Directors: Xavier Picard and Hanna Hemila
Starring: Russell Tovey, Nathaniel Parker, Tracey Ann Oberman, Stephanie Winiecki, Ruth Gibson
Running Time: 80 minutes
Rating: U
Moomins – you either had the pleasure to grow up with them as a kid or you were really freaked out by them. If you can’t remember what side you are on, you’ve now got the chance to remember with their new adventure Moomins On The Riviera.
If you’re not aware of our leads, they’re the central characters from a book series created by Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson. While it’s a welcome return of the Moomins to the big screen, it was not until the film started making waves at film festivals around the world until people started to sit up and take a bit more notice.
In this adventure the Moomins discover a washed up pirate ship and, alongside Little My and Snorkelmaiden, decide to take all of the hidden treasure on the ship and go to the South of France to live a life of glitz and glamour on the Riviera, but it does not go according to plan and hijinxs ensue. Featuring voice-overs from great British talent including Russell Tovey, Nathaniel Parker and Tracey Ann Oberman, The Moomins itch to live a lavish life soon gets taken over by their naivety, not really getting to grips with it. For instance Snorkmaiden finds herself falling for a stereotypical lothario, while Moomin discovers the hurt that can come with wealth.
From the storylines that occur within the film, it might not seem like a movie aimed at children, but Moomins On The Riviera aims to hit all generations, and while it works for the nostalgia value for the older audience, we are not too sure how the Pixar generation will get on with pastel coloured, dry humoured, hand drawn animation. But the main thing that Moomins has going for it is the fact that it is so faithful to its original material and if there’s one thing it will do, it’ll get the family sitting down together for an hour and twenty minutes.
Moomins On The Riveria is a slow paced but highly satisfying adaptation of a well-loved children’s comic. While the nostalgia value of the movie will be great for older movie goers, only time will tell whether its old fashioned approach can attract the new crowd. Maybe we could get a Where The Wild Things Are–stylee adaptation next? There is a thought…
Moomins on the Riveria is available to buy on DVD from 28 September. Pre-order here.
