SummaryFrom the creative mind of filmmaker Luc Besson, comes a larger-than-life, family adventure about a boy who, after his grandfather disappears, sets out to save his family home from emerging real estate developers. (MGM)
SummaryFrom the creative mind of filmmaker Luc Besson, comes a larger-than-life, family adventure about a boy who, after his grandfather disappears, sets out to save his family home from emerging real estate developers. (MGM)
The movie--while it doesn't knock you out--doesn't self-destruct either. Besson may never rise to the level of his best American models here, but it's fun watching him try.
None of the characters are compelling, despite the star-studded vocal cast behind them, including Madonna, Robert De Niro, Snoop Dogg and Jimmy Fallon. Our attitude toward them is casual interest, not anxious concern.
When Arthur(Freddy Highmore) first encounters Princess Selenia(Madonna), a beautiful and indelibly feminine, but nevertheless, creature, who could've been a figment of his raconteur grandfather's imagination; "Arthur & the Invisibles" brought me back to my first movie star crush. Her name was Kira. She was a gelfing. She was the most beautiful...muppet, I had ever seen(way, way, way prettier than Miss Piggy). Even though "Arthur & the Invisibles" largely covers the same terrain as "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids", a scene like the one in which Arthur shares a rosebud-turned-bed with Princess Selenia, somewhat alleviates this formulaic film from the commercially-mandated instinct that it's noisy action in which audiences yearn for. The age difference between Arthur and Princess Selenia is provocative(they come close to kissing), but never sordid; always sweet. If "Arthur & the Invisibles" had more ambition and artistry, the filmmaker could've chopped the running time of this first adventure(a tired story about recovering rubies to help save the farm), and reunited the age-challenged couple when Arthur got older. Princess Selenia isn't like the dragon in the Peter, Paul & Mary folksong(she's corporeal), but Arthur's affinity for this Minimoy may not last once he starts meeting human girls; which is what's intriguing, and potentially fatalistic, about Princess Selenia's promise that she'll wait for him.
There are cute flourishes, but much of the cleverness is smothered by tired dialogue and doughy animation, which gives the animated characters the personality of mannequins and the look of cheap merchandising knockoffs come to life.
Watching Arthur and the Invisibles is like sticking your head in a Gallic pinball machine: It's hectic, technically impressive, and your skull starts to pound after a while.
Besson is a pro when it comes to action movies, but this part live, part animation effort is a mess, highlighted by creepy animation, derivative plot points and a child star who speaks way too fast.
This kids' cartoon from France is such a surreally demented attempt to connect with children that it's the equivalent of foie gras breakfast cereal or a bleu cheese milkshake.
When Arthur(Freddy Highmore) first encounters Princess Selenia(Madonna), a beautiful and indelibly feminine, but nevertheless, creature, who could've been a figment of his raconteur grandfather's imagination; "Arthur & the Invisibles" brought me back to my first movie star crush. Her name was Kira. She was a gelfing. She was the most beautiful...muppet, I had ever seen(way, way, way prettier than Miss Piggy). Even though "Arthur & the Invisibles" largely covers the same terrain as "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids", a scene like the one in which Arthur shares a rosebud-turned-bed with Princess Selenia, somewhat alleviates this formulaic film from the commercially-mandated instinct that it's noisy action in which audiences yearn for. The age difference between Arthur and Princess Selenia is provocative(they come close to kissing), but never sordid; always sweet. If "Arthur & the Invisibles" had more ambition and artistry, the filmmaker could've chopped the running time of this first adventure(a tired story about recovering rubies to help save the farm), and reunited the age-challenged couple when Arthur got older. Princess Selenia isn't like the dragon in the Peter, Paul & Mary folksong(she's corporeal), but Arthur's affinity for this Minimoy may not last once he starts meeting human girls; which is what's intriguing, and potentially fatalistic, about Princess Selenia's promise that she'll wait for him.
What a strange film. They talk so quickly that it is often hard to tell what they are saying. This becomes annoying at times and sometimes you give up. You get the core story without needing to know what they are saying all the time. The CGI animation sections are quite ugly. The real world looks nice though. There are some jokes that only adults would get and some may deem as inappropriate. There isn't a lot of comedy or action and there is one really long scene of exposition but otherwise ambles along talking fast. If it wasn't for the ride at Europa Park then I would have never heard of this film and maybe that is for the best. Shame that such an excellent ride didn't have a better film to accompany it. Certainly not the worst film and it has enough to get you to the end but not enough to make you want to see it again or watch any of the sequels.
Production Company
EuropaCorp,
Avalanche Productions,
Metro Voices,
Canal+,
Sofica Europacorp,
The Weinstein Company,
Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC),
EuropaCorp. Distribution