The Secret World of Arrietty is a remake of the magical fairy tale The Borrowers,
as seen through the keen, imaginative eye of Japanese writer Hayao
Miyazaki. The American version of this delicately, richly animated film
is that rarest of children's movies--one that is a deeply engaging
experience for adults as well. The visuals and graphics are
gasp-inducing, yet never over the top or too showy. And the actors
dubbing Arrietty in English, including standouts Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, and Carol Burnett, are expressive and emotive. The Secret World of Arrietty
tells the tale of a small family of "borrowers," tiny people who live
underneath the homes of the "beans" (human beings). The borrowers must
stealthily gather small bits of items they need--a sugar cube, a sheet
of tissue, biscuits--from the upstairs without being discovered by the
beans. Arrietty is a plucky teenager (voice by Bridgit Mendler) whose
parents (Poehler and Arnett) think she's ready for her first "borrowing"
excursion. But meanwhile, a young "bean" named Shawn has moved into the
house above them, to rest and prepare for a heart operation, and to be
cared for by the flighty Hara (Burnett). Shawn thinks he might have
seen… something… moving in the meadow where he rests and reads. It's not
giving away too much to say that Arrietty and Shawn brush against each
other's lives--and neither's is the same afterward. For any fans of
Miyazaki's other films, and anyone of any age seeking immersive
family-friendly entertainment that's life-affirming, The Secret World of Arrietty is a winning experience. --A.T. Hurley