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The inventor, common sense media reviewers.

Stop-motion da Vinci biopic has lots of information.

The Inventor Movie Poster: Da Vinci flies with wings with three men wearing Renaissance clothing look up at him

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Focuses on the imagination and inventions of Leona

Celebrates the power of ideas and imagination, as

Da Vinci uses his imagination and curiosity to cre

All characters are White Europeans. Da Vinci is in

Da Vinci's sketches of war machines move into acti

Educational Value

Focuses on the imagination and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. Depicts the creativity of the Renaissance period and the circumstances leading into it from the Middle Ages. Introduces the Ideal City concept, tying together science and nature. Historical references that aren't over explained but might motivate curious kids to learn more include the Italian Wars, the Field of Cloth of Gold, and the influence of religion in the monarchy during the era.

Positive Messages

Celebrates the power of ideas and imagination, as well as curiosity. Da Vinci searches for the meaning of life and arrives at an answer.

Positive Role Models

Da Vinci uses his imagination and curiosity to create war machines, timeless works of art, an ideal city design that pairs science and nature, and a flying contraption. He's depicted as an artist, scientist, anatomist, philosopher, engineer, and architect. Princess Margureite is an intelligent, pragmatic woman who's ahead of her time, ushering in a movement of progressive ideas through diplomacy. The French king isn't always portrayed positively, but he's open-minded to innovation and has a strong eye for art.

Diverse Representations

All characters are White Europeans. Da Vinci is in his 60s here, so the movie is recognizing seniors' ability to make significant contributions, even in the face of obstacles. Princess Marguerite is a well-educated, independent thinker who's shown to have the skills to lead and might have been a better ruler than her brother, had the era's social norms been more supportive of women. At the same time, she's shown as a hands-on mother; her four daughters are always in tow, and she shares her knowledge with them.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Da Vinci's sketches of war machines move into action, including a tank with guns and a scythed chariot that slices and chops attacking soldiers. The Reaper is depicted as an enormous, looming, hooded scary figure. Dead bodies are carried and lay on tables, with references that they'll be used for medical research. Comical fighting/wrestling between kings, with laughing afterward.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Inventor is an animated biopic that explores the final years of inventor/artist Leonardo da Vinci 's life. The business-savvy genius (voiced by Stephen Fry ) agrees to invent concepts for war machines for Pope Leo X ( Matt Berry ), and a sketch of a scythed chariot is imagined moving into action and chopping attackers in half (there's a tank with guns, too). But kids also see how da Vinci cleverly convinces the pope not to actually build the weapons. Death, illustrated as a somewhat scary, hooded executioner with an axe, looms over da Vinci on a few occasions. At one point, Death swings the weapon, leaving the artist collapsed on the floor to represent a stroke. And although no slicing or dicing is shown, quite a bit of attention is given to da Vinci's passion for stealing and dissecting cadavers in the interests of medical research. Historical figures and events have a presence, which may inspire some kids to learn more. One who's particularly highlighted as a hero is Princess Marguerite de Navarre ( Daisy Ridley ), who helps usher in the Renaissance by supporting da Vinci's creation of the Ideal City. The movie celebrates curiosity and the power of ideas and imagination, but the sheer amount of information in the movie (and the mix of different animation styles) may make it hard for younger viewers to fully engage. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Based on 1 parent review

I like their music

What's the story.

In THE INVENTOR, artist Leonardo da Vinci (voiced by Stephen Fry ) is entrusted with creating weapons to keep Italy safe in times of war. But as his ideas begin to create friction with Pope Leo X ( Matt Berry ), da Vinci moves to the more welcoming French court, where he finds an intellectual ally in Princess Marguerite de Navarre ( Daisy Ridley ).

Is It Any Good?

This animated biopic tries hard to be simple but is really quite complex. With The Inventor , writer-director-animator Jim Capobianco offers a memorable animation style -- weaving together stop-motion puppets and hand-drawn animation -- but he jams in so much information that young viewers may be a bit overwhelmed. Da Vinci's genius is inspiring, and his contraptions and inventions are definitely the kind of stuff that's likely to spark kids' interest and imagination. But the geopolitical issues can be a bit hard to follow, such as why the pope is essentially a king.

And while kids often spark to "gross," "grisly" is a different matter -- so the film's emphasis on da Vinci stealing cadavers in the dead of night feels somewhat out of place. Tweens may understand that it's part of his pioneering work in identifying anatomical functions, but it could be too much for some kids. Da Vinci's goal of identifying "the whereabouts of the human soul" and the meaning of life is also quite lofty. As the screenwriter of Ratatouille , Capobianco succeeded in making an unbelievable scenario -- a rat becoming a master chef -- wondrous. But his take on the story of one of history's most impressive minds, told in a throwback mix of Rankin-Bass -like stop-motion animation and hand-drawn images, may ultimately appeal more to adults than kids. But The Inventor succeeds in showing how da Vinci's imagination fueled innovation on many fronts and in inspiring viewers to dream big.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about whether they consider The Inventor 's version of da Vinci a role model. How does he use curiosity and diplomacy to guide and fund his efforts? Why are these important life skills?

How is Princess Marguerite depicted? How does she demonstrate integrity and leadership from a position where she's expected to be subservient? Compare the attitudes toward women in the early 1600s versus now.

What is a polymath? What other current or historical figures demonstrate talents in a variety of areas? What are the pros and cons of putting your efforts into innovating in different areas versus focusing your energy in one field?

What do you know about the Renaissance? What makes it different from today? What does it mean when someone is called "a Renaissance man"?

If someone asked you what the meaning of life was, how would you answer?

Movie Details

In theaters : August 25, 2023
On DVD or streaming : January 30, 2024
Cast : Stephen Fry , Marion Cotillard , Daisy Ridley
Directors : Jim Capobianco , Pierre-Luc Granjon
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Blue Fox Entertainment
Genre : Family and Kids
Topics : Arts and Dance , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , History , Music and Sing-Along , Science and Nature
Character Strengths : Curiosity
Run time : 92 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : some thematic elements and nude art images
Last updated : May 31, 2024

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The Inventor Review: A Brilliantly Artistic Stop Motion Family Film

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The Inventor is a brilliantly artistic stop-motion and 2D animated film about the final years of Italian Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci. The legendary painter, sculptor, scientist, philosopher, architect, and astronomer found himself smack dab in the middle of heretical controversy. Leonardo argued that reason and the practical application of scientific methodology was the path to true enlightenment. His pursuit of forbidden knowledge, especially anatomical research and cadaver dissection, could have been a death sentence from the Catholic Church. In The Inventor , Leonardo leaves Italy for the court of King Francis I of France, but finds that royal vanity and arrogance continues to impede his research.

In 1516 Rome, Leonardo (Stephen Fry) marvels at the night sky as he stares through his new telescope. He shows loyal assistant Francesco Melzi (Angelino Sandri) incredible views of the lunar surface. Leonardo wonders if there could truly be a man in the Moon. He postulates that Galileo is probably right about the possibility of other Earth-like planets orbiting stars. Francesco warns him to be careful saying such things out loud. Pope Leo X (Matt Berry) has spies everywhere. Master and apprentice leave the roof to secretly explore Leonardo's favorite passion, performing autopsies to discover the source of man's undying soul.

Pope Leo's spies, depicted as snarling shadows, inform him of Leonardo's astronomical endeavors. He wants Leonardo to create weapons of war to stop King Francis (Gauthier Battoue) from conquering more cities in Italy. Leonardo, in a truly wonderful scene, shows the Pope how any weaponry he creates would eventually be copied by the enemy and used against them. He argues that a peace offering to King Francis will save lives and leads to a formidable alliance.

