We first meet the boy reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his trusty dog, Snowy, at an outdoor market, haggling for a model sailing ship. After the purchase, a mysterious character by the name of Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Daniel Craig) tries to nab the ship from Tintin at a much higher price. Tintin refuses, but it's clear that Sakharine will do anything for the ship.
It turns out the ship, called the Unicorn, contains a scroll with information - in the form of a riddle - that leads to a sunken treasure. Two problems: only a person of the Haddock lineage knows the secret to finding it. Secondly, the last remaining Haddock (Andy Serkis), who Tintin sniffs out, is a drunk named Archibald who has trouble staying sober.
A running joke is Captain Haddock's efforts to remain sober enough to help in the mission to find the treasure. Combine that with his imbecile behaviour and you're bound for huge laughs: he starts a fire on a small row boat for warmth, taking the phrase "running on fumes" literally.
You'll also be treated to one of the most entertaining chase scenes ever created in live action or CGI. What's not to love?
YP Rating: 4/5