Legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s latest creation, The Secret World of Arrietty, is no masterpiece. It follows the tiny–in–person but big–at–heart Arrietty Clock and her family as they try to survive in a regular family’s home. Like most Studio Ghibli creations, it is beautiful. The animation is fluid, the color scheme is soft, and the nature–heavy setting is rendered as lovingly as a Matisse painting. The movie excels at capturing the scope of Arrietty’s world, portraying everyday appliances as magnificent. Unfortunately, the story flounders. The pace throughout feels rushed, to the point that the climax barely even registers. The conflict, meanwhile, is forced to the point of incredulity. However, the real antagonist is the movie’s producer, Disney. From the inane pop soundtrack to the distracting Westernized names, The Secret World of Arrietty shows the importance of keeping the mouse out of our Totoro.
3/5 Stars
