Bookworm

Very unusual movie with Elijah Wood (Hobbit) as a very bad magician father hoping to redeem himself to his estranged daughter while her mother is recovering in the hospital from an electrical shock accident. Nell Fisher (Mildred) is obsessed with proving a unique panther is roaming around the jungles and hopes to win 50000 dollars for proof of its existence. So the two of them, father and daughter go out on a journey to get a video of the elusive creature. The dialog is a bit strange, and Strawn Wise the father (Wood) is not to good at anything especially bravery. So it's kind of an offbeat redemption story of sorts. Nothing questionable, no nudity or violence, some rather stupid parts , but all in all it's an "ok" story and film. More for younger kids so don't expect much for adults. Enjoy.

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 really wanted to like this, but nothing in this movie fits quite right. The child actress tries so hard, but her acting feels forced. The quirkiness of the whole premise doesn't resonate with the audience, unfortunately.

If they had incorporated more elements related to the title-like her being an actual bookworm-it might have created some meaningful connections and depth. Sadly, there's nothing here to tie the title to the story in any real way.

I'm not sure what the budget was, but it seems like most of it went into the panther CGI. Elijah is, well, Elijah-but even his performance doesn't add much value to the production. None of the characters are particularly likable or funny enough to carry the film. Overall, it's a disappointing watch.

Much of what kept me watching this film was seeing Elijah Wood, carrying a backpack, tramping about the glorious scenery of New Zealand once more. It was not so long ago when he played a hobbit... I agree with reviewers that this film falls apart half way through, and the ending feels horribly forced. The acting is competent as are the technical elements, but the characters are caricatures and I found myself not really caring about them. There's a bit of unnecessary dialog at the end that's totally inappropriate for young viewers. Starts off with some good ideas but, like the trek in the film, completely loses its way.

Elijah Wood was pretty good with the script he was given. The premise was good, a father/ daughter getting to know each other. The girls script was superficial and lacked depth. Not relatable at all. The sub plot with the was odd at best with the couple.

What I mostly couldn't get over was the multi-day hiking was the tent, the gear, the food, the size of the packs etc. There is no way they could carry that stuff with the bags they had. I know I should've got over it. But they were wearing denim? In the outdoors? Shocking.

The music and sound choices were very budget and lacked imagination. I'm guessing the director went online and downloaded all the free ones.