Review: The Adventures of Tin Tin: Secret of the Unicorn

So going into The Adventures of Tin Tin (thanks for the long title, guys) I only knew the stories as far as the characters involved, I don't remember any of the tales and adventures. Plus, I have a distinct distrust of this animation style (the uncanny valley is a harsh place!) Beowulf, Polar Express, Christmas Carol, all very ugly and short lived.
So its surprising to say that Tin Tin actually carries it off, or at least the best I have seen! A lot of this is thanks to the frequent goofy, slapstick comedy throughout, giving the often "stiff" animations a more comic motion. There is a sense (although subtle) that the animators had fun here. Plus faces aren't so photorealistic, but quirky.
The film itself is a straightforward treasure hunt; Tin Tin unwittingly finds the first clue to a global adventure, and being the complete basket-case that he is for clues, reporting and adventure, nothing stops him and his faithful dog Snowy. He must team up with a drunken ship captain and two identical police officers to solve the mystery of the Unicorn galleon.
The film takes itself for granted, never explaining too much and moves at a fair clip. The beginning is quite merciless with its lack of exposition; you might think Tin Tin is a bit weird... constantly talking to himself (and his dog) everywhere he goes! 
But the film ramps up with some good old-fashioned slapstick comedy, over-the-top stunts and chases, while maintaining some mature dignity. Simple but effective, the whole family should take something away from it.