| Overall Grade: |
B+ |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
A- |
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| Direction: |
B- |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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The Mouse That Roared
by Renato (movies profile)
Dec 19, 2008
47
of
57 people found this review helpful
I fear many movie-goers, especially young children, won't like "Despereaux". An outstanding adaptation of the book, it also has a meandering plot with scary visuals even for adults.
Essentially a morality tale about being comfortable with who you are, and challenging authority -- it's another retelling of that modern-obsession from Hollywood, sledgehammering its message unto every animated feature from The Incredibles (which was incredible) to Finding Nemo (delightful) to Wall-E (cute), etc.
The plot is simple: a rat, a mouse, a princess, and a chambermaid all try to find happiness despite the sadness that has befallen their Kingdom -- famous for its soup...yes, soup. Mighty tasty soup.
The themes explored are banishment, and longing for what they cannot have, all brought together in a filament by the triumph of an eccentric mouse.
Its thin gruel to serve the audience, but I happened to like it because it's got a certain self-confidence about its message.
I highly suggest other films to take your very young children to, such as the concurrent Madagascar 2, or Bolt.
This tale has more to do with the oppressive gothic darkness of the Brothers Grimm, than that happy pastiche offered up by Dreamworks. |
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