ANI-MOVIES, *The Illusionist

Comics writer Sylvain Chomet already completed the innovative animated film The Triplets Of Belleville before he began an adaptation on the unproduced script of the late mime, actor, and writer, Jacques Tati. The deceased entertainer wrote this as a way of trying to make amends with his eldest daughter whom he ignored during the height of his busier years with the main character being inspired from his movie character, Monsieur Hulot, who was inspirational for Rowan Atkinson when he created Mr. Bean. The French-produced film was released in 2010 and was nominated for Best Animated Feature. Like many eastern-European animated productions, this was made largely free of dialogue, even though there is some English said throughout the film, but most of the narrative is self-expressive not needing any spoken lines.

Taking place in France during 1959, a French illusionist moves to England to find more work after his act in Paris become stale. He gets a gig working at a pub for parties and is befriended by the cleaning girl Alice. She decides to follow him when he gives her a new pair of shoes he earned with his wages. It's hinted in the advertisement for the movie that from this point in the movie that Alice trails around with the Illusionist because she believes he can work real magic, although nothing really hinting at that ever shows up during the rest of the film. The Illusionist and Alice stay at a hotel made up of former circus performers, including a suicidal clown, a depressed ventriloquist, and a trio of trapeze artists, while the hotel itself is run by a pair of short persons. The Illusionist tries to lift up Alice's spirits by using his meager income to give her new clothes to which she is grateful for, but it's not a romantic relationship, instead it's a parent-child dynamic. The Illusionist gets odd jobs working in a garage, acting as a window performer for a department store, and as a billboard painter, all while Alice starts a relationship with a man her age. Our protagonist eventually sells the remainder of his conjuring gear to set Alice off on her own with her new love interest while the Illusionist sets off on his own unknown path.

The Illusionist is largely traditional animated reminiscent of the later productions of Walt Disney and the films that Disney did following his death. This is certainly one of the most charming animated movies of the new millennium, and there is nothing offensive or racy involved so it's perfect for the whole family to enjoy.