Postman Pat: The Movie

Based on a popular British children's animated TV series airing off and on since 1981, Postman Pat: The Movie is set in a small English village, where the titular mailman (voiced by Stephen Mangan)—who works for Special Delivery Service (SDS)—delivers parcels to his friends and neighbors. Accompanied by his trusty sidekick, a black-and-white cat named Jess, beloved Postman Pat's life is suddenly complicated by two events. First, an X Factor-like televised talent show (hosted by the cynical Simon Cowbell) comes to Pat's village in search of a rising star. Second, an efficiency expert with plans to eliminate all human employees (including postmen) at SDS replaces Pat with a lookalike robot. Seeking to win a trip to Italy for his family by competing in the talent program as a singer, Pat is drawn away from his home, reluctantly becoming a national celebrity. Meanwhile, robot Pat is wreaking havoc on the real Pat's delivery route, upsetting people who don't realize that they're dealing with a machine. Also featuring the voice talents of Harry Potter alumni Jim Broadbent, Rupert Grint, and David Tennant, this amiable family film is recommended. (T. Keogh)