REVIEW: Butterfield makes ‘Hugo’ a heartwarmer
Are you looking for a movie with a complex plot that is witty, original and cunningly intriguing? You have come to the right place. “Hugo” is the flick for you.
This movie is based around a boy that is around 10 years of age who lives in a clock at a train station in Paris.
Before he was plunged into this new life as a clock-fixer-upper kid, he lived with his dad, a clock-fixer-upper man. Hugo’s dad, played just briefly by the oh-so-ruggedly handsome Jude Law, also worked in a museum, which then caught on fire.
The drunkard-of-an uncle took Hugo in and taught him to run the clocks in the station. However, there is one thing that was left behind for Hugo to take care of and fix. It is his prize possession, his reason for living and only real friend. It is called an automaton — a large wind-up toy that can write and draw pictures.
This movie walks Hugo through his journey fixing this automaton, stealing to eat, ditching the station security guard and orphanage, solving a mystery of a grumpy old toy maker of the station and meeting Isabelle. Like I said before, complex but good.
For a cast that I hardly recognize, they were not too shabby. I think the only big name in the film was Mr. Law, and he didn’t get much screen time. I have never seen Hugo (Asa Butterfield) before, except for in “Nanny McPhee Returns.”
He did an impeccably fine job for a young actor. The times that really got me were when he was not quite smiling and not quite crying. He mastered that look in the eye of truly becoming the character. I could empathize for him because he seemed to have really felt like a young boy that just recently lost his father.
Chloë Grace Moretz, who plays the charming Isabelle, also delivered her role impressively. It wasn’t like I couldn’t take my eyes off her, like Asa’s character, but there wasn’t much to complain about.
Isabelle is the one other friend that Hugo finds. She is intrigued by his sense of mystery and adventure. She wants to help him and has fun in a creative way to do so. Isabelle is known for her large vocabulary, attributed to all the books she reads, due to the fact that she is prohibited to watch movies.
For someone who was born in Atlanta, Chloë had a decent British accent. The only problem with that is the plot is set in France and only a few characters had French accents.
These include the flower lady Lisette, the station inspector who is not that pertinent to the story. The inspector is played by “Borat’s” Sacha Baron Cohen. He is a conflicted, young veteran with a wounded leg and orphan who seeks Hugo out to put him in the orphanage.
Cohen acted the part fairly. He was one of the comedic reliefs “Hugo” had to offer. He was not trying to be humorous but the things he said were outlandish and interesting.
The inspector was probably the quirkiest of the characters but the other supporting actors and extras had their moments, too. The film in its entirety was fun. Not to mention there wasn’t anything inappropriate for children.
“Hugo” is imaginative, original, insightful and heartwarming. It is easy to fall in love with such an adorable story and hero.
— Anike Pullens is a senior majoring in public relations and minoring in theatre and speech. Her reviews run every other Friday. She enjoys movies any day of the week, of any genre. She can be contacted at anike.pullens@aggiemail.usu.edu