Review of The Tale of Despereaux (2008) by Robert H — 21 Aug 2009

Beautifully lit, but poorly executed animation that tries to be a post-modern fairy tale, but never delivers on magic, or likeable characters, or even humour. A bad disappointment.

The tale of Despereaux starts with narration that tries to set an atmosphere. Then the visuals clash with the narrator, but without any humour or zest. (George of the Jungle did this much more bluntly, and I thought it funny. This is a meek imitation, and boring).

Nominally a story about an unafraid mouse, it is really a story of an unfortunate rat. The rat causes an accident (stolen directly from the start of Mouse Hunt) which leads to rats and soup being banned in our fairy tale kingdom, which then leads to the weather being permanently grey and dire and everyone being depressed. Then the mouse is born, with big ears, and unafraid. Rather than likeable, Despereaux comes across as arrogant and egomaniac. (And he does show fear, when confronted by a human skull in the film). Then, the story diverts to a plump kitchen maid, and to a princess, and to the rats, and....

There are too many sub plots. Too many characters. And none of them, absolutely none of them are engaging. Do I care about the plump and ugly kitchen maid who turns into a villain? Do I even understand why there is a chef made of food in the film? Do I have any notion what the leader of rats is about? Or why the unhappiness of the king affects the climate of his kingdom? The answer to all the questions is no. I don't care, I don't know and I reall don't care that I don't know.

It is a very boring, messy movie, with famous voice actors but not an ounce of delight in it.