Bookworm

When a little domestic incident with the toaster sees her mum in hospital, the young "Mildred" (Nell Fisher) finds she is to be looked after by her dad. Thing is, she hasn't seen him before - ever, and so the arrival of the enigmatically clad "Strawn Wise" (Elijah Wood) who makes his living as an illusionist, proves distinctly underwhelming to this rather cynical young girl. He is keen to please, though, so when she suggests they go camping to try and spot a legendary black panther that's been marauding the countryside he readily agrees. Backpacks and camera at the ready, off they go on a trek that sees their relationship rather predictably, but entertainingly, evolve. Along the way, there's some scoring that's distinctly Morricone, they encounter the menacingly leprechaun-esque "Arnold" (Michael Smiley) and his sidekick "Zo" (Morgana O'Reilly) and there's plenty of adventure as they seek evidence of this big black cat (and earn the $50,000 reward that proof of it's existence brings). There's a jolly chemistry here between Fisher and Wood, the writing gives her plenty of opportunity for some sardonic wit and there is also an enjoyably mischievous joy emanating from a Wood who's clearly enjoying himself back in a NZ devoid or "Orcs". The cinematography shows off the countryside well and the whole story has something of the Children's Film Foundation to it. It's nice too see the emphasis of a film focus more on the script and the characters for a change, and with precisely no CGI and loads of mushrooms, this is quite good fun. Just how, though, did her legs get under that great big tree in the first place?

NZ dramedy "Bookworm" (from director Ant Timpson & writer Toby Harvard) starts strong but collapses BADLY. When nerdy, arrogant 11yr old (note to film-makers: obnoxious kids are NOT charming) Nell Fisher's mum has an accident her biological magician dad Elijah Wood jets from the US to care for her - despite not having met her before (and only knowing her mum for two hours 12yrs prior). Even less plausibly they then head off to find a mythical panther in the remote wilderness... where even LESS plausibly they 'bond' (especially after meeting Michael Smiley & Vanessa Stacey). It's not funny, it's not poignant, it is a confused & messy turd - flush it far away.

One of those film oddities where, at the halfway point, you get an entirely different second movie. The first movie, which fills the first 50 minutes, is a genuinely interesting father-daughter roadtrip romp, with the daughter (Fisher) gettting the best lines: (dialog) "Am I still dreaming .. or did a 42 year old man really just wake up an 11 year old girl to tell her that he heard a creepy sound in the night?" Wood, late in his career, still has star power and the vibe between the two is solid. Then the tone changes and, much to the chagrin of the N. Z. Dept. Of Tourism, a friendly couple encountered while camping turns out to be anything but. The two halves of the film do not match, and the sour notes of the second half suck all the joy out of the first half. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Bookworm is an interesting take on a classic adventure. Full of humor, and surprising twists and turns, Bookworm is a quest with a magical touch that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Mildred (Nell Fisher) is an 11-year-old girl who has devoted her childhood to proving that the elusive Canterbury Panther exists in the mountains of New Zealand. When a household accident renders her mother (Morgana O'Rielly) incapable of going camping in search of the cat, she is pretty disappointed. However, when her illusionist father Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood) shows up for the first time in her life, she decides to head out anyway. What happens next? An expedition that not only has a classic adventure feel, but also shows that relationships can heal over time.

What I like best about this film is not the scenes, characters, or music; it is how the story is told. The way the action develops is different from most movies; it is broken up into chapters with each one adding depth to the plot. And, the plot isn't the best. It starts off fine, but changes midway during their adventure. While the twists and turns kept me wondering what would happen next, they also undermine the main idea of the quest, which is to find the panther. Humor plays a crucial role in the film. With Mildred being a rather to-the-point kid who doesn't have time for nonsense, her dad, Strawn, is the exact opposite. Trying to practice his magic tricks while Mildred is working hard to set up camp is one example. This movie originated from outside of the U. S. and does some very untypically Hollywood things such as when we are observing the conversations between the characters and suddenly the camera zooms out and focuses on a mushroom. It's an odd transition but it does help in rounding out the unusual take of a jungle adventure.

The film's message is that there is always a way to solve a problem. An example of this is how Mildred shows that she is always ready to put her bookworm brain to the test to achieve her goal. Be forewarned that there is some profanity in this film and a bit of blood, but nothing gruesome or gory.

I give Bookworm 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18. Bookworm swings into theaters on Oct 18, 2024. By Braedyn M., KIDS FIRST!

I love wilderness adventure films, but I hadn't gotten too much of an idea of the plot before I watched it. The child actor was fine but came off as annoying. I'm glad the dad character gave her some comeuppance. The strange couple and illusionist side of the story intrigued me whereas the father-daughter relationship failed to engage me. And I gotta say, whys everyone dissing on the couple? I genuinely thought they were quite funny. The directors did a good job at capturing typical married west coast-ers. Sometimes I felt like this movie was borderline copying Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Oh, and the panther, forgot about that. Yeah, that was more of a subplot in the movie. In the end, though, it was pretty heartfelt and some fine family entertainment.