Leonardo's New Patron

Leonardo dazzles King Francis with a robotic lion. The gobsmacked monarch tells Leonardo that he's always welcome to serve in his court if Italy became undesirable. This invitation proves prophetic with the death of his patron, the Cardinal of Aragon (Jim Capobianco). Now Pope Leo was unfettered in middling with his affairs. Leonardo decides to accept King Francis' offer and travel to his castle the Château d'Amboise on the river Loire.

Related: Exclusive: The Inventor Filmmakers Talk da Vinci and the Importance of Curiosity

Leonardo quickly discovers that the narcissistic and pompous King Francis just wants to impress the other European royals. He's invited King Henry the VIII (Daniel Swan) of England and King Charles of Spain (Max Baumgarten) to a grand fête in his honor. It's a request that interrupts Leonardo's search for the soul, but he finds a valuable ally in the king's younger sister, the beautiful and intelligent Marguerite of Navarre (Daisy Ridley).

The Inventor looks amazing. Writer/co-director Jim Capobianco ( Ratatouille ) delivers eye-popping visual splendor by varying animated styles throughout the film. The primary action is stop-motion but Leonardo's imagination and theories are seen as exquisitely drawn cartoons. He also changes the size of certain characters to reflect their overbearing authority. For example, Pope Leo is gigantic in comparison to the smaller cardinals around him. They look like miniature puppets agreeing to his every whim. There's also a musical element where characters periodically break into song. This is thankfully limited and only done at certain points in the narrative.

The Inventor takes direct aim at religious oppression and classism. Capobianco paints the church and feudalism with a dirty brush. These institutions are portrayed as supremely selfish. They hold an iron grip of power through fear of death. People were literally being burned at the stake for harboring antithetical views. Leonardo is keenly aware of where his activities could lead. Scenes of the characters stealing dead bodies from gravediggers adds a true but macabre undercurrent. Marguerite, who uncovers Leonardo's secret, asks where they get the bodies. His honest reply is that the poor's corpses litter the streets. They have no problems finding unintended participants.

Related: The Inventor Cast and Character Guide

A Kindred Spirit

Capobianco does a great job of framing the characters station. Marguerite believes that nobility has a duty to enrich the lives of the common people. Leonardo has a grand dream of creating a city where humanity and nature exist in harmony. Marguerite ignores the wishes of her brother and formidable mother, Louise of Savoy (Marion Cotillard), to help Leonardo build his city. This contravenes King Francis who just wants a big statue of himself and to show off nifty gadgets. Marguerite is not respected for her intellect. Leonardo cautions her that "some people cannot see." She pays a price for having the audacity to be kind and thoughtful.

The Inventor does run out of steam in the third act. Capobianco wows you until the plot runs thin. The film builds toward King Francis' grand fête but sort of limps to the finish line. The climax isn't interesting, but that's not necessarily the script's fault. Capobianco doesn't want to stray too far away from historical accuracy . Leonardo, at the end of his life, had already achieved greatness and wasn't involved in anything too exciting. The lesson here is what he inspired for the ages, a tremendous contribution to art, science, and humanity's benevolence.

The Inventor is a production of Curiosity Studio, Foliascope, and Leo & King. It will be released theatrically on September 15th from Blue Fox Entertainment .

The Inventor (2023)

Based on the later life of famed inventor Leonardo da Vinci, The Inventor is an animated biographical adventure film by writer-director Jim Capobianco. The film loosely recounts Leonardo's journey into the heart of life by leaving his home in Italy to join the French court to continue his inventions together with the aid of Princess Marguerite de Nevarre.

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‘The Inventor’ Review: Leonardo da Vinci in the Limelight

This playful movie uses stop-motion and hand-drawn animation to pay homage to Leonardo as a thinker and tinkerer.

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In a stop-motion animated scene, two puppets stand side-by-side with their arms stretched out to their sides.

By Lisa Kennedy

More than once in “The Inventor,” an animated feature about Leonardo da Vinci, powerful patrons tell that Renaissance polymath to behave “like a good little artist.” This advice comes first from Pope Leo X (voiced by Matt Berry) and later from Louise of Savoy (Marion Cotillard), the devoted mother of King Francis I of France.

The notion of a great mind that is both beneficiary of and handmaid to the agendas of the powerful runs throughout this admirably artisanal appreciation of Leonardo’s intellect and innovative spirit, which follows him (Stephen Fry) as he leaves Rome to become King Francis’s maestro. The directors, Jim Capobianco (who also wrote the screenplay) and Pierre-Luc Granjon, keep the artist’s paintings secondary to his exploits as a thinker and tinkerer. Their engaging voice cast also includes Daisy Ridley as Leonardo’s royal champion, Marguerite de Navarre, and Gauthier Battoue as the king, who proves to be in dire need of an ego-stroking statue.

The filmmakers use stop-motion puppetry and hand-illustrated animation to capture Leonardo’s story. This brings to life his fears and fascinations, while drawing out both the wonder and the tribulations he experiences as he searches for the “answer to life itself,” while struggling to work under the command of the powerful. (Here, “The Inventor” shares a theme with a decidedly less child-friendly recent big-screen portrait, “Oppenheimer.” )

In honoring this beautiful mind, the plot’s forward motion lags at times. “The Inventor” is rife with somewhat didactic lessons — about power, innovation, curiosity — yet a presumably unintended one might be that lessons themselves, however insightful, are not always captivating.

The Inventor Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes. In theaters.

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

Movie Review – The Inventor (2023)

September 12, 2023 by Robert Kojder

The Inventor , 2023.

Directed by Jim Capobianco and Pierre-Luc Granjon. Featuring the voice talents of Stephen Fry, Daisy Ridley, Marion Cotillard, Matt Berry, Gauthier Battoue, Natalie Palamides, Ben Stranahan, Max Baumgarten, John Gilkey, Jane Osborn, Daniel Swan, Jim Capobianco, and Angelino Sandri.

Inventing flying contraptions, war machines, and studying cadavers, Leonardo da Vinci tackles the meaning of life itself with the help of French princess Marguerite de Nevarre.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, The Inventor wouldn’t exist.

A blending of stop-motion and 2D animation exploring the life, mind, and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci (voiced by Stephen Fry) shouldn’t feel this flat and overly educational. Unfortunately, that’s the kind of film director Jim Capobianco (with Pierre-Luc Granjon serving as co-director) has created with The Inventor . It’s an animated feature that is far too dry and slow-moving to hold the attention of younger viewers and far too didactic and simplistic to stimulate the minds of adults.

Some of this would be forgivable if the two animation styles elicited a sense of wonder and beauty, but it’s mostly uninteresting and static beyond featuring an admittedly pleasant color palette. Whether it’s using 2D animation to dive into the headspace of Leonardo da Vinci or songs to capture the themes present in the story, there’s nothing memorable or noteworthy here. As these animation styles are forgotten and deserve a comeback, The Inventor is also a reminder that good intentions and noble effort aren’t always enough to craft something special using those tools.

The narrative is primarily a crash course through some of Leonardo da Vinci’s most important days and discoveries, such as a scientific quest to unearth what exactly is a human soul, much to the chagrin of Pope Leo XI Voice (voiced by Matt Berry.) The Pope would rather have Leonardo da Vinci fostering peace between Italy and France, which he is successful doing while also coming into the services of The King of France (voiced by Gauthier Battoue), who initially offers creative freedom for his inventions, but really wants blueprints to a perfect city meant to honor his ego with oversized statues and more.

Disillusioned and feeling defeated that The King’s mother, Louise de Savoy (voiced by Marion Cotillard), supports this nonsense, Leonardo da Vinci does find a sliver of hope in Princess Marguerite (voiced by Daisy Ridley), who encourages his wishes to draft an ideal city first and foremost for the people. Meanwhile, asides offer insight into some of Leonardo da Vinci’s other inventions (such as mechanical animals and flying contraptions) and ponderings on the meaning of life and the purpose of a soul.

