The Tale of Despereaux
In a year where every studio seems to have hit some stride in the world of computer animation, probably one of the more satisfying entries is also one of the most low-key. Based on the popular children’s novels by Kate DiCamillo, “The Tale of Despereaux” doesn’t overload its’ tale with groundbreaking visuals, but tells its’ story simply, with elegant character animation and backgrounds that feel very classically drawn. In a lesser year, this would have a legitimate shot at the Best Animation Feature Oscar. In the year of “Wall-E,” though, everything else is going for second-best.
Our story starts with a narrator (Sigourney Weaver) setting the stage, telling us that our story is about a brave little mouse. But before we get to that, we are introduced to a rat named Roscuro (voiced by Dustin Hoffman), whose been sailing on the high seas and has a soul unlike any other rat (although Pixar fans will find a parallel with “Ratatouille’s” Remy). He and the crew he’s sailing with stop in at a port city where the big event each year is the unveiling of a new soup by the master chef Andre (Kevin Kline). Unfortunately, Roscuro’s curiosity gets the best of him, and by the end of the day, the King’s wife is dead of fright, soup is forever banned, as are rats, who are led deep underground, where Roscuro finds himself surrounded by rats unlike himself.
But our story is about a mouse. Little Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) is born a little different from the other mice. Even by their standards, he’s tiny, except for his ears, which will remind one of Dumbo’s in their inordinate size to his head. But that’s not the only peculiarity about Despereaux. He has the heart and soul of a knight- he doesn’t cower like the other mice. He looks at a kitchen knife and sees a type of sword. He springs traps for the cheese, and makes it out alive. And when it comes to humans- well, at least the melancholy Princess Pea (“Harry Potter’s” Emma Watson)- he’s not afraid to strike up some conversation. His parents are worried, his teachers and the mouse elders are afraid that he’ll bring ruin to Mouse World. But if children’s films have taught us anything over the years, it’s that underdogs always have a knack of saving the day in the end.
With a script by Gary Ross (“Seabiscuit,” “Pleasantville”)- working from the screen story by Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi, “Despereaux” is aimed solely at the kiddies- there’s not a lot for the adults in this movie- but that’s part of its’ charm. No Dreamworks hipness. No Disney sing-a-longs. But there is a lot to bring to mind Pixar- namely in the story of two misfits who stand out in their respective crowds and are capable of greater things than they’re given credit for on the surface. And it’s heart. The film may not be the most entertaining for grownups, but it’s a story that brings out the kid in all of us. And it’s beautifully animated- don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. True, it lacks the animated pop of most offerings these days, but there’s a classical feel that feels right at home in today’s animation climate, and makes it stand out. Instead of trying to beat the masters at Pixar and Dreamworks at their own game, directors Sam Fell and Robert Stevenhagen aim to stand out in the crowd by harkening back to the soft images and painterly detail of the old days. Anyone who decides to go with them on this adventure will find themselves rewarded with a delightful visual treat.
