The Secret World of Arrietty

Inspired by Mary Norton's beloved children's book, The Borrowers, Studio Ghibli's The Secret World of Arrietty has the heart of master animator Hayao Miyazaki, who's credited with the screenplay and "planning," but lacks his sense of whimsy. Arrietty (voiced with moxie by Disney kid Bridgit Mendler) is a teen whose conflicts are familiar—she yearns to strike out on her own, and has a crush on a boy (David Henrie) that her parents despise. What sets her coming-of-age tale apart is that she is a Borrower, a little person only four inches tall, and the boy who intrigues her is a full-sized human. Because of the inherent destructive nature of mankind's curiosity, her parents warn her to avoid him, but like any teen heroine worth her angst, Arrietty willfully ignores them, resulting in plenty of adventure. The premise works, and, as ever, the animation of Studio Ghibli is thoughtful and dazzling in its blend of deftly captured everyday elements and beautifully realized fantasy. Yet many of the characters are painfully underwritten, a problem that is compounded by the flat voice work of Henrie, Will Arnett, and Amy Poehler, whose natural charisma is wasted here. Ultimately, Arrietty is charming, but not truly exceptional.