‘Bookworm’ Inches Its Approach Into Your Coronary heart

The twenty eighth version of the Fantasia Worldwide Movie Competition runs July 18th to August 4th in stunning Montreal, Quebec. Comply with together with our protection right here.

Sooner or later, when your robotic overlords demand you act out for his or her enjoyment the film the place Elijah Wooden wanders throughout rural New Zealand on a magical journey with a hoop on his finger whereas going through off in opposition to thieves and wild beasts, you’re going to need to ask them to elaborate just a bit bit extra. Bookworm is each bit the flipside of The Hobbit‘s epic scale with its candy, foolish little story of a father and daughter reunion, and it succeeds with that modest ambition on the energy of its appeal, performances, and pure landscapes.

Mildred (Nell Fisher) is a curious and good eleven-year-old who tends to maintain everybody at a distance. She’s pressured to just accept a change, although, when an accident leaves her mom within the hospital and her estranged, and unusual, American father arrives to assist. Strawn Clever (Wooden) is a magi–err, illusionist by commerce, and he comes carrying methods up his sleeve and a grudge on his shoulder in the direction of a sure David Blaine. Determined to earn her love and respect, Strawn agrees to take her tenting deep within the wilderness seeking the legendary Canterbury Panther, a big black cat rumored to be stalking the countryside. It’s not lengthy earlier than the challenges start to mount, and shortly these two loners will uncover that perhaps having somebody by your aspect isn’t that unhealthy in any case.

Bookworm comes from a wealthy cinematic historical past of movies about folks, misplaced or in any other case, discovering themselves on shared walks by means of the woods. The concentrate on an grownup and a toddler aligns it most intently with two legit classics in Peter Collinson’s The Earthling (1980) and Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), set, apparently sufficient, in Australia and New Zealand, respectively. Like these films, Bookworm pairs a reluctant father or mother determine with a toddler in want, however whereas the tip result’s a pleasant household movie, it by no means comes near the emotion of The Earthling or the large laughs of Wilderpeople.

Timpson and author Toby Harvard completely need those self same highs, and there’s an effort made to mine each emotional peaks and massive laughs even when they by no means really seem. The center is clear, however whereas the movie’s trendy quirks discover a sensory attraction, they make it more durable to land feelings with the meant sincerity. Issues are heightened simply sufficient, from the CG panther to the exchanges between father and daughter that incessantly appear a bit overwritten, and it leaves the plain heat moments a bit muted by the humor. To that time, the humor itself feels equally low-key that means neither aspect really shines.

However right here’s the factor, at the same time as Bookworm struggles to ship large, unforgettable beats and feels, it completely worms its approach into your coronary heart with smaller, softer moments between father and daughter. Timpson and Harvard lay the groundwork, however its Wooden and Fisher who carry the burden of the movie’s success. Wooden walks a fantastic line with a unusual character, balancing the goofy weirdness of a third-rate illusionist with the humanity and pathos sitting just under the nail polish and occasion methods. It’s Fisher, although, who steals the present with a efficiency that’s equal elements precocious and susceptible. She has a solution for all the things, however seeing her defend of information and sarcasm fall away to disclose the little woman beneath reveals a gifted little heartbreaker.

It’s an sudden left flip seeing Timpson transfer past his twisted, blackly comedian filmography — along with directing Come to Daddy (2019), he’s additionally a producer on movies like Housebound (2014), Deathgasm (2015), and Mister Organ (2022) — to ship a pleasant little household movie like Bookworm. It’s a very good time, and Daniel Katz‘s cinematography does double obligation highlighting the utter and absolute fantastic thing about New Zealand. Certain, it’s light-weight, nevertheless it’ll have you ever smiling, and that’s no small factor.

The twenty eighth version of the Fantasia Worldwide Movie Competition runs July 18th to August 4th in stunning Montreal, Quebec. Comply with together with our protection right here.

Associated Matters: Ant Timpson, Elijah Wooden, Fantasia Movie Competition

Rob Hunter has been writing for Movie College Rejects since earlier than you had been born, which is bizarre seeing as he is so rattling younger. He is our Chief Movie Critic and Affiliate Editor and lists ‘Broadcast Information’ as his favourite movie of all time. Be at liberty to say hello if you happen to see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.