G-FORCE (PG)

Who's in it? Zach Galifianakis, Kelli Garner, Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Gabriel Casseus, Jack Conley, Justin Mentell, Niecy Nash and the voices of Sam Rockwell, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, Nicolas Cage, Steve Buscemi, Jon Favreau. Directed by: Hoyt H Yeatman Jr.

What's it about? Don the plastic specs for producer Jerry Bruckheimer's first 3D film, which proves if you want a job done properly, hire a team of guinea pigs.

Screening in the eye-popping format in selected cinemas and 2D everywhere else, G-Force is a light-hearted romp laden with gizmos.

The turbo-charged screenplay panders to the short attention-span of children by packing as many thrills and spills and poop gags into 88 minutes as is possible.

In the battle against terrorism, governments are thinking outside of the box.

Thus G-Force is born: a covert task force of four-legged operatives with special skills assembled by geek Ben (Galifianakis) and his assistant Marcie (Garner), who collectively make up the most potent crime-fighting force in America's proud history.

Furry squad leader Darwin (voiced by Rockwell) spearheads each mission, flanked by weapons expert Blaster (Morgan) and martial arts expert Juarez (Cruz).

Technical support comes courtesy of surveillance fly Mooch and computer-expert mole Speckles (Cage).

FBI special agent Kip Killian (Arnett) shuts down the department after a disastrous reconnaissance mission at the mansion of shady billionaire Leonard Saber (Nighy).

The animals escape the clutches of Killian's goons, agents Tristad (Casseus) and Carter (Conley), and end up in a pet store run by Rosalita (Nash) and her assistant Terrell (Mentell).

While Blaster and Juarez find homes, Darwin is left behind with slacker guinea pig Hurley (Favreau) and a neurotic hamster called Bucky (Buscemi). Thankfully, the rodents escape their cage and they head back to headquarters for a final assault on Saber Industries.

Is it any good? G-Force is fast-paced and inoffensive, throwing a giant robot into the mix for a pyrotechnic laden finale that tests the critters' ingenuity and courage to the limit. The 3D isn't overused, but there is a terrific sequence which trails Mooch as he swoops through the pet store, darting through the snapping jaws of some Venus Fly Traps.