THE BORROWERS
UK/US, 1997, 89 minutes, Colour.
John Goodman, Mark Williams, Jim Broadbent, Celia Imre, Flora Newbigin, Tom Felton, Bradley Pierce, Raymond Pickard, Hugh Laurie, Ruby Wax.
Directed by Peter Hewitt.
For some moments this seemed to be an icky American family movie, but then the Borrowers, led by Jim Broadbent, turned up and the film took off on an intriguing and entertaining life of its own.
The Borrowers are little people (with English accents) who live in houses and 'borrow' what they need for living. But horrible John Goodman (in an excellent villain turn as a lawyer ousting a family - and the Borrowers - from their house) and an assorted array of eccentrics (pest-control Mark Williams, Hugh Laurie as a policeman, Ruby Wax as a receptionist) keep the pace rolling.
Plenty of action and comedy, and a fantasy urban backdrop all contribute to enjoyable family fare.
1. A popular story? The variety of film and television versions? The original novel? The various films and adaptations and changes in the plot?
2. The setting, more than a touch British, more than a touch American? The visuals, the design, the vistas? A fantasy city? The details of the houses? The streets? The musical score?
3. The international cast? The blend of American and British? The Borrowers as British?
4. The couple, their house, having to move, packing up? The personalities of the parents? Pete, his age, noticing things missing, his parents eventually agreeing?
5. The borrowers, their size, mini-humans? Living in the house, not knowing any other Borrowers? Taking things, “borrowing�? The little hooks, the strings to get down, their activities? Pod Clock, the father, his manner, benign, love for his wife, Homily, harassing on him? The children, Arrieta and her age, adventuresome? P Green, younger, getting into trouble? They’re being seen by Pete?
6. The move, Pete and his finding the Borrowers, explaining the situation, their fears, his arranging the move? The container, in the back of the van? Just getting out of the drive, the children falling out into the street? The panic of the parents? P Green and his falling in the dog poo, the wheel going over? Arriettey rescuing him?
7. The right of the house, Pete discovering the truth, putting the parents in the container, cycling back to the house?
8. Potter, John Goodman’s presence, the lawyer, wanting the house, trying to destroy the will after finding it in the safe, unable to set it alight? Arriettey and Peagreen and their return? Seeing Potter, taking the will and hiding it? His plan, the stethoscope, listening into the wall, trying to catch them? Inviting the exterminator? His techniques, the phone in the wall, on Potter’s face, the mask, pulling it off and his red face? The exterminator and is trying to help? The tools?
9. Arriettey and Peagreen, being pursued, the dangers in the house from Potter? The getting out? Riding in the cable car vehicle? Spiller turning up, their learning that there were other Borrowers? His helping? The reunion of all the borrowers?
10. Potter, taking them all, sticking them to the page? Spiller and his escape?
11. Pete, the exterminator, his changing sides?
12. The recovery of the will, Potter being tied up, defeated? The new house, meeting all the new Borrowers and a happy future?
