BJ C

I have no point of reference to the animated version as I've never seen it, so I tried to approach this version with an open mind. Well, ok, it's kind of stupid. The movie is filled with a slew of self references and cultural gags. The lead actor is the movies saving grace, I liked his partner as well, but everyone else is kinda awful, especially the annoying lead female character. The plot is non sensical, but it is definitely supposed to be. Not for everyone, but I think the animated fans will like it.

I really liked it. I understand that not everyone enjoys Wes Anderson and his visual trademarks of strange camera angles and odd colour palettes etc as they find it distracting. I also understand that a lot of people who think they understand film or believe that film should only be constructed in a certain manner, won't like that the story is narrated almost verbatim by the actors, or the constantly moving sets, as this approach is not typical of film, but it is of theatre. In a sense, it's a tribute to the oral tradition of sharing tales and the magic of live theatre, but within the cinematic frame. The top shelf cast do a sterling job of acting with subtle nuance and their performances do not distract from the power of Dahl’s words, or the journey of discovery Henry Sugar takes. Quirky, different, a strong moral message lay within, suitable for all ages. I would highly recommend it.

This isn't an exceptional movie, not even close. It's not a movie that will demand repeat viewings either. You will probably watch it once and then forget about it. If you have it on Netflix and want to kill 90 minutes one evening, go for it.Just keep your expectations low and enjoy the jump scares, gore and silliness. Positives: An interesting premise. Quite gory, if you like that kind of thing. Has some dark humour mixed in there. Negatives: Execution of said premise is very ordinary. There is so much gore it becomes boring and there is little tension. Not anywhere near as funny as it could have been. In a big cast, the most likeable character is a little dog. Set in the 80's, but you can't really tell.