‘Bookworm’ Inches Its Way Into Your Heart

The twenty eighth version of the Fantasia International Film Festival runs July 18th to August 4th in stunning Montreal, Quebec. Comply with together with our protection 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 dealing with off in opposition to thieves and wild beasts, you’re going to should 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 attraction, performances, and pure landscapes.

Mildred (Nell Fisher) is a curious and sensible eleven-year-old who tends to maintain everybody at a distance. She’s compelled 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 Sensible (Wooden) is a magi–err, illusionist by commerce, and he comes carrying tips 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 searching for 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 possibly having somebody by your aspect isn’t that unhealthy in spite of everything.

Bookworm comes from a wealthy cinematic historical past of movies about folks, misplaced or in any other case, discovering themselves on shared walks by the woods. The concentrate on an grownup and a baby 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, curiously sufficient, in Australia and New Zealand, respectively. Like these motion pictures, Bookworm pairs a reluctant guardian determine with a baby in want, however whereas the top result’s a pleasant household movie, it by no means comes near the emotion of The Earthling or the massive 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 large laughs even when they by no means actually seem. The center is obvious, however whereas the movie’s trendy quirks discover a sensory enchantment, they make it tougher to land feelings with the supposed sincerity. Issues are heightened simply sufficient, from the CG panther to the exchanges between father and daughter that continuously 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 component actually shines.

However right here’s the factor, at the same time as Bookworm struggles to ship massive, unforgettable beats and feels, it completely worms its method 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 load of the movie’s success. Wooden walks a high-quality 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 tips. It’s Fisher, although, who steals the present with a efficiency that’s equal elements precocious and weak. She has a solution for all the pieces, however seeing her defend of data and sarcasm fall away to disclose the little woman beneath reveals a proficient little heartbreaker.

It’s an surprising 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 great thing about New Zealand. Certain, it’s light-weight, but it surely’ll have you ever smiling, and that’s no small factor.

The twenty eighth version of the Fantasia International Film Festival runs July 18th to August 4th in stunning Montreal, Quebec. Comply with together with our protection here.

Associated Matters: Ant Timpson, Elijah Wood, Fantasia Film Festival

Rob Hunter has been writing for Movie Faculty Rejects since earlier than you have 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 in the event you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.