (James Marsden); Fred is jobless and aimlessly floating through life, much to the chagrin of his family. After he gets over the whole talking rabbit thing, Fred decides to help E.B out with his musical dream.

Meanwhile, back on Easter Island, The current Easter Bunny’s right-hand-man-who-is-actually-a-chick Carlos (voiced by Hank Azaria) has ideas of his own; he hatches a plan to take over the entire Easter bunny empire, which would mean an end to chocolate eggs as we know it.

Not only can I kiss goodbye to any kind of career in acting, but I also think the drugs are wearing off. Damn you rare-bit!

The first thing you’ll notice about Hop is that it isn’t in the same league on any level as Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This is due, in large, to the fact that its director Tim Hill (who also directed the woefully awful live/animation mix of the first Alvin and the Chipmunks films) is no Robert Zemeckis.

This film has not one bone of originality in its limp bunny body. The sum of its parts are completely borrowed from other films; far too many in fact to list here. But even worse than that is that it is oh so very obvious. Whoever thought that it was a good idea to set the headquarters of the whole Easter bunny operation under Easter Island truly needs their head examined. It just makes no sense.

And then you have the storyline driving this dire thing of a rabbit wanting to be a drummer. That must have taken them all of five seconds to dream up that doozie. Actually, it would come as no surprise if they seriously thought of making him a Don Juan type lothario, due to a certain vibrating device of the same name. With no subtlety on display whatsoever, this is a film full of first thoughts.

Rather remarkably, the only person to come out of this whole mess with a modicum of respect is, ironically, Russell Brand. He doesn’t pander to the younger audience this is clearly aimed at in any way. Instead he infuses E.B with elements of his own personality – suitable for a U certificate, obviously – and in doing so makes him fairly likeable.

But sadly the character gets so wrapped up in a mess of a script it becomes more difficult to care as the film goes on. The film’s biggest mistake however is in its attempt to make the commercial side of Easter (thankfully sidestepping the whole religious thing), just as important as Christmas. It’s not. Replacing Santa with a bunny, and his elves with little chicks, just does not work. Nor does turning Santa’s work shop into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. It’s just all so very lazy.

You also have to feel for poor James Marsden, who has been plugging away now for some years, trying to make his way up the Hollywood ladder. Taking this role may have landed him on a very long snake that could well take his career back to square one. Not only does he have to emote with an animated bunny, but they also force him to do the same with a rather non-animated David Hasselhoff. Sad times.

This would have worked fine as a direct-to-DVD release, but as a theatrical one, well, the Cadbury’s Creme Egg yolk is definitely on them.