Review of Hugo (2012) by Charlotte P — 17 Jul 2013

Perhaps I was in the wrong frame of mind for this (and the man next to me who slowly and loudly crunched and rustled his way through a packet of crisps certainly torpedoed the first ten minutes). The first thing that came to mind at the end was "smug".

This film was smug, and far too English considering it was set in France; the kids were all right (boom boom) but all a bit too self-consciously wry, eyes-wide-open and (whisper it) stage school; ego and self-satisfaction oozed from Ben Kingsley, whose depiction of the tragic Georges Melier succeeded in making him profoundly dislikeable; and Sacha Baron Cohen was awkward and unfunny.

There were some nice 3D scenes but the overall effect is empty; and the film is far too slow to be able to get away with being this pleased with itself.