Far more intriguing is that the filmmakers are fairly comfortable punching down at the Pope while portraying leaders as greedy, power-hungry, bumbling fools with little to no intentions of doing what’s best for the people. Of course, this is done family-friendly, but it’s still there and shows that the filmmakers have their minds in the right place, even if they don’t necessarily know how to tell this story compellingly for any demographic.

This is all made worse by how wooden and disinterested the voice acting ensemble comes across, save for Stephen Fry, who makes a small emotional imprint during the film’s closing moments. The Inventor has endlessly fascinating material at its fingertips, destroying most of it rather than creating a magical animated feature. There is effort here in both animation styles, but the well-intentioned narrative lacks a soul, so Leonardo da Vinci should look for that elsewhere.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd , or email me at [email protected]

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The Inventor Review: An Innovative But Flawed Search For The Artist's Soul

Gorgeous animation
Fascinating depiction of Leonardo da Vinci
Vibrant voice actors
Meandering second act
Lacks appeal for younger audiences

Who better than Leonardo da Vinci to be the subject of a warm and inviting animated film about trying to find meaning in life? "The Inventor" explores the old age of the legendary artist and inventor as he becomes obsessed with his search for the human soul, blending traditional 2D animation with playful stop-motion reminiscent of 1960s holiday specials. It has an interesting concept but a very meandering narrative that makes it feel like it might have been better off as a tightly executed 30-minute short — even at just over 90 minutes long, "The Inventor" is creative but has a tendency to drag.

You don't need to be a genius to see it — Leonardo da Vinci's (Stephen Fry) talents are wasted in the papal court. With the despotic Pope Leo X (Matt Berry) effectively serving as his patron, his creative efforts are stymied. Rather than pursue inventions that might actually benefit humanity, he is prodded to create weapons for the Papal States to use against their enemies, his intellectual inclinations regarded with utmost suspicion by the pope. And all of this is to say nothing of his nighttime grave-robbing activities, when he secretly conducts autopsies to better understand how the human body works, a taboo and entirely forbidden practice in Renaissance Italy.

When da Vinci meets the young, energetic King Francis I of France (Gauthier Battoue) — a man delighted by his scientific experiments — he allows himself to dream of a life with Francis as his patron, where he would be encouraged to think and experiment and invent to his heart's desire. So naturally, when he is invited to journey to France, he delightedly accepts. But in doing so, has he merely traded one irrational and impulsive master for another?

The man, the artist, the inventor

"The Inventor" was clearly a labor of love for its creators, and its animation work is an immediate highlight of the film. The characters — especially the antagonistic ones, like Pope Leo X — are rendered with a delightful sense of humor that makes them engaging from their very first appearances. It blends two different animation styles perfectly, transitioning from crude stop-motion figures in the reality of da Vinci's day-to-day life to a more abstract 2D animation to reflect his imaginative musings as he contemplates the soul. Stephen Fry and Daisy Ridley (as King Francis' intelligent and imaginative sister Marguerite) are the most recognizable of the voice cast, but supporting characters steal the show. Gauthier Battoue imbues the character of King Francis with energy and good humor, winning over audiences immediately even as he infuriates da Vinci with his lack of vision and single-minded obsession with building a monument to himself.

The film does an excellent job of representing da Vinci's struggles as a man whose true genius isn't fully appreciated by the powerful figures of the day. At times, it feels as though he's singlehandedly dragging European civilization into the future. The film is at its best when it finds opportunities to showcase his uniquely forward-thinking worldview, like when he creates a cinematic argument (an unusual case of animation within animation) for why it's a bad idea to supply the pope with more technologically advanced weapons, illustrating the endless cycle of escalation that accompanies an arms race. But once da Vinci arrives in France — more specifically, once he realizes that this royal court may not be more receptive to his particular brand of scientific research — things slow to a crawl. Like Leonardo, the film is just killing time.

Searching for a soul

A bigger issue for "The Inventor" is that it doesn't seem to quite know who it's for. The character design seems aimed squarely at children, as do its musical numbers and its general aesthetic. But it also features some heady soul-searching that might go beyond what kids are looking for in their entertainment — it's easy to imagine them becoming bored of the political intrigue among da Vinci, the Pope, and King Francis, to say nothing of the artist's philosophical musings, which are at the heart of the film. Too intellectually complex and existential for children, yet too simplistic and unfocused for adults — it feels as though "The Inventor" doesn't quite meet the needs of either demographic.

Despite this, there is some magic held within it. "The Inventor" has a truly gorgeous animation style, one that is perfectly accompanied by its enchanting score from Alex Mandel. Although it suffers from a meandering and listless second act, it does justice to Leonardo da Vinci in all his endlessly inventive glory as he searches for meaning in the world around him. The voice talent in "The Inventor" helps elevate likable characters into genuinely memorable ones. The end result is a charming — and yes, inventive – film, although not a flawless one.

"The Inventor" will hit theaters on September 15.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the film being covered here wouldn't exist.

The Inventor

By Alex Saveliev | September 15, 2023

NOW IN THEATERS! 2023 has been crammed with subpar animation efforts. Disney/Pixar’s fare may look fantastic, but the dearth of originality (read: desperate attempts at being woke) quickly becomes evident and increasingly annoying. Despite lacking the visual grandeur of its big-budget counterparts, Jim Capobianco’s stop-motion tale The Inventor proves superior in every other way, even down to its DIY little puppets. Perhaps we are as sick of pixels as we are of superheroes, slickness be damned. This tale, steeped in fascinating real history and boundless imagination, is sure to charm kids and adults – although it may also alienate those used to bombast and perpetual eye candy.

Based on events in the life of the great inventor and painter Leonardo da Vinci (Stephen Fry), the story starts off in Rome, Italy, at the dawn of the 16th Century. An aging, endlessly curious da Vinci, Mona Lisa in tow, is investigating, among a plethora of things, mysteries of the cosmos and the human body. He boldly claims that we are not the center of the universe and tries to define a “soul.” His desire to know everything “might be dangerous with the Pope” (Matt Berry), who has other concerns, like waging war with the French. When the Pope tells da Vinci to be “a good little artist,” he follows up with, “Even Michelangelo agrees, isn’t that right?” and Michelangelo sticks out his tongue at our hero. The Pope utilizes da Vinci to make war machines, but the genius demonstrates that peace may be the answer. A truce between the two countries is announced.

“… join the professor in his quest to build a new city and get to the root of some existential issues …”

Soon enough, our hero moves to France and meets the shallow and self-absorbed Francis I (Gauthier Battoue), as well as his sister, the lovely Marguerite (Daisy Ridley). Marguerite believes in da Vinci’s genius and, by extension, in progress and development. “It will be a new Rome,” she tells her skeptical royal sibling. She and her mom, Louise de Savoy (Marion Cotillard), join the professor in his quest to build a new city and get to the root of some existential issues: Why are we here? What is our purpose? What is the meaning of life? Of course, they also have to impress Francis I, who in turn has to impress his competitors, which leads to an entertaining final pseudo-showdown.

The Inventor is many things: a musical, a slapstick comedy, a piece of history visualized, a look into the mind of arguably the most famous and influential man who’s ever lived, and a reminder to focus on progress and the wonder of our universe. It’s about thinking big and outside the box, challenging the established norm, and continuously pursuing knowledge. Legendary composer Alex Mandel creates musical interludes out of, say, raindrops, clock chimes, and guitar strumming. In one of these interludes, da Vinci encounters all five human senses, personified. The tangent of our hero falling ill is handled gracefully. The fact that writer-director Capobianco juggles all these balls in the air and makes it all work is a testament to his skill (he wrote one of Pixar’s best features, Ratatouille ).

