Cinema review
Directed by Luc Besson
Starring Freddie Highmore, Mia Farrow, Madonna (voice), Robert De Niro (voice), David Bowie (voice), Jimmy Fallon (voice), Harvey Keitel (voice)
Release date 2 February 2007

Arthur has two days to find his grandfather’s treasure and save the family home. Can he unlock the mystery of his grandpa’s disappearance and find a hidden world at the end of his garden?

Luc Besson might be better known for violent action dramas such as the excellent Nikita and Léon, but he has spent the last five years bringing his own children’s novels to life. The result of all that hard work is a mix of live action and animation, the English version of which boasts a stellar cast.

As Arthur, Freddie Highmore moves between the real world and a millimetre-high animated land in order to search for treasure, fight the Evil M (David Bowie) and win the heart of a 1,000-year-old princess (Madonna).

Arthur’s ‘real’ world is a version of 1960s America that almost goes beyond charming and out the other side into twee. However, it’s here that the best acting takes place and, once everything becomes animated, things take a bit of a tumble.

Everything moves so quickly that, on first viewing, it’s hard to enjoy the characters and settings. A second viewing gives you time to appreciate the animation, and uncover nuances that are easily missed. Bowie’s understated bad guy shines, and even Jimmy Fallon’s turn as a young Betameche is less annoying, second time around. With that in mind, this is a movie best left for the DVD release.

Also lacking are the usual hidden touches that keep an adult audience smirking, while a few points will have parents scratching their heads completely. If Arthur’s American parents are so poor they have to work on his birthday, for example, how come he attends boarding school in England?

Sadly, all these niggles combine to spoil a nice premise and five years of work by 225 animators. But with Besson already talking up a sequel, based on his later books, they could have another five years to get it right. Matt Chapman

VERDICT: 4/10
Diverting enough if you’re young (or young at heart) enough to wish for a magical kingdom at the end of your garden. Otherwise wait for the DVD.