REVIEW: The Little Prince

I have fond memories of watching the television show of The Little Prince when I was a child.  There is not a lot that I remember about it, other than the fact that it was something that I put time aside for and enjoyed greatly.  It was this childhood energy that got me very excited the first time I saw the trailer for the feature film, and it was the same energy that I took into the theatre with me.  The big question was, could it recreate the magic?

The movie tells the story of The Little Girl (voiced by Mackenzie Foy) who is applying for the Werth Academy, a school that will be the stepping stone to a productive future.  Her mother (Rachel McAdams) will do anything and everything possible to see that it happens.  This includes relocating herself and her daughter to a drab neighbourhood and planning the studious activities that the little girl must spend her summer vacation undertaking.  Even the best laid plans can go awry, as their new house is situated next to that of The Aviator (Jeff Bridges).

The world of The Little Girl is one of structure and routine, the paths and roads that lead to the life of the adult, which is represented by her mother and the dronish lifestyle of the people in her neighbourhood.  Everything is straightedges and muted colours, a drab view on the lack of imagination and fun that can overtake life as one ages.  The house of The Aviator, however, has curves and colours, with many vibrant and happy birds living in the overgrowth of his backyard.

It is the story telling of The Aviator who introduces us to The Little Prince, a story of an encounter that he has written down on paper and shares with The Little Girl.  As the story is told, the movie transforms from digital animation to stop motion that is done in a style to make it look like the pages of the story come alive.  It is incredibly effective in creating that feel, and the narration by Bridges brings me to a spot of sitting on the floor of the library as a child, sitting on the carpeted floor during story time.

This film is incredibly philosophical.  It is not just a story of keeping hold of imagination and joy through the transition to adulthood, but deals with different perspectives that have been laid out by her parents.  It looks at the confinement of the super-structured life that is imposed upon her by her mother, and the confined view of the world that is represented through the symbol of snow globes that she receives yearly from her father for her birthday.  The movie also looks at dealing with loss, dealing with true love, and the importance of friendship.

The strengths of The Little Prince are most notably in the voice acting as well as the quality of the two animation styles.  The combination of the two, in conjunction with the great script from Irena Brignull and Bob Persichetti, make it a heartfelt journey that leaves a lot of introspection for the mature viewer.  The younger audience may still enjoy it, but this film is less about the visceral element that is needed to keep their attention.

Rating - 3.5 out of 4 stars