The stop-motion may be far from Pixar’s standards of animation. It’s charming in its own modest way (it ain’t Laika), but the simplistic character design is made up for with energy and creativity. Whether all the cadavers, complex inventions, existential musings, themes of progress and censorship, and politics will alienate the wee ones remains to be seen. But, again, at least the film is not pandering. The Inventor is charming and modest but also honest and true, a rarity these days. Hurry up and check it out before Gen Z cancels Leonardo da Vinci for being a misogynist.

The Inventor (2023)

Directed and Written: Jim Capobianco

Starring: Stephen Fry, Daisy Ridley, Matt Berry, Marion Cotillard, etc.

Movie score: 7/10

"…charming in its own modest way..."

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FILM REVIEW: THE INVENTOR

by Mark Keizer | Sep 14, 2023

Blue Fox Entertainment. 2023. Animated. 92 min.

Grade: 2 out of 4

If someone told you that the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Pixar’s Ratatouille —who once worked in the Disney story department and would later work on Mouse House classics like The Lion King —would co-direct an unfocused and meandering animated film whose target audience is near impossible to discern, you wouldn’t believe it. Then again, there was a time when no one believed the Earth was round, a reference we mention because Magellan left Spain on his trip to prove the planet’s sphericality in 1519, the year that Italian painter, engineer, and architect Leonardo da Vinci died.

Da Vinci is the subject of The Inventor, writer and co-director Jim Capobianco’s animated examination of the Renaissance icon’s existential search for meaning during his final years. Every frame suggests The Inventor is a labor of love for Capobianco and one pitfall he fails to avoid is being so excited about his long-gestating passion project that clean storytelling takes a backseat to jamming in a greatest hits collection of da Vinci’s finest musings and sketches. Here, Capobianco presents da Vinci as not just restlessly inventive and scientifically curious but he’s also on a quest to divine the meaning of life and to search for the soul. Add to that da Vinci’s conflict with the anti-science Papacy of Italy, and the king of France who forces him to design a huge celebration to demonstrate French superiority to the kings of Spain and England, and it’s too much. Yet it’s also not enough. With light and lovely, if hardly memorable, songs by Alex Mandel killing time, and lengthy scenes where characters engage in busywork that gives the audience something to look at during dialogue dumps, the movie’s narrative doesn’t sustain itself over 92 minutes.

What sustains the film, and those who love animation, are the visuals, an intoxicating combination of Rankin-Bass stop-motion puppetry and traditional hand drawn animation. Especially effective is when Capobianco and co-director Pierre-Luc Granjon combine the two as when da Vinci, voiced by Stephen Fry, unveils his plans for an Ideal City in France filled with canals and fountains and rendered as 2D sketches. Many of these sketches are actually da Vinci’s where his flights of imagination are marvelously given the breath of cinematic life. Those flights of fancy primarily take off in France, where narcissistic King Francis I (voiced in jaunty fashion by Gauthier Battoue) has given da Vinci free reign to conduct his experiments, unlike Italy’s Pope Leo X (Matt Berry) who chafes against da Vinci using cadavers to study the human body and just wants him to be “a good little painter” like Michelangelo. Soon da Vinci gets sidetracked by King Francis’ desire for him to plan the celebration that will impress Kings Carlos V (Max Bamgarten) of Spain and Henry VIII (Daniel Swan) of Great Britain.

Every frame feels lovingly rendered but even the evocative animation can’t paper over the lack of narrative momentum and the feeling that Capobianco can’t decide if he’s making an educational film, a soulful celebration of da Vinci’s life, or an existential investigation into man’s higher purpose. In Capobianco’s script, da Vinci talks in aphorisms and bromides, while a second act turning point that hinges on the Pope proclaiming that da Vinci, “is forbidden from finding the soul” is hardly a screw turner. Much like da Vinci in the film, The Inventor is pulled in too many directions and as a result, younger viewers will only respond to the animation while older viewers will be turned off by the slack pacing and disjointed storytelling.

Capobianco cleverly tries to incorporate not only da Vinci’s sketches but also his quotes, including “There are three kinds of people. Those who see. Those who see when shown. And those who don’t see,” which is not one of his pithier musings. Even the bizarre yet true story of Francis trying to have da Vinci’s The Last Supper transported to France, still attached to the wall, is namechecked here as well. It all speaks to the genius of da Vinci’s art and wisdom which are appreciated in France by the King’s sister, Princess Marguerite (Daisy Ridley), while the King’s mother, Louise de Savoy (Marion Cotillard), prefers da Vinci use his gifts to better the reputation of France. So ultimately, the primary conflict in The Inventor is between those who’d utilize da Vinci’s talents for the advancement of art versus those who’d utilize it for war. In the middle is the Renaissance painter, depicted here as an existential Santa Claus struggling to make governments understand that science and discovery are the future, not war.

One almost feels guilty for disliking The Inventor since it has so much going for it; the animation is warm and tactile and constantly surprising (the cloud of cotton ball-dust created by two scuffling characters is especially delightful), it educates audiences about one of history’s greatest thinkers, and its concerns are far afield from the “young girl finds her identity” stories from Disney and Pixar. But much like da Vinci himself was a painter, inventor, scientist, engineer, and architect, Capobianco’s film tries to combine history, biography, science, and spirituality and as a result is a bit of a gorgeous mess.

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‘the inventor’ review: stephen fry, marion cotillard and daisy ridley help bring leonardo da vinci to charming animated life.

Jim Capobianco and Pierre-Luc Grandjon's playful animated feature concerns the later years of the artist.

By Frank Scheck

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It’s rare that animated films set out to be educational. But that is exactly the purpose of The Inventor , about the later years of Leonardo da Vinci, which also manages to be terrifically entertaining. The film is clearly a labor of love for co-director and screenwriter Jim Capobianco (a Pixar veteran, Oscar-nominated for the screenplay of Ratatouille ) who here expands upon his 2009 animated short Leonardo .

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Plugged In Movie Awards: 2021: Best Christian Movies

February 25, 2021

Nominations for our final Plugged In Movie Awards category lands … well, right below these few introductory sentences. It was a pretty interesting year for Christian movies, and our slate of worthy nominees feels more diverse than in some past years: From comedies to dramas, from events that took place more than 100 years ago to events that could’ve taken place yesterday, Christian moviemakers gave us a little bit of everything.

Some of these movies could be pretty challenging, too, so so be sure to check out our full reviews before you decide to watch. But if you have watched, we invite you to participate, too! Vote on Facebook or Instagram , or in the comments section right here. Let us know which of these movies struck a chord with you.

Then, while we’re counting your votes, Plugged In will be doing its own awards deliberations—right on our very own Plugged In Show ! You can listen to us argue over the nominees, and announce our own winners, on March 19. (Movie blurbs were written by Paul Asay, Emily Clark, Adam Holz, Bob Hoose and Kristin Smith.)

Fatima (PG-13): In 1917, three children ran into a strange woman as they herded sheep—a woman who says she came from heaven. So begins the strange, miraculous story of Fatima, which faithfully chronicles the events of Our Lady of Fatima—events the Catholic Church have more or less legitimized. This deeply Catholic story isn’t just about those apparently miraculous events, though: It’s about holding firm to faith in the midst of doubt and persecution, and it’s about following God—even when it means that we, or those around us, might suffer because of it. While the film does include some violent moments, Fatima revolves around its deep sense of faith and invites us to believe in miracles.

I Still Believe (PG): When Christian singer Jeremy Camp’s soon-to-be wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, everyone around her prayed for her to be healed— and that prayer was answered . Melissa was miraculously cured. They got married and were excited to share their story with the masses and bring glory to God. But God hadn’t finished revealing His plan for them. On their honeymoon, Melissa’s cancer returned. And sadly, there wasn’t a miraculous cure this time around. I Still Believe tells Melissa and Jeremy’s powerful and difficult story. It shows that even when we lay it all down at the feet of the Lord, we still might not get the answer we hope for. But I also shows us how this couple maintained their faith in God through all of it.

