A new family animation, Grand Prix of Europe, follows the story of Edda, a perky little mouse voiced by Gemma Arterton, who dreams of becoming a racing champion like her hero Ed, voiced by Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Edda lives with her dad, voiced by Lenny Henry, who runs a struggling theme park. The film is produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Europa-Park, Germany's biggest theme park.
Edda runs away to Paris to watch Ed compete, but after a joyride in Ed's car causes an accident, Ed reluctantly agrees to let her secretly take his place on the race tour. The plot is straightforward and sensible, a refreshing change from overly complicated stories in other animated films for young children.
The film features an all-star British vocal cast, with Brodie-Sangster's performance as the arrogant yet adored Ed standing out. The mystery of a saboteur among the drivers adds a mild intrigue, with suspects including a sinister crow in black leather and a Swiss bear with a peculiar accent.
While Grand Prix of Europe is not groundbreaking in terms of originality, it offers cheerful and unassuming entertainment. It may not be in the fast lane of family movies, but it provides a safe and satisfying course for its young audience.
