Tintin goes off on an adventure in search of the secret held in a model ship.

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Tintin, the young reporter, buys a model of a ship: the Unicorn. A ship loaded with a mysterious cargo that never reached its port. As Tintin gets pulled into the search for the Unicorn's treasure, he realizes he's not alone on the adventure. The model attracts all kinds of shady characters, as part of the puzzle may lead to the discovery of a treasure chest. According to a parchment he finds in the mast, only a descendent of the Haddock family will help him solve it. But the captain in question hasn't been sober since the death of his grandfather who confided to him the family secret, so Tintin will have to use all his drive and intelligence to help Captain Haddock remember exactly what the secret is. Accompanied by his trusty dog Snowy, the trio goes off on an adventure, trying to stay one step ahead of the evil Sakharine, who is also trying to discover the secret of the Unicorn...

With his usual skill, Spielberg has dusted off two of Hergé's old comic books, giving a fresh look to the adventures of the journalist in short pants – books that still have prominence on many bookshelves. The result is a good script and impressive art direction. Although Captain Haddock has stopped smoking along with everyone else, he still knows how to drink and fire off a decent broadside of insults. Apart from a walking stick in the eye and a somewhat too intrusive long shot, the 3D effects aren't too excessive, which makes for very consumable entertainment.