The Oddsockeaters | Review - Winsome Czech animated film

(Image credit: Thunderbird Releasing)

Unravelling a secret.

At last! The mystery of the missing socks is solved to the relief of all. The culprits are the oddsockeaters, small fluffy creatures who snaffle the hosiery from under human noses, remaining invisible to all but eccentric oddballs. They only take single socks, never a pair. And, on the principle that you are what you eat, it’s no surprise that they look rather like socks themselves.

Adapted from the series of popular children’s books by writer Pavel Šrut and illustrator Galina Miklínová (also the director here), the winsome Czech animated film The Oddsockeaters (Lichozrouti) has mischievous fun with its conceit. That said, the plot - which sees orphaned hero Hugo caught between two rival gangs of oddsockeaters - could do with a little more elastic snap, and the dubbing is a tad threadbare. Even so, the movie remains cute and charming overall.

Certificate PG. Runtime 83 mins. Director Galina Miklínová

Available on DVD & Digital from Thunderbird Releasing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMobBAa6rUM

A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.