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While charming (and retro-French), The Triplets of Belleville is a gaudy display of human exaggeration and a one-hit wonder with nary a word said. An elderly woman tries to save her orphaned cyclist grandson (plucked off the Tour de France by the French mafia), with the aid of her dog and the frog-munching Triplets of Belleville, singers from the 1930s. We catch a glimpse of a bizarre past, featuring the Triplets in their heyday while a nude African dancer is attacked by midget-husband monkeys, but thankfully it was only retrospect on a TV set. A connection is immediately created for Champion, where no gift or puppy can console him from his parent's death until he is offered a tricycle, but the story loses its emotive quality the moment the Tour de France begins. I said "human exaggeration" since most of the characters are disproportionate, fat, or neurotic, including cyclist's muscles that are five times their normal size, mafia/dwarf bosses (and their hulking square minions), and larger-than-large eyes buckteeth! The makers inserted a subtle statement about America with an obese Statue of Liberty, to humorous effect, as was the use of granny gadgets to subdue an army of Citroen-driving henchmen. The animation is worthy, and the CGI pedals in sequence, helping it land a 2003 nomination for Best Animated Film. That and the score are among the few saving graces that make Sylvain Chomet's debut film an applauding experiment, but a forgettable exercise.
Comments (16)
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Diaigma
@moviegeek - that would make for a quad-annual review competition, right? I like the sound of that. Genius, sir!
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Dan
@moviegeek Good idea, sir.
2 years agoby @dan1Flag
moviegeek
@diaigma I'm proud of that, but I know it will do noting but hurt me this time around.
We should make these contests come each season. This can be the Spring one. In July/August do a summer one, etc.
2 years agoby @moviegeekFlag
Diaigma
@skywise - the ending was a surprising choke-up fest. For me, anyway. It really hit home for me. Review to come.
@moviegeek - we'll see, Mr. First Time Winner :P
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@moviegeek@skywise dun forget to input mine :)
2 years agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
skywise
@diaigma you know i almost rented that at a red box a few hours ago. I'll have to check it out.
2 years agoby @skywiseFlag
moviegeek
winner winner chicken dinner.
I don't even know what that means, but it was my way of saying you discouraged me even attempting to enter this contest :P
2 years agoby @moviegeekFlag
Diaigma
@skywise, @bawnian-dexeus - much appreciated! :)
I just watched Chomet's "The Illusionist." Much better film.
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@diaigma I like :)
2 years agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
skywise
@diaigma good one man. Guess i wont be seeing this one.
2 years agoby @skywiseFlag
Diaigma
@corey - thank you, my friend :)
@mattbierwagen - a film as bizarre and abstract as this one screams for crazy description. I just wrote like I normally do, just condensed is all that's different, but thank you :)
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Worth5Bucks
lol @diaigma this review makes me laugh. It looks like you want this title this year though
2 years agoby @mattbierwagenFlag
Corey W.
Looking good @diaigma. You might just be this year's winner so far...we'll see how the others go ;)
2 years agoby @coreyFlag
Diaigma
@dan1 - merci, good sir :)
@Zak-Lee-Ferguson - that remains a big mystery. You'll have to take that up with @movieweb, since I haven't the slightest.
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Zak Lee Ferguson
Love this film, very very good! Nice one paragraph review, bravo my good sir, but big question, when are you going to be official?
2 years agoby @Zak-Lee-FergusonFlag
Dan
@diaigma Excellent. Might be my early favorite so far.
2 years agoby @dan1Flag