Arthur and the Invisibles (PG, 2007)

Ten year-old Arthur (Freddie Highmore) lives on a farm with his grandmother (Mia Farrow). Granny likes to tell stories about Arthur's grandfather, Archibald (Ron Crawford), who's lost in Africa, and she also worries that she'll lose their home to land developers. Arthur decides to help by following grandfather's clues, which supposedly lead to buried treasure. On his quest, Masai warriors shrink him to the size of the elves -- called Minimoys -- who live beneath Granny's lawn. He meets Minimoys princess, Selenia (voiced by Madonna). The malevolent Maltazard (David Bowie), wants to enslave the Minimoys, so Selenia's father (Robert De Niro) sends her, Arthur, and Selenia's brother Bétamèche (Jimmy Fallon), to find the treasure, in hopes that it will pay off the villains.

Frenzied and disconnected, ARTHUR AND THE INVISIBLES (originally released in France as Arthur et les Minimoys) follows a human boy whose adventures lead him into a community of teeny-weeny, elf-like creatures.

The plot -- based on a series of children's books by director Luc Besson -- proceeds in a tizzy, cutting between above-ground scenes and below-ground scenes, though never quite establishing thematic or emotional links between the two realms.

Meanwhile, Bétamèche chatters on about nonsense and Highmore -- so charismatic as a live-action actor -- is here turned into a strangely punky figure with spiky white hair. Also distracting: the lackluster animation and the fact that the Masai seemingly come out of nowhere, simultaneously emblems of "mysterious Africa" and their own lack of context.

Studio: Weinstein Co.
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Madonna, Mia Farrow
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release: January 12, 2007
DVD release: May 15, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: fantasy action and brief suggestive material.