The Borrowers (1997): Dir: Peter Hewitt / Cast: John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, Bradley Pierce, Mark Williams, Hugh Laurie: Recycled story (The Indian in the Cupboard, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) about little people who live beneath the floor boards of a house. They do not steal but borrow (hence the title). The plot is a series of cat and mouse games where the villain attempts to vanquish them so that he may take possession of a will that was left at the house. He wishes to destroy the house and build apartment buildings in its place but he must burn the will that states ownership of the family living there. Thrilling visual effects include being showered with ice cubes, encountering pigeons, and being trapped in a milk bottle. Unfortunately the film is pure crap that borrows from other films of its kind. Formula story directed by Peter Hewitt whose terrible Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey actually looks good in comparison to this. John Goodman as the villain plays off the slapstick well but the role is cardboard. Jim Broadbent plays the head borrower. Bradley Pierce plays the boy who befriends them so that's pretty much straight forward. Mark Williams plays an exterminator in what is pretty standard for a film such as this. Hugh Laurie plays an idiot cop who should have arrested the people who suggested this film get made. Entertaining visuals within a rather dull story that steals from everything. Score: 2 / 10
Review of The Borrowers
