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The Borrowers Reviews

1997 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 3564 members

Children's author Mary Norton's storybook creations, the four-inch-tall family of "borrowers" who live among humans and co-opt their possessions, get a first-rate big-screen translation. When a crooked lawyer (a gleefully over-the-top Goodman) takes over the Lender family's house, he's got to reckon with the "borrowers" therein,.. Read more

Starring John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, Celia Imrie, Mark Williams
Director Peter Hewitt
Genres Comedy, Family

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  • Critics' reviews (5) of The Borrowers

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    Mary Norton's charming 1950s children's stories about a diminutive family (the “Borrowers” of the title) are here turned into a delightful family film. Jim Broadbent is on good form as the father of the tiny Clock family who live beneath the floorboards of an old house, while John Goodman delivers a large slice of ham as the unscrupulous full-sized lawyer who intends to demolish their home. Peter Hewitt (Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey) directs this fun children's adventure, which features a host of British comedy talent (including Hugh Laurie and Celia Imrie) alongside Broadbent. But it's the clever special effects that steal the show from the cast (miniature or otherwise).

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 2 stars out of 4

    Clever, if hectic and noisy, children's film; it doesn't have the quiet humour of the original books, but nevertheless creates an odd, fanciful world that mixes English and American influences.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • The nice Lender family don't realise they have Borrowers nestling under the floorboards and living off domestic scraps.... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of The Borrowers

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  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Wonderful fantasy plot and great acting

    This is an extremely well-made movie. All the leading actors (Jim Broadbent, John Goodman et al.) give of their best and one feels they had a blast making this. Watch out for superb cameo appearances from Hugh Laurie (as a cop) and Ruby Wax (Town Hall receptionist). The surrealism is furthered by the Morris Minors (even Ocious' stretch limo is a Morris Minor!) and the strange filtration of blue from the cinematography so green and red predominate. This has all the makings of a cult classic!

      • Acoustionicus from Clackmannanshire
      • Posted 25 Dec 2003 15:26
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Great family film

    We thought this film was great. My kids are 6 and 4 they both loved it. I love the retro feel of the whole film.

      • buster43 from devon
      • Posted 17 Sep 2005 11:42
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    gentle comedy for children

    Excellent reworking of the classic children's tale enjoyable by children and adults alike.

    First class ensemble and great production values make this a must for your kids.

      • A customer from nottingham, england
      • Posted 16 Jul 2004 11:27

  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of The Borrowers

    View all
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Great family film

    We thought this film was great. My kids are 6 and 4 they both loved it. I love the retro feel of the whole film.

      • buster43 from devon
      • Posted 17 Sep 2005 11:42
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    gentle comedy for children

    Excellent reworking of the classic children's tale enjoyable by children and adults alike.

    First class ensemble and great production values make this a must for your kids.

      • A customer from nottingham, england
      • Posted 16 Jul 2004 11:27
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Wonderful fantasy plot and great acting

    This is an extremely well-made movie. All the leading actors (Jim Broadbent, John Goodman et al.) give of their best and one feels they had a blast making this. Watch out for superb cameo appearances from Hugh Laurie (as a cop) and Ruby Wax (Town Hall receptionist). The surrealism is furthered by the Morris Minors (even Ocious' stretch limo is a Morris Minor!) and the strange filtration of blue from the cinematography so green and red predominate. This has all the makings of a cult classic!

      • Acoustionicus from Clackmannanshire
      • Posted 25 Dec 2003 15:26
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Great family film

    We thought this film was great. My kids are 6 and 4 they both loved it. I love the retro feel of the whole film.

      • buster43 from devon
      • Posted 17 Sep 2005 11:42
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    gentle comedy for children

    Excellent reworking of the classic children's tale enjoyable by children and adults alike.

    First class ensemble and great production values make this a must for your kids.

      • A customer from nottingham, england
      • Posted 16 Jul 2004 11:27
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Excellent rainy afternoon film

    My kids (5 and 7) loved this. Exciting but not too scary and great characters.

      • A customer from Bath, England
      • Posted 23 May 2005 16:09
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Borrowers ,borrowed

    Hugely entertaining though I did prefer the original.

      • A customer from Chester/England
      • Posted 14 Feb 2005 08:32

  • Rated - 5 stars

    superb

    perfect for my two: ages 6 and 4.

    Wonderful cast, amazing 'miniaturisation', even good for parents to sit and watch too

      • A customer from england
      • Posted 21 Nov 2004 18:06

  • Rated - 4 stars

    is a gud childrens flm

    my daughter loved it, it was a gud film it s a gud family film , wud wach again

      • A customer from manchester
      • Posted 21 May 2005 16:33

  • Rated - 4 stars

    Good for the kids

    Kids really enjoyed it.

      • A customer from Cumbria
      • Posted 02 Sep 2005 09:24

  • Rated - 5 stars

    Excellent

    Kept my 4 year old glued all the way through, nothing to scary or out of place, some commical scenes, and aboslutely brilliant miniture work!

      • A customer from Cheshire, UK
      • Posted 25 Nov 2005 19:29

  • Rated - 2 stars

    not as good as expected

    This was a real shame. i thought this was gonna be a really good film but did not keep me and kids instressed

      • A customer from london
      • Posted 31 Jan 2006 10:21

  • Critics' reviews (5)

  • 3 stars out of 5

    Mary Norton's charming 1950s children's stories about a diminutive family (the “Borrowers” of the title) are here turned into a delightful family film. Jim Broadbent is on good form as the father of the tiny Clock family who live beneath the floorboards of an old house, while John Goodman delivers a large slice of ham as the unscrupulous full-sized lawyer who intends to demolish their home. Peter Hewitt (Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey) directs this fun children's adventure, which features a host of British comedy talent (including Hugh Laurie and Celia Imrie) alongside Broadbent. But it's the clever special effects that steal the show from the cast (miniature or otherwise).

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 2 stars out of 4

    Clever, if hectic and noisy, children's film; it doesn't have the quiet humour of the original books, but nevertheless creates an odd, fanciful world that mixes English and American influences.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • The nice Lender family don't realise they have Borrowers nestling under the floorboards and living off domestic scraps.... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • "...Charming....This visually witty film is perfectly up to date in its technological ambitions..."

    • New York Times
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • "...A marvel of visual magic....Their hidden miniature world is a clever mosaic..."

    • USA Today
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

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      • Children's author Mary Norton's storybook creations, the four-inch-tall family of "borrowers" who live among humans and co-opt their possessions, get a first-rate big-screen translation. When a ...

Rating breakdown

3,564 Member ratings
  • 100
228
  • 90
173
  • 80
457
  • 70
574
  • 60
1,009
  • 50
465
  • 40
333
  • 30
146
  • 20
127
  • 10
52

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