Want a family friendly ecological adventure that seems destined to draw comparisons to the works of legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki? This French import from 2008 clearly modeled itself from the same template and themes that Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke) has revisited with frequency. And yet, in this case, I'm not sure that the comparison will be a positive one. "Mia and The Migoo" is a beautifully illustrated fantasy just now making a delayed North American DVD debut. The movie looks wonderful with hand drawn illustrations and an earthy color palette. It is clear that the film has been meticulously put together and presents a visual feast. And as this story began, I was sure that we had a winner. The tale, however, takes some unexpectedly obtuse turns which muddle its message and make it a bit harsh for younger viewers. Don't get me wrong. I still liked "Mia and The Migoo," it just seems to veer off track in its last third.
The movie starts out as a classic quest. Plucky Mia's father is an immigrant worker that is far away breaking ground on a new resort. Mia decides that she must see him, so sets off on a cross-country sojourn that it's best not to think about in practical terms. She can be spirited and likable, if occasionally bratty (like when she threatens to basically steal someone's boat if they don't help her), and demonstrates a great perseverance. Meanwhile, Mia's father is in danger from strange happenings at the work sight and is, in fact, missing for most of the movie unbeknownst to her. And the tale also introduces the greedy industrialist behind the project and his difficult relationship with his son. As all the characters are on separate paths, there is much to admire and enjoy about "Mia and the Migoo." But when everyone starts coming together, the film starts falling apart.
The introduction of the Migoo (a forest spirit) adds humor, but their mission is vague at best having something to do with protecting a tree stump (the symbolic Tree of Life). In fact, the ecological theme gets so diffuse, I lost a lot of the point (Don't use a rocket launcher on the Tree of Life? Seems like a sound message). The movie becomes increasing mystical, busy, and over-the-top. But this bit of confusion wasn't my primary concern. Aspects of the movie seemed to get incredibly dark for younger viewers. The end of the world is a pretty heavy concept. And the father/son dynamic concerning the villain is very hard edged in emotional context. Sometimes bigger isn't better, and the larger the story became--the more disconnected I got from it.
To appeal to a wider audience, the original foreign language soundtrack has been replaced by names and voices as recognizable as Matthew Modine, Whoopi Goldberg, Wallace Shawn, and James Woods. I'm not sure, however, if this exactly adds to the experience. Woods, in particular, plays a character completely at odds with his voice (he's a Latin laborer, just the feeling that Woods' voice doesn't evoke). But that's a minor point. I think "Mia and the Migoo" had enormous potential, it just lost me somewhere on the way. I think my time would have been better spent rewatching a Miyazaki classic. About 3 1/2 stars, I'll be generous and round up--but that's mostly for the artwork. KGHarris, 8/12.
