‘A Town Called Panic’

The AFI Film Festival has no lack of excellent films, but the one I am happiest to find on the schedule is not the most anticipated or even the most prestigious. It’s simply the one that’s the most fun, and it’s also a film I never dreamed would make it to the U.S., even though it debuted to much laughter at Cannes earlier this year. That’s because this Belgian animated epic is completely over-the-top zany. It follows the adventures of three inexpensive toy figurines -- Cowboy, Indian and Horse -- who share a house in that panicky town and get into all kinds of mischief. It has to be seen to be appreciated, it really does. Saturday at 11 a.m. at Laemmle’s Monica in Santa Monica.

-- Kenneth Turan