Ernest & Célestine

Name: Ernest & Célestine
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Animation, Family
Released: February 28, 2014
Duration: 80 min
Rating: 86

2014

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 76 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 76 Ratings

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Ernest & Celestine

Movie Details & Credits

GKIDS | Release Date: February 28, 2014 | PG

Summary: Deep below snowy, cobblestone streets, tucked away in networks of winding subterranean tunnels, lives a civilization of hardworking mice, terrified of the bears who live above ground. Unlike her fellow mice, Celestine is an artist and a dreamer – and when she nearly ends up as breakfast for ursine troubadour Ernest, the two form an unlikelyDeep below snowy, cobblestone streets, tucked away in networks of winding subterranean tunnels, lives a civilization of hardworking mice, terrified of the bears who live above ground. Unlike her fellow mice, Celestine is an artist and a dreamer – and when she nearly ends up as breakfast for ursine troubadour Ernest, the two form an unlikely bond. But it isn’t long before their friendship is put on trial by their respective bear-fearing and mice-eating communities.… Expand

Director: Benjamin Renner and Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Animation, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 80 min

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Awards & Rankings

25	#25 Best Movie of 2014

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Jamie S. Rich

Apr 3, 2014

Ernest & Celestine delivers a sweet message that should prove delightful to young and old alike. Though the premise makes it sound like it could be preachy, this cute children's story is anything but. Read full review

100

Chuck Wilson

Mar 11, 2014

Ernest & Celestine -- a contender for this year's best animated film Oscar -- is pure delight. Read full review

100

Peter Rainer

Mar 14, 2014

The enchanting French-Belgian animated feature Ernest & Celestine is so liltingly sweet and graceful that, a day or two after I saw it, it seemed almost as if I had dreamed it. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Feb 27, 2014

A magically understated mash-up, Ernest & Celestine has a comforting storybook effect and proves a refreshing departure in an age of high-tech, hyperkinetic animation set to soaring pop ballads, as entertaining as they can be. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Mar 17, 2014

Ernest and Celestine is a modest, beautiful little children’s fable with a wise, grown-up heart. Read full review

Josh Kupecki

Apr 2, 2014

The film's messages of accepting others and following your dreams are well-worn tropes to be sure, but the pace and the style of E&C, not to mention it's wonderful attention to detail, lift the film from being merely sweet to being something special. Read full review

Mike Scott

Jun 6, 2014

This is a film your preschooler will sit through, and attentively. Better yet, parents who appreciate the artistry of a well-made animated film also stand to be swept up in what is a delightful little tale. Read full review

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User Reviews

jotaeseche

Jan 27, 2016

So enchanting it feels like a dream, and so simple but still so powerful. Clever, wry, nostalgic (sepia-like) and meaningful. I've fallen in love with this beautiful movie; totally recommended for audiences of all kinds and ages.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BrunoVn00

Apr 18, 2019

Right after the first time I watched this movie, it became one of my favorite animated movies of this decade (the 2010s) and probably from 2013. The quality of the story and the script is in the level of some of Disney's or Pixar's best work: It's funny, it's emotional, it's heartwarming. IRight after the first time I watched this movie, it became one of my favorite animated movies of this decade (the 2010s) and probably from 2013. The quality of the story and the script is in the level of some of Disney's or Pixar's best work: It's funny, it's emotional, it's heartwarming. I liked the artstyle, it looks like illustrations from a children's book.

I know that the message this movie gives can be misinterpreted as "Stealing is okay as long as you're different", but while it's true and I know that this movie's message can be easily misinterpreted, I didn't see it that way, I see it as a story of how prejudice and stereotypes can be harmful for our society and how it affects our main characters. Maybe this is not a movie intended just for little children (I honestly think they will find this movie boring) and I guess that to see this movie you need to already know that stealing is obviously wrong, it seems like you expect animated movies have to teach kids things that parents must teach to them.

