Phil Roberts 
Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog is a fun rollercoaster ride that will satisfy kids of all ages. With its Indiana Jones-themed adventure, gorgeous animation, lovable characters, and tongue-in-cheek comedy, the film is an absolute blast.
It’s that time of year again! The summer holidays have arrived, and with them comes the annual challenge of keeping the kids entertained. Thankfully, our local cinemas are ready to save the day with a packed slate of family-friendly adventures guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. With Toy Story 5, Moana, and Minions & Monsters already lighting up the big screen, animation fans are truly spoilt for choice. And waiting in the wings is another delightful contender—an action-packed animated adventure that channels the globe-trotting spirit of Indiana Jones while carving out an identity all its own: Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog.
The film follows the fearless half-chicken, half-hare adventurer and his loyal companions as they embark on a globe-trotting quest to save a forgotten world from impending disaster. Bursting with action, humor and heart, it looks set to be another welcome addition to this summer’s impressive lineup of family entertainment.
But does Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog have what it takes to stand alongside the season’s biggest animated hits? Or will this feathered adventure struggle to spread its wings?
REVIEW
Fear not, dear readers, because Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog is a fun rollercoaster ride that will satisfy kids of all ages. With its Indiana Jones-themed adventure, gorgeous animation, lovable characters, and tongue-in-cheek comedy, the film is an absolute blast. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel or aspire to be anything more than a crowd-pleasing family adventure, it succeeds brilliantly at exactly what it sets out to do. Packed with excitement, heart, and laugh-out-loud moments, it’s the kind of pure, unashamed escapism that makes for the perfect family trip to the cinema.
With the early days of the half-term holidays upon us, Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog is exactly the sort of feel-good adventure families will be looking for—a thoroughly enjoyable 90 minutes of fun that’s guaranteed to keep younger audiences entertained while giving parents plenty to smile about as well.
ADVENTURE AWAITS!
Surprisingly, Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog marks the fearless hero’s second big-screen adventure. Its predecessor, Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness, is currently available to stream on Netflix, but despite meaning to watch it, I never quite found the time. In the end, that worked in my favor. Going into the sequel with fresh eyes proved to be a pleasant surprise. The story does an excellent job of welcoming newcomers without relying heavily on knowledge of the first film, making it easy to jump straight into the action. So, if you’re unfamiliar with Chickenhare’s previous adventure, don’t worry—you won’t feel left behind.
We first meet the fearless Chickenhare (voiced by Jordan Tartakow) in the middle of yet another globe-trotting escapade, accompanied by his loyal friends Abe, a wisecracking turtle (voiced by Joe Ochman), and Meg, a fearless skunk (voiced by Laila Berzins). Their latest mission sees them crossing paths with Meg’s former partner, the cunning lynx Crolloq (voiced by Odessa Lurlean), as the rivals race to recover a legendary golden… spork. Yes, you read that correctly—a spork! It’s a wonderfully absurd opening that immediately establishes the film’s playful sense of humor and light-hearted tone.
NEW PERILS
Once the gloriously bonkers prologue is out of the way, the film quickly finds its rhythm, bombarding audiences with witty one-liners, endearing character interactions, and the effortless camaraderie that makes this unlikely trio so easy to root for. Before long, you’re completely invested in their friendship, making every joke land and every perilous moment carry a little more weight.
With a brand-new quest calling, Chickenhare, Meg, and Abe set off in search of the legendary Backward-Facing Groundhog, a mythical creature with the extraordinary ability to change a single moment from the past. Naturally, an adventure this bizarre can only lead to hilarious hijinks, unexpected danger, and plenty of heartwarming moments along the way, and if that’s what you’re here for, you’ll be eating well for 90 minutes.
FAMILY TIES
After learning of the Groundhog’s existence from his father, King Peter, Chickenhare eagerly sets off on his latest adventure. But before he can leave, he’s joined by the kingdom’s sharp-witted royal archivist, Gina, who drops a bombshell by revealing herself to be his long-lost sister. She reveals that her father, King Bartholomew, is also hunting the legendary creature. Unlike Chickenhare, however, Bartholomew’s motives are deeply personal. He hopes to use the Groundhog’s extraordinary power to reverse the ancient curse that has plagued his people for generations, setting both parties on a collision course as the race to rewrite the past begins.
From there, our heroes follow a trail of clues in search of the elusive, legendary Groundhog. Their journey is anything but straightforward, as they battle hordes of villainous pigs, uncover surprising revelations, and come face-to-face once again with the scheming Crolloq. Thankfully, she’s accompanied by Miggie and Rolf—the delightfully dim-witted twin chameleon brothers—whose perfectly timed antics provide plenty of laugh-out-loud moments along the way. The adventure climaxes with a fun spiritual finale that warms the heart and reinforces the bonds of family, which is a wonderfully positive message for kids to experience.
VERDICT
Overall, Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog is a fun distraction that will appease kids of all ages. Boasting a fun narrative, bags of witty comedy, gorgeous animation, and an equally punchy soundtrack, it’s a rollercoaster ride of aimless fun that harnesses the spirit of Indiana Jones with a tone that kids can easily absorb. It may not reach the emotional heights of films like Minions & Monsters or Toy Story 5, but it never sets out to. Instead, it focuses on delivering exactly what it promises: an imaginative, action-packed adventure filled with laughs, heart, and just enough excitement to keep children glued to the screen from beginning to end.
If the biggest animated releases are fully booked, Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog is more than worthy of your attention. It’s a charming family outing that entertains, delivers a heartfelt message about family and acceptance, and sends audiences home with a smile. What more could you ask for?
Chickenhare and the Secret of the Groundhog brings the adventure to cinemas on July 24.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
