Take a look at the trailer Paramount Pictures has released for Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, a CG-animated feature featuring a voice cast that includes Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Loosely based on 1974 Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles, Paws of Fury has Cera voicing Hank, a hard-on-his-luck hound who finds himself in a town full of cats. The hate between cats and dogs must take a back seat when Hank realises he must assume the role of town samurai to defend them from a ruthless villain (Gervais). Hank requests the tutelage of a reluctant teacher, Jimbo (Jackson), to help him become a warrior.
The film is directed by Rob Minkoff (co-director of Disney’s original The Lion King and director of Stuart Little) and Mark Koetsier (a longtime animator and storyboard artist whose credits include The Lion King, Kung Fu Panda, and Big Hero 6), with a screenplay by Ed Stone (Happy Texas) and Nate Hopper.
A potential animated hit here, with attractive animation, action sequences, and Kung Fu Panda-esque elements. Kids should have fun – the trailer includes a fart sequence; we’ll see if there’s enough here for the parents to enjoy as well.
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, also featuring voice work from Mel Brooks, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, Kylie Kuioka, and Cathy Shim, opens in Australian cinemas on July 14th and U.S. cinemas on July 15th.