THE BORROWERS - TV Film Review 16/4/06

It's Easter Sunday and the BBC need to stick a film on for family afternoon entertainment - What do they choose? They put on "The Borrowers" based on the book's by Mary Norton who also happened to have written "Bed-knob And Broomstick" which Disney turned into "Bedknobs & Broomsticks" and also featured another make-believe England as viewed from people across the water. "The Borrowers" is a perfect example of good old fashion charm in a fantasy England setting that has never existed in reality in a world of make-believe that come's over like an early Heath Robinson version of Wallace & Gromit. Totally bizarre it features a good cast with John Goodman in the lead ably supported by Mark Williams (The Fast Show) and now better known as Arthur Weasley from the Harry Potter Films. Also making an early appearance before going onto fame again in Harry Potter is a very young Tom Felton. Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge) and Celia Imrie (Nanny McPhee) both excellent character actors with long-distinguished careers are the Pods and also popping in for a cameo is Ruby Wax with a side order of Hugh Laurie currently big in the States in the TV Series "House, M.D." Similiar to "Stuart Little" and "Mousehunt" in style it's a piece all of it's own. Goodman play's an odious Lawyer ripping off the Lender family for their inheritance and the Pods (The Borrowers) help them fight off his evil scheme. Plenty of slapstick fun and comedy in a warm-hearted tale that will bring back any adult's childhood memories, in fact a perfect family film for Easter day!

Whilst watching this I couldn't help but be reminded of the old 50's sci-fi film "The Incredible Shrinking Man" for some reason? "The Borrowers" is available on DVD on Region 2 (UK) (Cover as above) but only as a Vanilla disc and also on Region 1 (USA) (Cover as below) but the US Version has a small featurette, cast & crew bios, production notes and a trailer.