Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva

Professor Layton is a character in a series of games for the Nintendo DS.  Very popular games so I gather.  They are games based on mysteries and puzzles and from what I could seem they look like a lot of fun.  "Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva" is so far as I know the character's first foray into film.

Professor Layton is a triple threat; he's brilliant at puzzle solving, he's a gifted archaelogist, and he's the perfect gentleman.  He's aided by Luke a young boy who wants to learn to be just like the Professor.  Aparently, this film takes place early in the Professor's career, but since we don't see anything like an origin story it doesn't really matter.

The plot starts when the Professor receives a letter and two opera tickets.  Turns out an old student of the Professor has made it in the world of Opera.  There is something amiss, though, as a friend she thought dead turns up in the body of a young child claiming she has won eternal life.  That her current opera is also about eternal life she wonders if there is a connection.  The Professor agrees to look into things.

The Professor soons find himself in a dangerous game with hundreds of people seeking to win eternal life.  There are puzzles to solve and bad guys to smite and a mystery to solve.   This was fun film that was light and light hearted.  The look was very nice reminding me of "The Castle of Cagliostro."  The mix of 2d and CGI animation didn't mesh 100%, but it worked well enough.  I like the main characters well enough, but I have admit my mind was weirdly drawn to the comic relief cop character.  I have never seen anyone who had a pompadour for chest hair.  You don't see that every day.