From Deseret News archives:
The Borrowers
Borrowers, The
Film review
Although the movie trailers and TV commercials make it appear to be "Home Alone" with tiny people, "The Borrowers" is actually better than that.
However, despite some dazzling special effects, it's not exactly a stellar adaptation of Mary Norton's beloved children's books, about a race of 4-inch-tall people who survive by "borrowing" everyday items from normal human beings, or as they're known to these miniature thieves, "beans."
In truth, what this uneven kid's film is frighteningly similar to in execution and in content is last year's live-action cartoon "Mouse Hunt" though it lacks that film's mean-spirited nature.
And like "Mouse Hunt," there are way too many juvenile and vulgar gags for a movie that's supposed to be aimed at an all-ages audience. (Believe it or not, there's even a painfully unfunny bit involving a cheese-eating dog and flatulence.)
The target for our wee heroes the Clocks father Pod (Jim Broadbent), mother Homily (Celia Imrie), teenage daughter Arrietty (Flora Newbigin) and young son Peagreen (Tom Felton) is Ocious P. Potter (John Goodman), a greedy attorney who's trying to force them out of their home so he can turn it into an apartment complex.
And he's already succeeded in forcing out the home's normal-sized owners, the Lenders (get the joke?), who don't know there's a document hidden in the walls that proves their claim to the house.
But with some help from young Pete Lender (Bradley Pierce), the Clocks try to find the will as they also try to avoid being squashed by Potter and a determined exterminator (Mark Williams, from "101 Dalmations").
To be fair, the production values are great, as are the effects, and the cast is pretty appealing. However, more often than not the story takes a back seat to slapstick comedy, which will probably delight some younger viewers, but which will wear out their parents in a big hurry.
"The Borrowers" is rated PG for slapstick violence, some pretty tasteless and vulgar jokes and sight gags and use of a couple of mild profanities.
Recent comments
The Borrowers is a pretty delightful version of Mary
Norton's...
Avi Green | Aug. 11, 2000 at 5:01 a.m.
Cast: John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, Flora Newbigin, Bradley Pierce; based on the novels by Mary Norton
Find a Movie Theater
- Death penalty possible in slayings 11:00 a.m.
- Embargo as genocide? 10:56 a.m.
- Stocks edge higher 10:55 a.m.
- Obama: Plan to 'jump-start' hiring 10:54 a.m.
- Underground railway helps Uighurs 10:46 a.m.
- Ex-U.S. Sen. Paula Hawkins dies 10:43 a.m.
- Russian actor Tikhonov dies at 81 10:42 a.m.
- New Louvre-Lens site inaugurated 10:40 a.m.
- Oil prices fall 10:40 a.m.
- 'Bruno' pastor runs for mayor 10:34 a.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
- Phoenix signs off on LDS temple
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- 5A high school football All-State
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
406 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
362 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
287 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
226 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
188 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
175 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
169
Congrats to all those who made the All-State team. To Anon. @ 9:45 The 2A...
we had those jerseys before seattle even had a team. good try though.
Way to go Bear River Boys!!
"I'm sick and tired of Republican politians critizing the president and not...
I have. I'm glad it's closed.
What's so disappointing about Mitt is that he must know that easy, slick...
We are greatly saddened to learn of this tragedy and pray for those that have...
"Class" grade: Jordan Wynn A Max Hall F- for Utah fans,...
BCS Scoreboard: Brian Johnson 1 Max Hall 0
If it's about the numbers only then sure give Hall a shot. I'm not a Ute fan...



