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'Valiant' is rescued by some top-flight talent

The aptly named animated movie "Valiant" is a valiant attempt by a British studio to offer kids something a little less hyperactive than their steady diet of Saturday morning cartoons and prefab big screen hits like "Robots," with their wink-wink pop-culture jokes and heavy-duty voice talent.

Actually, "Valiant," does pretty well in the well-known-and-honed vocal department, too, featuring a classy roster of British actors, led by Ewan McGregor. That and some meticulous period details make up for the film's unsurprising plot and occasional tepid stretches.

Walt Disney Pictures 'Valiant' C+ The verdict: Not ingenious, but certainly kid-friendly. Director: Gary Chapman Starring: Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent, John Cleese, Tim Curry, Rupert Everett Run time: 109 minutes Release date: August 19, 2005 Rating: G. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate "Valiant"   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Based on the real-life messenger pigeons used by Great Britain during World War II (the animal-crazy Brits even gave them medals), the film follows Valiant (McGregor), a pint-size plucky wood pigeon with a limited wingspan but a huge heart. Despite his size and his mother's misgivings — she regurgitates a worm for a final, uh, home-cooked meal — he enlists in the Royal Homing Pigeon Service.

Soon enough, he and his fledgling squad are off to France to fetch an important message for the top brass in London. (Hint: It has something to do with Normandy.) Standing in their way are enemy shells, wayward weather and a flock of Nazi falcons led by General Von Talon (Tim Curry).

Valiant's other fine-feathered friends include a peg-legged seabird (John Hurt), a heroic commander pigeon (Hugh Laurie), a wacked-out POW, i.e., Pigeon of War (John Cleese), a comely nursing dove (Olivia Williams), a no-nonsense drill instructor (Jim Broadbent) and a strutting street pigeon (Ricky Gervais) who'd prefer to be back in Trafalgar Square, dropping in on the tourists, so to speak.

Given the recent tragedies in London, it's rather nice timing for a movie that celebrates British stiff-upper-lip resilience. And the animators do a fine job of capturing wartime England, with its vintage fighter planes, as well as war-torn France, with its blown-apart cathedrals. There's even a welcome glimpse of the White Cliffs of Dover (no bluebirds, however).

The late August release hints the film's distributor, Disney, doesn't have all that much interest in "Valiant." Further, the picture is preceded by a lengthy trailer for the upcoming — and similarly avian — "Chicken Little," suggesting that "Valiant's" theatrical run is mostly meant as a way to drum up excitement for Disney's big Christmas animated feature, which opens in November. If so, come for the trailer. Stay for the movie.