Selfie Dad (PG): Ben Marcus’ midlife crisis is coming at him from nearly every direction. Things aren’t great at home with his wife or kids. Work’s no picnic either. And he’s pretty much shelved his youthful dream of becoming a stand-up comedian. On top of that, Ben’s faith—he attends church with his family each week—is mostly a superficial show, too. That’s when his son introduces him to the video platform UToo. Suddenly, Ben has an idea: Maybe he can be a stand-up comic after all. Sure enough, Ben’s new video channel soon takes off. Now likes, sponsors and money are coming at him from nearly every direction. There’s just one problem: He’s sacrificing almost everything in his life that matters to make it happen. Soon, Ben (played by Christian comedian Michael Jr.) will have some choices to make about whether he cares more about fame and fortune, or faith and family in a dramedy designed to remind dads, especially, what matters most in life.

Switched (Not Rated): Cassandra Evans is the target of repetitive bullying from the school’s most popular girl, Katie Sharp. But Cassandra is sick and tired of being made fun of. She’s ready for a change, especially after Katie posts an embarrassing video of her that goes viral. Cassandra tries to practice what her mom is always telling her: Lead with love. But that’s a little hard when the person you’re supposed to be loving is so horrible. So, Cassandra asks God to allow Katie to experience what it’s like to live even one day in her shoes. The next morning, she and Katie get a surprise: They’ve switched minds. Now, the girls will have to live their daily routines as the other person. And, perhaps along the way they will both learn what it’s like to love your most unlovely neighbor as yourself.

When We Last Spoke (Not Rated): In 1967, in the small town of Fireside, two young girls, Evangeline and Juliet, were left with their grandparents while their mother essentially ran away and their father was killed in the Vietnam war. Although their mother promised to return, she never did. And while Evangeline and Juliet thrived for some time with their loving grandparents, the pain of abandonment eventually crept in. As days turned to years, it became obvious that it would take more than good memories to heal deep wounds. This Christian flick features a bit of light, sexual content, some mild war scenes and the use of one profanity. But what comes across far more powerfully is its messages about love, family and the power of forgiveness.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

34 Responses

-Definitely interested in seeing I still believe…

-Finally I can vote for something since the little I saw in 2020 I still believe definitely moved me the most. Even though Jeremy Camp’s music has never done much for me the movie about him is absolutely fantastic and I’m so glad my mom decided to buy it for the family on DVD. Going out to the movies as a family was never as much of a regular thing as it is for some who watch literally hundreds of movies in the theater, but in any given year we would see between 15 and 20 movies on the big screen, but unfortunately since the theaters in Bakersfield have been shut down since March the last movie we saw together in a theater was call of the wild on February 29th. We wanted to see I still believe but we were forced to buy it on DVD and watch it at home instead.

-Definitely Switched!

-“I Still Believe” for sure!!

-I’m gonna have to vote for I Still Believe.

-Switched all the way.

-SWITCHED all the way! Loved this film.

-Switched!!!!

-I Still Believe.

-Do you have names for the awards? If not here goes: The award you give is a Pluggy The people’s award is a Pluggit Clean. Clever. Fun. Memorable. !! [email protected]

-Switched!!!

-Switched has my vote!

-I have not seen any of these, but I know I was super excited for I Still Believe back when it came out. That being said, I think I’ll abstain this round.

-Switched!!

-Definitely I still believe!! So moving!!

-Switched – My daughter & I watched it today and loved it!

-100% Switched!!! Great message, especially for kids, teens and young adults!!

-I Still Believe

– I pick: Switched.

-I vote for Switched, I found it to entertaining, relative, and great message of how to lead with love!!

-I Still Believe all the way!

-My preference is for Switched for it’s great message and the unique way it used a common trope for the LORD.

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The Inventor

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Rent The Inventor on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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A beautifully animated history lesson, The Inventor seems somewhat uncertain as to which audience it's trying to reach, but it remains amusing and often engaging.

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Tv/streaming, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, black writers week, the inventor: out for blood in silicon valley.

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"The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley" is the story of Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos. It's a study in deception, and as told by filmmaker Alex Gibney (" Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room "), it's a disturbing and sad one.

Theranos sounds like a creature of myth, and in the end, that's what the company was. Appealing to the common fear of having blood drawn invasively in large amounts, Holmes spun an enticing pitch about building a compact, portable analysis machine named after Thomas Edison and able to perform 200 different kinds of tests quickly, using a pinprick's worth of blood. Holmes styled herself as a Mozart-caliber wunderkind. She started her company when she was barely old enough to drink. Within a matter of years, it employed 800 people and was valued at $10 billion.

Unfortunately, Holmes' machine couldn't do what she promised. She wasn't a scientist, and her own experts had warned her that it was physically impossible to build the device she'd envisioned. When a big deal with Walgreens' pharmacy chain was about to fall through over their impatience with Theranos' delivery schedule, her solution was a panicky end-run that involved secretly testing peoples' blood by conventional means, off-site, and then acting like the Edison machine had done the work. As described by Gibney and various expert witnesses, the whole scenario would've made for a classic farce were it not for the fortunes and reputations at stake—not to mention the possibility of going to market with a machine that put peoples' health at risk by delivering inaccurate results, and endangering the safety of technicians with goof-prone technology that could've punctured hands with errant needles, or tainted laboratory air with impurities released from broken sample tubes.

Despite the copious use of drone shots, a hypnotic, science fiction-sounding score, and some of the best explanatory computer graphics you'll ever see, "The Inventor" is ultimately more of an information delivery system than a fully satisfying work of cinema. The presence of one of documentary film's great innovators, Errol Morris , in the fabric of the movie itself—as a corporate gun-for-hire, Morris did a promotional video for the company—can't help but invite fantasies of what might've been. (The mind reels imagining an autobiographical movie about Morris, one of the great interrogators of war criminals and corrupt officials, coming to terms with his own paycheck-driven obliviousness to the incredible story sitting in front of his lens.) The movie never quite manages to crack the porcelain surface of Holmes' facade, despite the fleeting glimpses of insecurity and fear that sometimes flash through her eerily unblinking blue eyes. And at roughly two hours, it starts to grow repetitious. There are only so many ways to say, "In the end, there was no substance, and she fooled us all."

"The Inventor" also shies away from exploring the explosive gender politics at play. Whether this is due to lack of interest, a belief that a male filmmaker shouldn't be fixating on them, or a feeling that Holmes deserves the same treatment as a male scam artist is impossible to guess. But the viewer still may come away wondering if a great storytelling opportunity was missed. Holmes was an object of fascination and inspiration for many women in tech. As such, her downfall is deeply depressing, not just because she was a dishonest person—maybe even a compulsive fabulist—but also because of the implication that some of the older, extremely powerful men who championed her might've been smitten as much by her youth and conventional good looks as by her sales pitch. Their ranks included Henry Kissinger, former president Bill Clinton , former vice president Joe Biden, former defense secretaries James Mattis and William Perry, senator Sam Nunn, Fox News Channel founder Rupert Murdoch, and former Secretary of State George Shultz, whose grandson Tyler Shultz worked for Theranos and eventually turned whistleblower. When things started imploding, Holmes hired attorney David Boies to intimidate people who threatened to expose her.

In contrast, most of the women interviewed by Gibney—including Stanford University professor Dr. Phyllis Gardner, former Theranos lab technician Erika Cheung, and former Theranos receptionist Cheryl Gafner—appear to have sensed a bit more quickly that something was amiss. They come across as more aghast and disillusioned than all but a handful of the men who bought into Holmes' mythology. (One exception is Fortune magazine writer Roger Parloff, who helped make Holmes a tech superstar by doing a credulous cover story on her. As he recounts his reaction to a muckraking Wall Street Journal series by John Carryrou, we hear a catch in his voice.)

