Hugo [U]

Surely, Hugo is what the term 'eye candy' was invented for. Nearly every scene has stunningly, heart stopping visual imagery, whether it is the busy landscape of a 1930's Paris or the busy station which is the home of our eponymous hero.

Your faithful reviewer does not minimize the impact of 3D in a film like this. I must say, that although not exactly within the target demographic, I thoroughly enjoy every second of the spectacle and felt the visual centres of my brain heartily nourished for many months to come.

Having gushed about the visuals however, I am still somewhat dissatisfied with the depth of the story. There are excellent performances from Asa Butterfield, right through to Sacha Baron Cohen's wonderful guard, complete with scary dog. But the peripheral characters are just that, a little too peripheral.

With that, and the sudden right turn that the film makes half way through, it leaves one wondering how this would have fared in the hands of a more experienced director.

A couple of laugh out loud moments and a suitably wonderful ending make this a slightly slow, but still very satisfying cinema experience.

Whois Lane (Unverified), 15/12/11

---