The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse

[Ihaveawonderfulpartner]

Sublime. From beginning to end. Absolutely sublime. Joyous.

I enjoyed it. It was gentle, easy watching.

I've been following Charlie Mackesy on Facebook for a while and actually, through some very difficult lockdown times, a lot of the quotes were really very helpful.

If people aren't familiar with the pictures and quotes, then I can see why they might not know what to expect. For me, it was exactly as I hoped it would be.

Exactly what I assumed it was about too. He’s in some sort of limbo or dying and they’re all there to guide him “home” to life but he stays with them instead.

unMumsnetty hug to you @ohmygoditshappening . I'm so sorry for your losses. That must be so so painful.

They are pushing it hard as a children’s cartoon. It’s been the default trailer for everything my DC have watched on CBeebies iPlayer.

Unpopular opinion, but I thought it was very average. Slightly below average if I'm being honest. Wouldn't care if I never saw it again. DH thought the same. Took 10 minutes to pick up, and then it barely did pick up. Very mawkish, overly sentimental, quite boring, and a bit naff.

4/10.

Really wanted to like it, did enjoy the animation and the grey stillness of it, but the dialogue was all a bit 'self help' (I have 'read' the book). As a family watch at tea time on Christmas Day, I'm not sure it worked.

That’s not an especially unpopular opinion on this thread!

I read the first few posts and they seemed to be praising it, but also many people on Twitter are too. I thought it was very 'meh...' Glad I am not the only one! Didn't realise quite a few people on this thread disliked it. That will teach me to commit the cardinal sin of not reading the full thread!

I came on here looking for an explanation too. I hadn’t read the book so watched for the first time. I thought the horse was going to fly them up to heaven which would be them going ‘home’ but then that was wrong. I worried about him falling off the flying horse when he let go (didn’t he learn from earlier)? And at the end I worried about who will look after him as if he’s not dead already he will be soon out in the cold with no food or shelter.

You aren’t a thicko. It was barely poorly written. Really good writing makes you feel clever and like you got there all by yourself.

It didn’t do it for me and neither did the book.. the animation was sublime though

I haven't read the book. We watched it for the lovely animation and music.

The trite aphorisms were cloying and annoying. I 'got it' but it was hard not too when you are being force fed all that sanctimonious worthiness.

*to

Yeah, I asked my daughter (5) if she liked it. "I didn't like it because we didn't get to find out if he eventually went to the house or not".

Personally I thought it was dull and full of mawkish non-sequiturs and no plot.

It was mawkish and cheesy. Lost me when the mole asked the boy what he wanted to be when he grew up and the boy replied “kind” - toe curlingly cringe, followed by several more meaningless self-help aphorisms shoe-horned in to the weak conversation between the boy (who desperately needs a haircut) and his imaginary animal companions. Animation was lovely so maybe I would re watch on mute 😂

the boy replied “kind”

I can only imagine the change in attitude if it had been a girl saying this ....

Really disappointed with it.
The animation was beautiful but the writing and “message” was gut wrenchingly trite.

I thought it was wonderful, and my DC really enjoyed it too. It’s exactly the same as the book, which we have. My DD started reading it straight after watching.

I liked the animation and drawings except moles legs and feet. I thought it was trying to cover too many themes so came across as a cringe fest. I also wondered about being in the cold and wet with no coat etc.

God, I loved it. Bawled my eyes out. I thought it was simply stunning.

My 13 year old DD wasn’t as impressed. It made her cringe.

At the end of the Jungle Book (the Disney version anyway) the animals let Mowgli g to the village even though they will miss because they're wise enough to understand that they can survive in a jungle but he can't.

If the animals in this are supposed to be the boy's own thoughts/feelings then he's a total idiot because the last thing he needed after wandering through the snow in wet clothes for hours is another night outside.

That he decided "home" was sitting outside on his own/with his thoughts then it seemed to go against the earlier message that it's ok to need help?

He needed a Bagheera to tell him to stop being silly and to go inside and get warm!

As much as this wasn't for me, I don't understand the comments dunking on the lad's hair. There's nothing wrong with longer hair on a boy.

I watched it and thought the drawings and music are absolutely beautiful but the story would only suit people with mental health issues.

It's lame for other people but we can try to ignore the story and just enjoy the drawings and music, like many escapist programs. The occassional quotes are good feeling too.

So glad I found this thread after only reading rave reviews elsewhere. DS, DH and I just watched it and after 5 minutes we started playing ‘Inspirational quote bingo’. Whatever happened to showing rather than telling? ( On the positive side, it did lead to a funny half an hour afterwards where we attempted to continue the tone while tidying the house for the night)
‘The Christmas tree lights are switched off, but they’re still alight in my heart’
’I am loading the dishwasher with the burdens of the day and in the morning they will be washed clean’
‘ Although I shut the kitchen door, the door in my soul is always open to you’

Raymond Briggs Father Christmas was a staple in this house for many years. Great fun.