Briefly hailed as the world's youngest female billionaire, Holmes is now facing 20 years in prison on conspiracy and fraud charges. To paraphrase the final scene of the Coen brothers' satire " Burn After Reading ," it's hard to say what we've learned from this mess, except never to do anything like it again. And yet, human nature being what it is, we surely will do it again.

One of the film's more intriguing unexamined assumptions is that Holmes' amphibious charm mesmerized people who should've known better. But on closer inspection, that notion doesn't hold up. Tyler Shultz, for instance, describes his granddad as a man who worked for two scandal-plagued Republican administrations—Richard Nixon's, which gave the world Watergate, and Ronald Reagan's, which produced the Iran-Contra conspiracy—and emerged "with his reputation intact," only to be fooled in his nineties by Holmes. If Shultz's biography is marked by a tendency to get involved with brazen and dangerous liars, his reputation should be marked by gullibility as well as integrity—and his championing of Holmes should seem all of a piece, not just with his own resume, but with the larger human story.

We all want something to believe in—and, as Gibney suggests, if nothing worthy of belief presents itself, we'll make do with a ripping yarn.

Matt Zoller Seitz

Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor at Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.

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Despicable Me 4 (Christian Movie Review)

Despite feeling more like a series of gags than a cohesive story, Despicable Me 4 offers enough high-energy action and slapstick humor to keep young audiences entertained.

About the Film

When the loveable, overalls-wearing, yellow minions burst onto the scene in 2010, Illumination Studios quickly realized they had stumbled upon a cheat code for attracting family audiences to the movie theater. After three Despicable Me films, two spin-off Minions movies, and even a Universal Studios theme park, Gru and his gang are back in action. Despite feeling more like a series of gags than a cohesive story, Despicable Me 4 offers enough high-energy action and slapstick humor to keep young audiences entertained.

By now, you know the drill. Introduce a supervillain, sprinkle in a few moments of heartfelt drama between Gru and his family, bombard audiences with as many minion escapades as possible, and you’ve got yourself a new Despicable Me movie. The fourth film doesn’t stray from that template. Rather than a singular narrative, Despicable Me 4 is comprised of a loosely connected series of episodic hijinks and subplots. It feels as if the filmmakers had a lengthy brainstorming session of potential sequel ideas and then used all of them.

The story bounces between four primary subplots: 1) Gru and his family go undercover and are forced to blend in with their pompous neighbors in a new community, 2) a wannabe teenage villain blackmails Gru to pull off a heist at his childhood “school for villainy,” 3) a supervillain with a grudge against Gru has an evil idea to turn people into human-cockroach hybrids, 4) the Mega Minions—superpowered, Avenger-like minions—begin their disastrous career as vigilantes.

There’s a lot going on. Many of the isolated adventures don’t progress the overall narrative (if there even is one), but the film is consistently entertaining and humorous. Animated films like Inside Out 2 resonate with audiences of all ages by probing the depths of human experience. Despicable Me 4 is content to make kids laugh by stuffing a minion into a vending machine.

What prevent these films from devolving into just a sugar rush are the endearing characters and the occasional heartfelt moment. Gru and his quirky family—now featuring a newborn baby—are likeable and fun to watch. The positive theme of family serves as the film’s unifying thread.

Another element that has remained consistent throughout the series is the tone. The Despicable Me/Minions films have always had a somewhat “rude” sense of humor. Once again, there is bountiful “potty humor” and sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek quips. But though the tone may have some rough edges and juvenile tendencies, it rarely pushes into concerning territory. Yes, there are a few mean-spirited words (“idiot, stupid, loser, etc.”) but no profanities. There aren’t any references to sexuality either. I’m not sure “wholesome” is the best word to describe these films, but Despicable Me 4 is relatively clean and unproblematic. My 9-year-old twin boys joined me for my screening, and there were no moments that made me groan or hold my breath as a parent.

An argument could be made that each film has gotten weaker and that the minion antics are intended to distract from the fact that the filmmakers are out of ideas. That might be true—but it may not really matter. Minions are the secret sauce that makes this franchise enjoyable, and they remain as irresistible now as they were 14 years ago. Despicable Me 4 is not a great film, but it will make kids laugh. Sometimes that’s all a movie needs to do.

For Consideration

Language: A minion may or may not use the word “hell,” although minion-speak is difficult to discern. There are several rude words and insults (idiot, stupid, loser, etc.). A child urges her pet to showcase a new trick, leading the pet to poop on the floor. The girl responds, “I said sit ” (leaving little doubt as to which word the animal apparently heard). Another character exclaims, “oh, s……trudel.” A character says, “oh my gosh.”

Violence: Plenty of harmless Loony Tunes-type violence. Although not “violence,” the primary antagonist—a half human/half cockroach—may be frightening for some younger viewers.

Sexuality : The song “I’m Too Sexy” plays briefly. In another scene, a minion puts on x-ray goggles and sees a fellow minion with a banana—the previously established favorite food of the minions—either in its stomach or in its overalls, which can be interpreted as a sexual innuendo.

Other : Characters drink margaritas, and one minion is shown playing slot machines in a casino. The villain calls the cockroach a “miracle of evolution.”

Engage The Film

Family .

Despicable Me films are not known for exploring deep themes, and Despicable Me 4 is no different. In fact, beneath the surface of the brisk plot and slapstick humor, it’s difficult to discern any fully developed thematic threads or messages. If there is any thematic cohesion, it’s the film’s positive view of the family unit.

In many ways, the importance of family has been the message at the center of all the Despicable Me movies. Beneath his grumpy exterior, Gru has a heart of gold and clearly cares for his family: his wife, his son and adopted daughters, and the minions to whom he is a father figure.

The challenge for Gru’s family this time is to put their collective well-being above their personal interests, even when doing so requires sacrifice. Forced to move to a safe house and go undercover, each member of the family must give up many treasured possessions and venture into the unknown. There are several uplifting moments when characters encourage each other and help each other along the way.

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Fly Me to the Moon

Reviewed by: Aiden Sexton CONTRIBUTOR

Check back later for review coming from contributor Aiden Sexton, 24 hours after release


