Corgi – The Queen’s Corgi (2019)

Directed by: Vincent Kesteloot, Ben Stassen | 85 minutes | animation, comedy | Dutch voice cast: Buddy Vedder, Bridget Maasland, Freek Vonk

The Belgian animation film ‘Corgi’ is about the collection of Welsh Corgi Pembrokes that keeps the British Queen company. And especially about the new favorite Rex. Rex immediately captures the heart of the English monarch and is called her top dog. But the competition is lurking… A wicked dog poses as Rex’s best friend, but has nefarious plans. If he can unobtrusively bonjour Rex out of the palace and pretend that the animal did not survive this, he will probably become the apple of Queen Elizabeth’s eye… No sooner said than done. Rex finds himself outside the safe palace walls and must survive in squalid, dangerous London. That is of course not easy if you are always pampered. With the help of new friends, whom he meets in a shelter, he tries to get back to his mistress.

‘Corgi’ was created by the animation studio nWave, who previously released films such as ‘Flying to the Moon’ (2008), ‘Sammy’s Adventures: The Secret Passage’ (2010), ‘Flits & The Magic House’ (2013) and ‘Robinson Crusoe’ (2016). The company makes films that can compete with larger, American productions in terms of appearance. However, there is often a lack of content. And that goes again here. ‘Corgi’ looks quite nice. Most of the animals are cute, or at least endearing enough (unless they’re meant to be terrifying, which they do), and Buckingham Palace is convincingly animated too. It becomes a little more uncomfortable for people: it just feels strange to watch a living head of state in a children’s film – especially if he looks good in itself. Not to mention the visit of the American president, his wife and dog – who are only too eager to get their ass kicked with one of the queen’s dogs present. This storyline has no place in a children’s film – especially considering the sexual references – and is also not funny for adults watching.

The screenwriters of ‘Corgi’ have clearly borrowed from ‘Pet Secrets’, ‘The Aristocats’ and ‘Lady and the Tramp’, but the main problem is the urge to make the film appealing to adults as well. Trendsetters like ‘Shrek’ succeeded, in ‘Corgi’ the obvious adjustments are just annoying and incomprehensible to children (the film goes on for minutes about the rules of the ‘fight club’ and there is a real fight club in it). It’s a shame that these elements ruin the movie so much. It is to be hoped that nWave will make a clear target group choice in a subsequent production.