This is an amazing movie and it's a shame that a movie like Frozen won the Academy Award instead.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Iky009

Jun 3, 2015

I managed to win in the first 20 minutes is a fantastic thing, the animation is sensational, the Celestine is a character for free. The film has a very cute story of friendship, with a great message and good fun situations.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

khutch

Apr 2, 2014

Surrounded by feeling and art, Ernest & Celestine can easily establish itself as the best animation of 2013, you know, we center as the friendship between two animals, but both prove to us much more than that, lessons are played all the time, his features and unconventional traits leave moreSurrounded by feeling and art, Ernest & Celestine can easily establish itself as the best animation of 2013, you know, we center as the friendship between two animals, but both prove to us much more than that, lessons are played all the time, his features and unconventional traits leave more alive and incredibly magical. It is the true story of love, and those that leave you defenseless to its outcome. Is the kind of film that the world needs.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

tethysdust

Sep 23, 2016

Very cute and funny children's film, with a nice message about working through prejudice and learned stereotypes. There was some weirdness in the story (apparently the bears and mice can just pop teeth in and out of their mouth), and a few places where I thought the plot faltered. The artVery cute and funny children's film, with a nice message about working through prejudice and learned stereotypes. There was some weirdness in the story (apparently the bears and mice can just pop teeth in and out of their mouth), and a few places where I thought the plot faltered. The art was quite special.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alwayswatching

Apr 19, 2014

Ernest & Célestine is a movie that symbolically compare and contrast two enemy-by-blood groups.

The movie starts with fun and entertaining scene about the about early indoctrination of young mice kids. This movie shows education system, law enforcement system, and justice system canErnest & Célestine is a movie that symbolically compare and contrast two enemy-by-blood groups.

The movie starts with fun and entertaining scene about the about early indoctrination of young mice kids.

This movie shows education system, law enforcement system, and justice system can become indifferent, or even hostile, to core values of humanity.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

WatermarkShaun

Apr 8, 2014

While enjoying Metacritic for years, I've only enjoyed other peoples reviews instead of participating. After taking others up on advice to see Ernest & Célestine, I had to create an account to add my two cents.

What a complete disappointment. I've re-read others comments now that I'veWhile enjoying Metacritic for years, I've only enjoyed other peoples reviews instead of participating. After taking others up on advice to see Ernest & Célestine, I had to create an account to add my two cents.

What a complete disappointment. I've re-read others comments now that I've seen it - and can't imagine that we saw the same film. Here are a few of my comments after watching.

Animation
Animation style is purely subjective, but I didn't care at all for the animation style. Others described it as a wonderful watercolor bliss; I saw it as, while indeed lovingly drawn, quite basic. I realize that it's difficult to compare computer-assisted Pixar films and the like (although many other reviews certainly put them in the same class), I don't feel they belong even in the same class as famous Japanese animated films Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Akira. To me, although not the slick presentation of a Pixar film, they still captured magic and nuance in a different way that transcended the medium. E&C however didn't even come close. But that's my opinion. Watch the trailer and determine for yourself if you like that style or not.

Message
The message - the way I interpreted it - actually makes me mad. And I don't get offended easily. One reviewer said "Ernest & Celestine delivers a sweet message that should prove delightful to young and old alike." Sweet message? Here's my take on what the message of the film is: You can steal when you are hungry, you can break in to multiple family shops and destroy the lives of others around you - but if you are a cute little mouse that goes against the "norm" and wants to live with a bear - love is all that matters and all should be forgiven. I'm not sure how you can take away any other message than that. While love is indeed wonderful - and often good to challenge social norms, responsibility is critically important - and completely lost on the story. It's a horrible message - one that I would not want my children to see.

Could you extract any good message from it? Sure you could. But you could do that with ANY film. I try to "sleep on it" after seeing a film - just to see if I have a different reaction after it has "soaked in" a bit. This one just made me more and more upset. Which is a shame, because I'm certain this was not the film makers intentions. Not being familiar with the original story, I can't say how much it matches the original, either. Others certainly loved it - although I get the impression most were familiar with the story.

For me, it was a waste of money - one that I would not even see again if a free copy was given to me. And certainly not the 100 rating that so many others gave it. 100 means there is nothing better. Tell me that you have not seen other films that are better than this one, and I'll tell you you need to get out more.… Expand

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

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