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The Moon in the Bible

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Featuring	… Kelly Jones … Cole Davis … Moe Berkus … Henry Smalls … Lance Vespertine … Chuck Meadows … Press Agent Walter Kylee Nicole Peck … VIP Spectator Anna Garcia … Joe Chrest … Senator Vanning Greg Kriek … Noah Robbins … Bill Barrett … Cole Impersonator Alex Veadov … Russian scientist Tim Ware … Senator Simpson Art Newkirk … General Alexei Leonov Kelsi Macaluso … Interested Woman Nick Dillenburg … Todd Allen Durkin … Phil Hunley Donald Elise Watkins … Cora Maple Lindell … Secretary Pool Christian Zuber … Gregory Allen Tiberius … Marketing team member James Stewart Welch Jr. … NASA Engineer Ally Shawver … VIP Nasa Wife Lauren Revard … Ellen Marguerite Cullivan … VIP Spectator Todd James Jackson … Gus Grissom Molly Mcllhargey … Young Partygoer Kevin Brown … Core NASA Engineer D'Reec Z. Norton (Thomas Brett Butler) … Senator’s Aide Jeremy Carr … Ed White Eva Pilar (Eva Pilar Stolarczyk) … Secretary Tiffany Rodriguez … VIP Stand Spectator Njema Williams … Joe Wolfie’s Rachel Hofer … NASA Wife Kevin Kedgley … Core NASA Engineer / VIP Spectator Kade Pittman … Fake Neil Trevor Morgan … Fake Buzz Jose Patino … Katrina Layman (Katie Layman) … VIP Spectator Rowan Bousaid … Fuel Engineer Kevin Howell … Core NASA Engineer (credit only) Lisa Marie Tyler … NASA Wife Stephen Branson … NASA Engineer Aidan Patrick Griffin … Yuri Gagarin Nicholas Liberatore … NASA Engineer Corey Ryter … NASA Engineer Michael Mustard … VIP Spectator Barbara Ryan … VIP Spectator Gerry Griffin … Colonel Taylor Kayla Wilmot … VIP Spectator Ashley Kings … Patricia Collins Ryan Nelson Kelly … NASA Engineer Jimmy Willis III … Self Carlo Hernandez … NASA Engineer Christian Grey Moore … Kellys Photographer Trey McGriff … TV Crew Daryn Kahn … Gary James Dormuth … Cocoa Beach Police Officer Nicolai Kabana … IBM Engineer Shannon Marie Watts … VIP Spectator Austin Lee Nichols … NASA Engineer Daniel Patrick Shook … Eduard’s Tech Crew Kyle S. Brown … Secret Service Agent Nathan Lott … Silver Suit Fire Extinguisher Tech Austin Scott Hunter … Launch Engineer Rose Lamarre … VIP Spectator Wendy Feliciano … VIP Spectator Corey F. Pambello … NASA Engineer Kent Coggins … NASA Engineer / VIP Spectator J.T. Seidler … VIP Military Alexander Mendez … Press & Photographer Peter Wallack … Roger Chaffee Erin Sears … VIP spectator Mike Rusnak … VIP - Senator and News Photographer Chris Vroman … Zack Tanner Yves-Marc Cinevert … VIP Spectator Sophia Marie … VIP Spectator Robert N. Derby … NASA Engineer / VIP Spectator Euell Santistevan Jr. … NASA Engineer Rade Dobrijevich … Sputnik Scientist Melanie Shotts … VIP Spectator Jonathan Orea Lopez … Beach Spectator / Pier Spec (credit only) Virgil Bates III … NASA Engineer / Press / Fan Spectator Unit 2 Steven Shires … Hip Man David Levin … NASA Engineer Jake Romeo … VIP Launch Spectator Falon Marie Grant … Fan / VIP spectator for Main & 2nd unit / Press Tracy Haas … Diner Patron
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Producer
Distributor	, a division of Sony Pictures

“Will they make history… or fake it?”

Copyrighted, Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Brought in to fix NASA’s public image, marketing maven Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Channing Tatum) already difficult task of putting a man on the moon. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as backup and the countdown truly begins…”

Another film of the same name: “ Fly Me To the Moon ” (2008)

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‘The Nature of Love’ Review: Monia Chokri Brilliantly Probes the Impossible Expectations We Place on the People We Claim to Love

Christian zilko.

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But the impossibility of the assignment hasn’t stopped the great thinkers of every generation from trying. From ancient Greek philosophers who argued that love couldn’t be separated from unfulfilled sexual desire and obsession to more modern interpretations that see it as a state of being that has to be actively cultivated, it’s hard for an intellectual to resist the temptation to reduce the most powerful feeling known to man to mere words. Related Stories Ruben Östlund Says Awards Make Filmmakers ‘More Insecure’: It Puts ‘Pressure’ on the Next Project Toronto’s Revue Cinema Faces Hostile Takeover by Landlords

In “ The Nature of Love ,” Sophia (Magalie Lépine-Blondeau) might not be arrogant enough to put her own definition out into the world, but she spends her life studying the attempts of those who came before her. As a professor teaching philosophy to senior citizens, she’s constantly able to indulge her curiosity about the conflicting definitions of love that have been floated throughout human history. But all of the Plato and Bell Hooks quotes in the world haven’t been enough to keep the spark alive in her own bedroom.

For the past ten years, she’s enjoyed a comfortable life with a perfectly nice man. Xavier (Francis-William Rhéaume) is the kind of guy who asks his wife’s permission to enter his own bedroom to show her an article about the dangers of the Trump presidency. Well-mannered and self-deprecating, he can hold his own at salons and dinner parties with all of their intellectual class friends while ensuring that spotlight never dims on Sophia. It’s a sensible arrangement, but hardly nourishing to someone who spends her days reading about the men who lost their minds and fought the wars over passionate affairs.

Xavier is so respectful that he can’t muster enough of a spine to even politely ask his wife not to cheat on him, so it isn’t long before Sophia runs away with Sylvain and pushes her husband out of the picture all together. But her euphoric bubble of spontaneous sex and cozy nights in their forest cabin is soon burst when it’s time to trot her new boyfriend out into the real world. Her laptop class friends applaud her decision to sleep with a hot commoner in a condescending noble savage kind of way, but Sophia’s attempts to merge her two worlds quickly remind her why so many people put their passion aside and marry the “safe” partners to begin with. For all the passion Sylvain elicits from her, she soon finds herself embarrassed by his poor grammar and mildly disgusted with his uneducated relatives. The unspoken social pressure becomes so severe that she even considers reconnecting with Xavier as she’s forced to weigh her conflicting desires for comfort and excitement.

As Sophia tries to find a way to square her transcendent urges with her hilariously worldly circle of intellectuals and over-analyzers, she finds herself learning the most painful lesson that an ultra privileged person can learn in our increasingly hedonistic world: You can have almost anything, but you can’t have everything. Love can be an all-consuming fire that burns hot enough to incinerate your entire world while filling you with enough butterflies to justify the cost, or it can be an active choice that you make to share life with another person while helping each other through the hardships and mundanities that life inevitably throws at you. The only problem for most people is that it can’t be both.

A Music Box Films release, “The Nature of Love” is now playing at the IFC Center in New York City. It expands to Los Angeles on Friday, July 12.

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'Despicable Me 4' Review: There Goes the Neighborhood

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The Big Picture

Despicable Me 4 is a fun and entertaining addition to the franchise.
The film, starring the voice talents of Steve Carell, Kirsten Wiig, Will Ferrell, and Miranda Cosgrove, offers laughs and heartwarming moments for both longtime fans and newcomers.
Four movies in, the franchise faces challenges in balancing the new with the old with its introductory characters and situational comedy feeling disjointed and rather thin.

Following its debut in 2010, Despicable Me has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide , fast becoming a cultural phenomenon beloved by both children and adults. Blending humor and heart, the bright and colorful animated film has sparked sequels and spinoffs that have turned its characters, particularly its tiny yellow henchmen known as Minions , into box-office juggernauts grossing billions. With a combined five films in the franchise and a seven-year hiatus since its last “Despicable” entry, Despicable Me 4 finally makes its way to the big screen with high expectations. Led by the returning Steve Carrell as former supervillain Felonious Gru, the fourth installment delivers a delightful mix of villainy and family dynamics that fans have come to love . However, it's not without a few minor drawbacks, including a rather thin plot and underdeveloped characters that feel slightly formulaic, detracting from the film’s overall freshness and vibrancy.

Clocking in a smartly paced 95 minutes, the Illumination -produced feature returns with the franchise’s director Chris Renaud to share another comical chapter in the Anti-Villain League agent’s domesticated life alongside his wife (and former secret agent) Lucy Wilde ( Kristen Wiig ) and their three adopted daughters, Margo ( Miranda Cosgrove ), Edith ( Dana Gaier ), and Agnes ( Madison Polan ). But this time around, we get a few new characters, including Gru and Lucy’s newborn son Gru Jr., a precocious, machiavellian tween named Poppy ( Joey King ) who aspires to be a villain, and a cockroach-obsessed new baddie named Maxime Le Mal ( Will Ferrell ). Fold these characters into the dull, safe, and wealthy town of Mayflower thanks to some pointed writing from Ken Daurio ( Despicable Me ) and Mike White ( Migration ), and you get some absurdly hilarious situations. At the same time, Despicable Me 4 feels as slim as Gru’s legs in its plot despite maintaining a strong, enjoyable punch through its animation .

Despicable Me 4

Fourth installment of the 'Despicable Me' franchise.

