The film mixes good old-fashioned storytelling with state-of-the-art animation, and it's a winning combination.

~ Gary Duncan -

The film mixes good old-fashioned storytelling with state-of-the-art animation, and it's a winning combination.

~ Gary Duncan -

This is an uneven directorial debut - but not an unaccomplished one.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This is an uneven directorial debut - but not an unaccomplished one.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Trey Parker (director, producer, writer and voice of half a dozen characters) does not simply debunk institutional humbug, he twists its pigtail and stomps on its rhetoric.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Trey Parker (director, producer, writer and voice of half a dozen characters) does not simply debunk institutional humbug, he twists its pigtail and stomps on its rhetoric.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

This is romance the way grandma remembers it.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

This is romance the way grandma remembers it.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

In this way, Miyazaki avoids any simplistic 'message', preferring to present a more complicated dialectic on the environmental difficulties that continue to 'curse' us to this day.

~ Anton Bitel -

In this way, Miyazaki avoids any simplistic 'message', preferring to present a more complicated dialectic on the environmental difficulties that continue to 'curse' us to this day.

~ Anton Bitel -

A considerably flawed, yet visually superb, tale of beauty, beast and love.

~ Josh Morrall -

A considerably flawed, yet visually superb, tale of beauty, beast and love.

~ Josh Morrall -

This is ‘day from hell’ territory, but none of the comedy rises to the occasion.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This is ‘day from hell’ territory, but none of the comedy rises to the occasion.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Despite the good dialogue the script is lacking depth.

~ Donald Munro -

Despite the good dialogue the script is lacking depth.

~ Donald Munro -

Only Firth's performance gives it air. The plot lacks surprise and the humour has been planted in advance.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

A story this damp should be squeezed before use.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

A story this damp should be squeezed before use.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Minnie Driver has the best time. She is a positive performer, who loves to act.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Minnie Driver has the best time. She is a positive performer, who loves to act.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The end product might not feature too many surprises, but the dialogue is occasionally dazzling and leads to many poignant moments.

~ Stephen Carty -

The end product might not feature too many surprises, but the dialogue is occasionally dazzling and leads to many poignant moments.

~ Stephen Carty -

We shouldn’t feel so obviously manipulated and steered away from everything else towards the leads’ performances.

~ Paul Griffiths -

We shouldn’t feel so obviously manipulated and steered away from everything else towards the leads’ performances.

~ Paul Griffiths -

This is hardly a bastion of accuracy, but it does cover its ground well.

~ Andrew Robertson -

This is hardly a bastion of accuracy, but it does cover its ground well.

~ Andrew Robertson -

More often than not, when emotion is called for, Michael Konyves lays on the scripting far too thick.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

More often than not, when emotion is called for, Michael Konyves lays on the scripting far too thick.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The performances are rapier sharp

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The performances are rapier sharp

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -