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Movie Review
‘Borrowers’ tale ‘Arrietty’ has warm charm “Arrietty” is a marvel of image and color, its oldfashioned penand-ink frames vividly bringing to life the world of “The Borrowers.” ■
By DAVID GERMAIN
D12 — The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pa. Thursday, February 16, 2012
Movies
AP Movie Writer
Considering the eccentric, almost psychedelic fantasy worlds created in Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki’s tales, a story of tiny people living beneath the floorboards of a house seems almost normal. “The Secret World of Arrietty,” from Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli, also is a pleasant antidote to the siege mentality of so many Hollywood cartoons, whose makers aim to occupy every instant of the audience’s attention with an assault of noise and images. Slow, stately, gentle and meditative, “Arrietty” nevertheless is a marvel of image and color, its old-fashioned pen-and-ink frames vividly bringing to life the world of children’s author Mary Norton’s “The Borrowers.” Already a hit in Japan, “Arrietty” has undergone the typically classy English-language transformation that Disney renders to Studio Ghibli’s films, among them Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning “Spirited Away.” What U.S. audiences get is a hybrid — the grandly fluid picture-book imag-
great comic result in liveaction roles, but the effect falls flat without his own almost-smirking poker face to go along. The movie also overdoses on sweetener with its saccharine theme songs — one co-written and performed by Cecile Corbel, one written and performed by Mendler. The warm simplicity of the story and the cleverness and artistry of the animation make up for any vocal shortcomings, though. It’s delightful, the ways the borrowers make essential tools out of found objects we take for granted — a leaf as an umbrella, nails to create stairs or staples to build ladders, strips of duct tape to help scale walls. The wonder the film reveals in the mundane is Associated Press what makes “The Secret World of Arrietty” such a In this image released by Disney, the character Arrietty, voiced by Bridgit Mender, is shown in a scene fantastic place to visit. from the animated feature, “The Secret World of Arrietty.” “The Secret World of Arrietty,” a Disney release, is ery of first-time feature Mendler, star of Disney humans, and Shawn proves own mad purposes. rated G. Running time: 94 director Hiromasa Yone- Channel’s “Good Luck a tender soul who underThe women of “Arriet- minutes. Three stars out of bayashi, a veteran Studio Charlie”) lives with her stands the fragile existence ty” definitely get the good four. Ghibli animator, merged mom and dad (real-life of his small friend and her parts. Mendler plays the with an English-language couple Poehler and Arnett) kind, doing what he can to title role with vivacity and Superior Fabrics for rendering of Miyazaki’s and is about to join in on help. a spirit of wonder, while screenplay, Oscar-win- her first borrowing expediThe filmmakers inject Poehler manages nice ning sound designer Gary tion to fetch back supplies a bit of tension and some laughs with her squawky, Rydstrom directing a Hol- from the “human beans” laughs through busybody frantic vocals. Henrie and lywood voice cast that in- living upstairs. housekeeper Haru (voiced Arnett, on the other hand, r 3PCFSU cludes Carol Burnett, Amy Yet Arrietty violates with joyful, gradually in- are vocal rocks, solid but Kauffman Poehler and Will Arnett. the rules — she’s seen by creasing lunacy by Bur- impassive, inexpressive. Previously adapted in the Shawn (David Henrie of nett), who sets out to cap- Arnett applies the same r 1 # 1997 live-action slapstick Disney Channel’s “Wiz- ture the borrowers for her deadpan voice he uses to r .PEB r #FOBSUFY comedy “The Borrowers,” ards of Waverly Place”), a r .JDIBFM .JMMFS Norton’s stories follow the sickly youth who has come adventures of a family of to stay in the country with r )PGGNBO PUIFST teeny people who live off his aunt. Interior Shutters things scavenged from naWhat could turn into Sales and Installation ture or from the oversized boy-meets-girl, boy41 W. POMFRET ST. human world that’s un- squashes-girl-like-a-bug CARLISLE, PA aware of the existence of instead becomes a sweet, Next to Parking Garage this miniature race. chaste, sort-of first love 243-5076 Spirited 14-year-old Ar- story. Arrietty sheds her Monday-Saturday 10-5 Every Wednesday in-paper & at Cumberlink.com/blogs rietty (voiced by Bridgit inbred borrower’s fear of Thursday till 6
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INSIDE: Interview with Otis Williams of ‘The Temptations’ — D5
INSIDE: Carlisle Theatre Co. rehearses Seuss-based musical
Game on — D7
The Sentinel www.cumberlink.com
The Sentinel www.cumberlink.com
Section D February 16, 2012
‘This Means War’ opens in wide release Friday •••• D10