IR Film Review: THE CANTERVILLE GHOST [Shout]
The legend of the Canterville Ghost is one that has been heard about in different forms of literature. However transforming it into a kids' animation of sorts is an interesting approach. Non-Disney or Dreamworks outlays sometimes have a bit of trouble with tone, mostly because their brand has not been created yet. "The Canterville Ghost" directed by Kim Burdon has good pedigree in his cast and a clear view on its progression. However the movie wavers back and forth in tone, being both dark and modern in many ways but also light and derivative in many ways. Making an animated film like this can be interesting and also groundbreaking while, at other times, it simply shows the ability of doing new things without certain rules and standards of an overarching distributor to perhaps come in and give too many notes. The two key figures here are in Emily Carey as Virginia and Stephen Fry as Sir Simon de Canterville. Having recently been seen on "House Of The Dragon", Carey is a dynamic part of the already stellar cast having most of her dialogue (probably recorded in separate booths) with Stephen Fry as the Canterville Ghost. There is an crucial dynamic between the two that is also separated by the time frame the film sees its characters through which is in the early 1900s in England before the lightbulb per se was introduced.
The underlying story, of course, of murder and class strife is a bit dark but doesn't come into play until more at the end. While the actual motivations are not glossed over, it still might be a little much at times for younger viewers. What keeps it light are Virginia's two younger brothers who provide the best dialogue and chicanery to keep the film moving. Their dialogue is spot on (if not a bit expected) while much of the other dialogue is seemingly a bit too obvious. Freddie Highmore plays a young awkward Duke next door who doesn't have a horse and yet deals with a connected family history. Highmore gives a much more shy performance which is what the character needs but knowing what kind of performance Highmore is capable of on the other end, make it seem like a letdown. Hugh Laurie plays the Canterville Ghost's nemesis whose identity this review won't give away. In an interesting way, the end actually reflects a little of Disney's "The Black Cauldron", again an underrated film but that one leaned much more dark. But the ending of this movie here has parallels. Again, "The Canterville Ghost" tries to do some interesting approaches and characterizations despite some rote dialogue (though a haunted dinner party does move in certain interesting directions). B
By Tim Wassberg
