`BORROWERS' A DELIGHTFUL SCAMPER.Byline: Bob Strauss Daily News Film Critic Production design saves the day for the otherwise unremarkable children's fantasy ``The Borrowers.'' Essentially ``Mouse Hunt'' with 4-inch-tall people in place of rodents, this predominantly British production indulges a time-bending, urban storybook sto·ry·book n. A book containing a collection of stories, usually for children. adj. Occurring in or resembling the style or content of a storybook: storybook characters; a storybook romance. look and oversize o·ver·size n. 1. A size that is larger than usual. 2. An oversize article or object. adj. o·ver·size also o·ver·sized Larger in size than usual or necessary. Adj. 1. sets that thoroughly engage the eye. Which is important, since the film's action is all mind-numbing, juvenile slapstick slapstick Comedy characterized by broad humour, absurd situations, and vigorous, often violent action. It took its name from a paddlelike device, probably introduced by 16th-century commedia dell'arte troupes, that produced a resounding whack when one comic actor used it to . Based on Mary Norton's children's books, which have already inspired two BBC television BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which began in 1932. The British Broadcasting Corporation has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. series, ``The Borrowers'' does spring from a charming basic premise. All the little things you keep losing track of - keys, small utensils, that other sock - are actually being put to good use by tiny, very-good-at-climbing folk who live between our walls and under our floors. They're really secretive, which is why we big ones aren't aware of their existence. Or maybe that's because they're nearly extinct. As far as the Borrower family the Clocks know, they're the last of their miniature race. Despite their isolation, Pod (Jim Broadbent), Homily homily (hŏm`əlē), type of oral religious instruction delivered to a church congregation. In the patristic period through the Middle Ages the focus of the homily was on the explanation and application of texts read or sung during the (Celia Imire) and their two children, Arrietty (Flora Newbigin) and Peagreen (Raymond Pickard), are muddling through nicely in a charming cottage, even though the full-size adolescent boy of the house, Pete Lender (Bradley Pierce), keeps setting traps for whatever it is that's stealing his stuff. The Borrowers reveal themselves to Pete when greedy banker Ocious P. Potter (John Goodman, having broad, bad guy fun) tries to tear down to demolish violently; to pull or pluck down. - Shak. See also: Tear their home. Together, they work to foil the creep's plans. Potter drags in a reluctant exterminator (``101 Dalmatians' '' Mark Williams), proceedings shift to a dairy plant, and the focus of the film narrows to how many different ways Potter can be bashed up and covered with goo. Visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang and production designer Gemma Jackson provide beautifully complex settings for all of the sadistic sa·dism n. 1. The deriving of sexual gratification or the tendency to derive sexual gratification from inflicting pain or emotional abuse on others. 2. The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from cruelty. nonsense. Everything from the vehicles to workers' uniforms appears straight out of the 1930s, yet such modern accouterments ac·cou·ter·ment or ac·cou·tre·ment n. 1. An accessory item of equipment or dress. Often used in the plural. 2. Military equipment other than uniforms and weapons. Often used in the plural. 3. as cell phones somehow integrate unobtrusively into the mix. Even more impressive, the shifts between normal and Borrower-size points of view are seamless. Whether it's an ice dispenser as big as a glacier, a cozy living space decorated with matchbook covers or assembly lines turned deadly roller coasters, we're always convincingly enchanted en·chant tr.v. en·chant·ed, en·chant·ing, en·chants 1. To cast a spell over; bewitch. 2. To attract and delight; entrance. See Synonyms at charm. . Kudos, too, to costume designer Marie France, who dresses the Borrowers with a witty, ``Oliver-Twist''-from-the-kitchen-drawer elfishness elf·ish also elv·ish adj. 1. Of or relating to elves. 2. Prankish; mischievous. elf  ish·ly adv. .
Peter Hewitt (``Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey'') has directed what must have been an immensely difficult visual delight. He had to sacrifice most every other movie virtue to do it, but when you consider how many kids' films aren't even fun to look at these days, it's nice to see some care being taken. THE FACTS The film: ``The Borrowers'' (PG; cartoon violence, children in jeopardy). The stars: John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, Flora Newbigin, Tom Felton, Bradley Pierce, Mark Williams, Celia Imire. Behind the scenes: Directed by Peter Hewitt. Written by Gavin Scott and John Kamps, based on the books by Mary Norton. Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Rachel Talalay. Released by Polygram Films. Running time: One hour, 23 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: Three Stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Pete Lender (Bradley Pierce) captures tiny Arrietty (Flora Newbigin), one of the little people living in his family's house, in ``The Borrowers.'' |
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