(Mia et le Migou, 2008) Jacques-Rémy Girerd’s “Mia and the Migou” has bright, spritely passages in its reported 500,000 hand-drawn frames, but the storytelling seems unsure whether its fabulizing is for kids or grownups. The search for and protection of a Tree of Life (see also: “Avatar,” “Charisma,” “Flipped,” “Tree of Life”) guarded by the monstrous Migoo (Wallace Shawn). The character work is distinctive and often gorgeous, the story a didactic drag about eco-responsibility and global warming. The magic of Hayao Miyazaki’s great embraces of the planet isn’t in evidence. Still, the handcrafted look appeals enough to recommend the film. Other American voice talent includes Matthew Modine, Whoopi Goldberg, John DiMaggio and James Woods; Modine is one of the producers of the English-language version. 90m. (Ray Pride)
“Mia and the Migou” opens Friday at Siskel. The U. S. trailer is embedded below.
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
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