Arthur and the Invisibles (PG)
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French writer-director-producer Luc Besson has a fondness for life outside the margins of conventional society: the neon-lit labyrinths of the Paris Metro (Subway), the pristine depths of the ocean (The Big Blue). His latest finds him going subterranean once again, this time in a fantastical universe where elves and fairies--so small that they are invisible to human eyes--live in harmony with nature. Adapted from his own series of children’s books, this live-action/computer-animated hybrid follows 10-year-old Arthur (Freddie Highmore), who, in order to save the home he shares with his somewhat addled grandmother (Mia Farrow), must decipher his grandfather’s diary. Following the clues, Arthur, now a 3D animated figure sporting cool shades and spiked hair, enters the mythical Seven Kingdoms, where he joins forces with a sexy CGI princess (voiced by a delightfully unrecognizable Madonna) and her chubby, rubber troll of a brother (Jimmy Fallon) as they battle the evil Lord Malthazard (David Bowie) for buried treasure. Predictable and overly busy, this sci-fi adventure should nonetheless appeal to computer game-savvy tots, especially those familiar with the source material. (Jean Oppenheimer)
Review by Jean Oppenheimer
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