A 3D-animated movie set in Paris in the year 1910 and centered on a monster who lives in a garden and his love for a beautiful, young singer.
The animation is charming, the musical numbers rather sweet, but the plot struggles for excitement, unexpected twists or comic moments.
3D fun for all the family with impressive visuals and some catchy tunes.
Between the Hugo-style nods to vintage cinema, Sean Lennon’s monstrous crooning and the Eiffel Tower climax, it’s hard to fathom who this 3D combo of horror, musical and twinkly retro nostalgia is aimed at.
Alas, with songs as forgettable as the characters, the film’s production design remains its biggest triumph.
The animation of turn of the century Paris is lovely, all pastels and squiggles and carriages, and the songs, some performed by Vanessa "Joe Le Taxi" Paradis, are nice and easy on the lugs.
The film has something of Hugo's Hunchback of Notre Dame, and indeed King Kong, but has an eccentric style of its own: a decent children's film.
It loses charm and direction the longer it continues, copping out with an ending too eager to mollify; this thing wouldn't hurt a flea.
The manic story shoots off in so many directions it is a mess but Paris looks marvellous, the songs are pretty and the film has charm.
The 3D works and there are some good tunes, even if there are very few laughs for a comedy – and our hero may be a touch too creepy for the very young.
Enjoyable.
Leaves you wanting a little bit more.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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