I can’t believe it’s not Ghibli.
That was the thought process with this French film, which was very reminiscent of the movies released by the Japanese animation company, Studio Ghibli. Featuring a look that’s very anime-inspired, “Arco” is set in two futures. In the distant future, we meet the titular protagonist, Arco (EVA Juliano Krue Valdi), who comes from a family of time travelers.
They are common in his timeline, but he’s too young to join in the adventures. That is until he takes his sister’s suit and goes on a time journey to the past, reaching 2075. There, he meets a young girl, Iris (EVA Romy Fay). As Arco looks to go back to his own time, he also develops a friendship with Iris, and the two learn about each other’s timelines.
“Arco” is a film that presents several intriguing concepts to its audience, but never manages to fully make them come together for a satisfying whole, making for a mixed experience. The film contains themes of time passing, young love, environmentalism, the incorporation of technology in parenting and family bonds, all shown in some memorable scenes.
Yet the way these scenes come together, and build toward the movie’s conclusion, feels somewhat muddled. That’s not to say the film is incoherent, it’s more that the many plots developing in the picture never quite gel and achieve harmony for a complete viewing experience.
The film also feels a bit too short. It comes in at just an hour and 29 minutes. That’s usually fine for an animated flick, but this one was working with some more complex aspects. The insufficient runtime is made quite apparent in the film’s climax, with an ending that seems abrupt and not fleshed out enough.
It’s too bad because one can really appreciate the film’s emotional core. Arco and Iris develop a legitimately good, meaningful relationship. Young characters meeting and bonding like this can show a common humanity, as the two come together despite being from different backgrounds.
It’s something commonly featured in the aforementioned Studio Ghibli, with the likes of “Castle in the Sky,” “Ponyo” and “Arrietty,” and often resonate emotionally. It works here, too. What doesn’t work as well is the B plot about a group of conspiracy theorists who’ve been tracking the time traveler activities. It never really clicks with the larger story presented.
When it comes to the voices, they are pretty good. The cast for the two protagonists are young actors themselves, and they deserve praise for their pure portrayals. The film is also creative with its robot character, Mikki, with a dual, synced voice performance from both Mark Ruffalo and Natalie Portman. It gives the character an interesting dynamic, as it has to represent Iris’ mother and father while the parents are away for work.
On the animation front, the film is really beautiful for the most part. The use of color, especially during the time travel scenes, and the futuristic look of the two timelines, are brilliantly done. The only issue is with the faces of the characters. It’s sort of an odd mix between more exaggerated features and realistic facial drawings. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it looks a bit off in some scenes.
“Arco” is a unique and original animated entry, which is welcome, but it also feels like the movie didn’t quite realize its potential. The two lead characters are great, their connection is compelling, and the movie’s subtext is thought-provoking. One just wishes the film around them was better as a whole. 3.25 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 