Film Review - Ernest & Celestine (2014)

On DVD and Blu Ray - “Ernest & Celestine” - (2014) - This refreshingly simplistic, French-Belgian produced animated tale of the unlikely bond between an artistically-inclined mouse (voiced by Mackenzie Foy) and a destitute, street-musician bear (voiced by Forest Whitaker) is a fun, endearing and heartwarming throwback- delightfully hand-drawn and beautifully water-colored, it’s a welcomed diversion from the massively-budgeted, digitally-rendered releases dominating the silver screens.

Based on a series of children’s books from Belgian author and illustrator Gabrielle Vincent, expect a whimsical, charming and slightly-offbeat tale of the friendship, loyalty, and love between two diverse, hard-luck dreamers.   The narrative unfolds onscreen like the pages of a classic story-book, with a number of sincerely touching moments and a few strange, yet magical diversions strewn about.  Clocking in right at 80 minutes, I wish it had been a good 10-15 minutes longer.

Highly Recommended- smaller children will surely enjoy it, though it should prove worthwhile for anyone with an appreciation for an occasional sweet-natured fable.

9.0 out of 10

Director: Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner
Featuring the Vocal Talents of: Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy, Lauren Bacall, Paul Giamatti, William H. Macy, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman and Jeffrey Wright
Run-Time: 80 minutes
MPAA: Rated PG for some scary moments