Ballerina 720p - (2016 Lang: English)

Familiar but charming, definitely worth a watch!

Being a lifelong fan of animation and ballet, 'Ballerina' seemed very appealing to me. Plus who doesn't love an underdog/person who wants to succeed at something they love against adversity story.

While not up there with my favourite animated films, or one of my favourite films of 2016, 'Ballerina' is nonetheless charming with a lot of delights. It will delight the younger crowd, but fellow ballet fans will also be charmed and there should be enough for adults to find value. 'Ballerina' is much more than a film for "little girls" or "just for kids" and does a good job telling a type of story that would be relatable to anybody.

Coming from somebody who overcame disabilities and bullying and wanted to sing professionally and get training and experience, it took a long time but I got there and have not looked back, 'Ballerina' clicked with me.

Of course 'Ballerina' isn't immune to flaws. The story is very familiar and does get predictable, while the characters are very likable but slightly skim-surface archetypes. However, this may seem very nit-picky and can easily be ignored by people and only problems for the toughest of critics.

Aside from these, there were also reservations with some of the soundtrack and one voice cast member. The music is often beautiful and infectious, with some genuine enchantment, but could have done with more classical music choices and less pop. A good deal of the pop tunes are very catchy, but more Tchaikovsky would have suited the film better and been more dynamic and a few others grate. Dane DeHaan doesn't sound right as Victor and doesn't fit, sounding too mature for a character clearly intended to be much younger, either he should have tried to sound younger and more boyish or the character should have been voiced by somebody in his late-teens.

However, the animation is very good, often excellent, especially in the beautifully studied and meticulous background details and the intricate and graceful choreography that synchronises with the music very well and shows animators that have clearly done their homework. As said, the soundtrack does mostly work, while the script makes a real attempt to appeal to both children and adults (being a family film) and, with a nice mix of humour, pathos and life values and never being over-complicated or childish, it does succeed.

The story, even with the familiarity and predictability, goes at a neat pace and as well as having a lot of charm and heart the messaging never comes over as preachy and very much valuable. It is also easy to see why anybody would find it inspiring and easy to relate to, as a young adult both were very easy for me. Even though archetypal, the characters are still likable, the title character has her flaws but it is easy to quickly warm to her. The voice acting, DeHaan aside, is strong, with Elle Fanning and Carly Rae Jensen bringing emotion and spirit to their characters and Maddie Ziegler stealing the show.

Ballerina is a 2016 English-language Canadian-French 3D computer-animated musical adventure comedy film co-directed by Éric Summer and Éric Warin. The screenplay, by Summer, Carol Noble and Laurent Zeitoun, with music by Klaus Badelt, concerns a poor orphan girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina and gets a chance to audition for the celebrated school of the Paris Opera Ballet.

The film stars the voices of Elle Fanning, Dane DeHaan, Maddie Ziegler and Carly Rae Jepsen. It was released in theatres in France and the UK in December 2016. The film is set to be released in the US on August 30, 2017, under the title Leap!, with Nat Wolff replacing DeHaan, and Kate McKinnon and Mel Brooks added.

In the 1880s, Félicie (Elle Fanning), a poor orphan girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina, but lacks any formal training, runs away from her orphanage in rural Brittany and goes to beautiful Paris accompanied by her friend, a young inventor, Victor (Dane DeHaan), but they soon become separated, as Victor becomes an office boy in Gustave Eiffel's workshop. Félicie gets a chance to audition for the celebrated school of the Paris Opera Ballet by briefly assuming the identity of the ruthless, snobby and bratty Camille Le Haut (Maddie Ziegler). Penniless, and without any formal dance experience, 11-year-old Félicie finds her training, and making friends at the ballet school among her fellow-students, to be very difficult. She finds a mentor: a mysterious cleaning woman with a limp, Odette (Carly Rae Jepsen), who turns out to be a former prima ballerina. With no technique but great determination, and the help of Odette and Victor, Félicie faces many failures and challenges. Merante (Terrence Scammell), the school's exacting choreographer, dismisses the worst dancer in each class, so the pressure is great for Félicie to improve quickly to avoid elimination and claim the role of Clara in The Nutcracker. She has the courage to follow her passion and works hard to turn her dreams into reality.

Two French orphans escape to 19th century Paris. One dreams of being a famous Ballet performer. The other dreams of being an inventor.

Obviously, the heroine becomes a true hero, with the help of the inventor. This is great children's movie, also very enjoyable for a father. In 3D it is more exciting to watch than Rogue One in IMAX.

The setting in the 19th century Paris is excellent. Gustav Eiffel lived then and there, need I say more?

The French movie is really the best Christmas holiday feel-good movie, that you need to end 2016. Still worthwhile watching 2017 onward, though.

Superb Dream Big family movie!