Title: The Secret World of Arrietty Movie Review
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Starring the voices of (U.S. version): Will Arnett, Bridgit Mendler, David Henrie, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Moises Arias
The 94 minute Japanese animated film from 2010 is given the U.S. voice over treatment and has begun to release in the states.
If one has never seen a Japanese animation, try to recall the style of 1980s classic cartoons such as Transformers, Thundercats, and/or Voltron (yep, I was – and still am – a geek). Basically the animation is vibrant but not as smooth as what we’ve been subjected to over the last ten years or so. Still, there is a novelty effect you can feel, even if you haven’t seen one before.
The wholesome tale, whose theme appeals to both young and adult audiences alike, is about a sickly boy who discovers 4-inch human beings living throughout his house. They call themselves “borrowers,” and they only take what they need to survive (a sugar cube, tissue paper, etc.). 14 year-old Arrietty (voiced perfectly by Bridget Mendler) can’t resist the urge to finally explore the house of which they secretly live under. Even though the boy has seen her – a big no-no if you’re a borrower – she feels that he will not react negatively to her presence as others humans have in the past. Despite her parents’ concerns, the family tries to co-exist in spite of their better judgment.
Basically, this is an exploratory adventure that is guided by a clever screenplay. Seeing the little people weave around the inner-walls of the house along with the tools they use to do so within the dwelling, usher in that escapism and adventurous feeling. The dialogue is simplistically elegant and it is accompanied by a beautiful musical score that can get you lost in the on-screen world. It really is a tender story that just flows without any need for gimmicks or cliched sequences. If anything, it’s almost too tranquil as you may find yourself falling victim to the pure relaxing mood and closing your eyes.
As for what certain audiences will get out of this, the kids will probably just gaze upon this with a sense of wonderment. The older crowd will hopefully see the subtle lesson in how being judgmental, and the direct and indirect results that comes with that impulse action, can affect life.
Overall, The Secret World of Arrietty is a classy animation fit for every one of all shapes and sizes. It has a tone similar to that of the recent Winnie the Pooh release. Go in and embrace the quiet exploratory journey.
Technical: B+
Story: A
Acting (voice): A
Overall: A-
By Joe Belcastro – Member of the Florida Film Critics Circle
