Dir.
Luc Besson, 2006, France, 93 mins approx
With the voices of: Freddie Highmore, Madonna, Jimmy Fallon,
Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Chazz Palminteri, Emilio Estevez,
Snoop Dogg, Anthony Anderson, Jason Bateman, David Bowie
Review by Martyn Bamber
Following on from
his small-scale modern-day fairytale, Angel-A (2005), Luc
Besson directs Arthur and the Invisibles, a vibrant mixture
of live action and animation that’s reminiscent of his inventive and eye-popping
sci-fi extravaganza The Fifth Element (1997). Arthur and
the Invisibles tells the story of Arthur (Freddie Highmore),
a lonely but imaginative young boy who lives with his grandmother
(Mia Farrow) in her house in the country. Arthur's peaceful
life is shattered when he discovers that the house will soon
be seized by developers because his grandmother doesn’t
have the money to pay for the property. Arthur vows to save
his home and follows a series of clues left by his grandfather
(an explorer who mysteriously disappeared a few years previously)
in order to find a treasure that is mentioned in his grandfather's
writings.
After deciphering the clues and being
helped by some African tribesman who knew Arthur’s grandfather, Arthur is
miraculously shrunk and is plunged into an amazing world
that exists in his own backyard. This land is populated by
tiny people, the Invisibles, who are so small that they’re
not visible to the human eye. Once in this fantastical world,
Arthur must race against time to find the treasure and help
a peaceful King (Robert De Niro), and his daughter (Madonna)
and son (Jimmy Fallon), defend their kingdom against an evil
dictator (David Bowie) and his monstrous army.
Like The Fifth Element, Besson's latest film is a mixture
of seemingly incompatible visual and musical styles. While
the real world is shown with live action, the land of the
Invisibles is illustrated with CGI animation. The tranquil
live action scenes look like an idealistic version of 1960s'
America, while the animated sequences show us a fast-paced
world of magic and adventure, which even features music from
the 1970s. The stunning computer animation techniques make
the Invisibles look extraordinarily three-dimensional and
lifelike: at several points, some characters almost look
like puppets. But the animation doesn't simply show itself
off for its own sake. The animated characters and landscapes
are awe-inspiring and at the same time, the animation is
so convincing that it draws you in to this remarkable world
and it makes you believe that everything you're seeing is
real.
Aside from the impressive animation, there are some thrilling
set pieces (including an action-packed battle featuring a
horde of evil soldiers riding mosquitoes) and some amusing
gags. In addition, this is a smart film that asks its audience
to pay attention and learn something while they go along
for the ride. Arthur has to use his wits to solve the many
problems he encounters and there are a number of historical
and cultural references in the story. Like Night at the Museum
(2006), Arthur and the Invisibles makes sure that kids are
enlightened and educated (but not lectured to) as well as
entertained.
If there are any drawbacks, it's that
the pop culture references and recognisable celebrity voice
artists seem like obvious attempts to compete with other
animated films rather than components that fit comfortably
into the film. Still, it could be argued that while these
seemingly incongruous elements – along
with the frequent shifts in tone and style – might
be jarring, they nevertheless make the film fresh and surprising
and set it apart from the countless other computer animated
tales that are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in cinemas.
At just over 90 minutes, Arthur and the Invisibles is a brisk
and breathlessly-paced family film and a unique animated
adventure that should enchant and engage both adults and
children alike.
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