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Catching up...

Before I forget, again, belated:

Happy Hanukkah!

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

I haven't seen many films lately, going to see only one at the theatre. Someone else paid, so I ended up seeing The Tale of Despereaux, drawn to the flame by my love of animation.

Animation has different styles, just as different directors bring a distinct style to their works. This is oft-times strange in animation because they are such collaborative processes. Nonetheless, everyone can recognize a Disney cartoon from a Warner's. In the modern world, Pixar films have a familiar sheen to them, distinct from what Dreamworks is cranking out, etc.

Despereaux is unique and, to my eyes, beautiful. It feels lush, rich, and alive. I can't say enough good things about the artistry and craft that went into the look, feel, and animation of this film.

Would that I could say the same about the rest.

The characters are flat, the story never seems to begin, and when it does it goes nowhere. Slowly. It's as though the writers, having started to introduce a character, run out of things to do and rather than work through the block opted instead to introduce a new character. Yeah, that'll fool 'em! The film ends up feeling like Start, start, start, start, start, End.

How can you mess up a story about a mouse that refuses to be a mouse? How can you go wrong with a story involving a mouse who won't scurry or cower? If you watch the trailer for this film you see all that could have gone so very right. Unfortunately, none of that setup is really used for anything. Despereaux, the titular mouse, is just presented as being. No growth, no development, he just is. The one character who might go through a story arc, the rat Roscuro who actually launches and ends the film, isn't allowed to.

Kids might find this entertaining, but I doubt even that because kids are very good at spotting a con. I was in a theatre surrounded by kids, lots of kids, of all shapes and sizes, and none of them seemed engaged by the film. No claps, no cheers, no squeals of joy. The pretty pictures kept them busy, but that's about it. Their parents, meanwhile, were desperately looking toward the exits.

Sad, really, because those pictures are beautiful to look at. I just wish everything else had been up to par.

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