A Monster in Paris

This animated film, and I have seen a lot, I rate as my number one! It is an absolutely beautifully made movie with terrific characters with a real backstory to each and every one of them. Some people are saying it's a predictable and simple plot but I disagree. This a well thought out, well paced film. Very well written. It pulled me in at the beginning and held me there. The music was absolutely terrific too. If I could give this film ten stars I would - and I've now watched it seven times!

If ‘Arthur and the Invisibles’ taught me anything, it was that the French will make slightly eccentric movies, even if they are just trying to make a straight kids film. This trend continues in ‘A Monster in Paris’, a CGI cartoon set in Paris and originally in the French language. I saw the English dub of the film featuring Sean Lennon as the singing voice of Francoeur and it was still very strange. Jay Harrington voices Emile, a young cinema projectionist in early 20th Century Paris who, along with bumbling friend Raoul (Adam Goldberg), stumbles across an experiment that brings a new creature to life (Francoeur); a creature with the voice of an angel. Animation wise, ‘Monster’ looks good, but is not of the same quality as the high budget American CGI films. However, what it lacks in detail it makes up for in determination and eccentricity. There is definitely something European feeling with ‘Monster’ that may put off younger audience members. The plot is a little slower and the characters talk a little more than DreamWorks Animations fans would be used to. However, there are still plenty of action sequences and slapstick moments to hopefully grab their attention. It is the singing style of Lennon as the monster that is perhaps the oddest element of the film; haunting, if a little off-putting. At times you watch ‘Monster’ and you question whether you are watching a film from the French New Wave, but with added falling over. The musical moments that drift off into dreamlike sequences were interesting, but would probably bore some youths. The English dub is also a little below par, the actors chosen, are not from the A List or bring their A game, Lennon except; they sound a little bored at times. The combination of lower quality animation, strange scenes and under par acting means that ‘A Monster in Paris’ is fun, but throwaway. I also fear that this combination of elements will also alienate the child audience in Britain/America.

The addictively catchy tunes sung by Sean Lennon and Vanessa Paradis really make this film, after this I could not stop listening to 'A Monster in Paris' by Sean and 'Le Seine' sung by them both. Apart from the songs, the storyline is sweet and touching in places with characters that I'm sure kids would enjoy watching. I especially enjoyed the idea of the main character, a giant flee, usually seen as a monster, who has a gentle heart and just wishes to be accepted. With a little comedy thrown in, this is definitely one to watch for the family and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

It took a little time to warm up but once 'the monster' starts to sing, I was hooked! It is a lovely animation, a sweet and funny storyline - plenty of plot which could take many directions but follows a time honoured path, reminiscent of classic 'monster' perception tales like Frankenstein, King Kong and Hunchback of Notre Dame - again the moral being 'Who is the real monster here?'. I loved it so much I watched it again straight away and its even more charming the second time round. Bravo!