What Is 'Despicable Me 4' About?

Despicable Me 4 finds Gru coming face-to-face with his arch-nemesis and recent prison escapee, Maxime Le Mal. As he is seeking revenge against the beloved patriarch and his family, Gru, Lucy, and their children must relocate to the suburban town of Mayflower under new identities. Of course, while the parents are focused on what it means for their family’s safety, their three daughters are less excited — especially Agnes, who must leave behind her best fluffy friend (and their family lamb), Lucky.

While Maxime plans to threaten Gru’s newfound domestic bliss alongside his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina ( Sofía Vergara ), the transition to suburban life proves hilarious for the family of six. Combining White’s best writing about socially affluent communities with the sight gags we've come to know in the first three films by Daurio, moving Gru and his family to Mayflower is wildly hilarious. Whereas Gru assumes the role of solar panel salesman Chet Cunningham, complete with suburban dad polos and pants, Lucy gets some of the more uproarious scenes as a hairstylist with no experience in their town’s salon . One of the funniest moments is when she is at the supermarket with her daughters. They begin frantically running away from a disgruntled customer in what is one of the best recent parodies of an iconic sci-fi franchise.

Will Ferrell as Maximee Le Mal in Despicable Me 4

Watch Ron Burgundy Roasts Will Ferrell’s Performance in ‘Despicable Me 4'

Ferrell brought his 'Anchorman' character back for a hilarious bit on 'The Tonight Show.'

However, their attempts to blend in are further complicated by their neighbor, Poppy, who sees Gru as a one-way ticket to mentorship in evildoing — and she has some very funny, oblivious parents in the form of Perry ( Stephen Colbert ) and Patsy ( Chloe Fineman ). These two actors hold their own with some very spirited voice work of characters parodying the wealthy. Meanwhile, Gru Jr. is a big part of the film. Father and son have a running gag as Gru Jr. does everything he can to reject the patriarch's affection. But the family is not complete without its fair share of Minions ( Pierre Coffin ). The yellow guys provide a hearty dose of slapstick humor that works every time they’re on screen , as they balance the film’s narrative with some of the strongest, funniest moments. While the three that accompany Gru and his family are kept busy by the bunch, it’s the side story of five volunteer Minions who are given superpowers following an experiment commissioned by previously retired director of the Anti-Villain League, Silas Ramsbottom ( Steve Coogan ) that levels out the film’s somewhat flimsy plot.

'Despicable Me 4' Overlooks Some of Its Best Opportunities

Despicable Me 4 is unquestionably a lot of fun and laugh-out-loud thanks to its signature subversive humor . But in all its fun and familiarity, the latest film skimps on some of the best opportunities it presents itself. The addition of Gru Jr. and Poppy should have brought out a bit more of what it means to play this part for Gru as a former villain turned family man. While Gru Jr. opens up a few layers to his father’s character, his own character is not fully explored. The initial hostility offers funny moments, but it misses the chance to create another dynamic between father and son, like how Despicable Me set up the foundations of a strong father-daughter connection with Margo, Edith, and Agnes. It felt like Gru. Jr was only resistant to his father for the sake of the audience, rather than showcasing a deeper, more emotional depth as to what his aversion is.

The same thing goes for Poppy, whose initial interactions suggest strong allyship — or a formidable villain. But she’s never entirely realized and falls into a minor character dimension , which is surprising as she looked like she was going elsewhere early on. Meanwhile, Maxime’s obsession with cockroaches and schemes never quite matches his flashy personality. Instead, it’s underdeveloped. Though wacky, it’s not weird enough and makes him less menacing. Even his girlfriend isn’t doing much except pet her cute, fluffy white dog. This can all be attributed to a thin plot. When it comes to the family, we rarely see Gru interacting with his daughters, let alone his wife. There is a moment when Margo has a bad day at school and instead of Gru taking the time to understand what happened, it’s seemingly more normal for him than anything that warrants a discussion. For a film that took the world by storm almost 15 years ago, the lack of emotional depth and character growth is a bizarrely missed opportunity for an aging audience that could align itself with the joys and pains of growing old like the Toy Story franchise has done.

'Despicable Me 4' Is Still Consistent With the Franchise

While Despicable Me 4 ’s story is sparse across its 95 minutes, it’s still really funny and offers some of the most fun you’ll have at the movies this summer . One of the greatest joys of watching this film in a packed theater was seeing how the film made not just children laugh, but the adults too. It’s a credit to the story blending clever dialogue, character-driven humor, and sophisticated visual gags to ensure there’s something everyone can enjoy. But the film isn’t a game-changer for the franchise, nor does it heighten itself outside of a regular sequel. Instead, it sort of just plays to its strengths — and there’s nothing wrong with that .

Gru’s awkward situations and exaggerated physical comedy continue to elicit laughs while powered through the gusto of Carell , who audiences can tell has a lot of fun with the role. His comically thick accent blending warmth and obliviousness makes him achingly lovable, and a character that lives up to his iconic animation status. His co-star Wiig provides strong vocals embodying very specific neuroticisms seen in Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar or even Palm Royale . Her upbeat and determined ethos adds a lot of liveliness and warmth to the film. Though he is new to the franchise, Ferrell’s theatrical performance as a sassy, pompous French villain works well and adds to the franchise’s best voice work that underscores what it means to be a flamboyant baddie . His faux accent and exaggerated delivery make him a memorable character, adding to the film’s charisma and giving audiences a lot to laugh about.

Despicable Me 4 thrives on keeping the franchise’s appeal alive through its distinct style and verve . But it does face some challenges in balancing the new with the old, even with its signature humor and vibrant animation we’ve all come to love and expect. While the film does set up the possibility of another Minions movie with its superhero side plot , the introduction of these shiny new characters and situational comedies is somewhat disjointed and insubstantial, particularly towards the end. Despite these shortcomings, Despicable Me 4 understands its appeal and plays to its strengths. With fun details, vibrant animation, and strong comedic energy, it is a delightful and entertaining addition to the franchise, offering enough laughs and heartwarming moments to satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

A new poster for Despicable Me 4 showing a larger, rock-like minion biting down on a smaller minion

Despicable Me 4 offers familiar humor and vibrant animation with standout performances. However, it suffers from a thin plot and underdeveloped new characters.

Despicable Me 4 delivers on the franchise's signature humor and vibrant animation.
The animation continues to offer expressive, engaging visuals, which add to the film's comedic and storytelling strengths.
Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, and Will Ferrell deliver standout performances, adding depth and humor to their respective characters.
Despite its humor and charm, the plot is somewhat thin and predictable, lacking the depth and complexity that could have enhanced the narrative.
The film introduces new characters, but they are not fully explored, missing opportunities to deepen their relationships with existing characters and the audience.

Despicable Me 4 comes to theaters in the U.S. starting July 3. Click below for showtimes near you.

Get tickets

Movie Reviews
Steve Carell
Illumination

Cast & crew

After graduating from high school without any plans for the future, Isaiah receives a push to start making better life decisions. After graduating from high school without any plans for the future, Isaiah receives a push to start making better life decisions. After graduating from high school without any plans for the future, Isaiah receives a push to start making better life decisions.

Alex Kendrick
Stephen Kendrick
Karen Abercrombie
Priscilla C. Shirer
Tommy Woodard

Miss Clara Williams

Cynthia Wright

Tony Jordan

Joshua Moore

Greyson Lance

Isaiah Wright

Cody's Mother

All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Trivia This is the first Kendrick Brothers film where characters from an earlier film (War Room) appear.
August 23, 2024 (United States)
United States
Movie Website
Albany, Georgia, USA
Affirm Films
Juniper Post
Kendrick Brothers
See more company credits at IMDbPro

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Runtime 2 hours 3 minutes

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‘The Imaginary’ Review: What’s a Pretend Friend to Do When His Human Creator Outgrows Him?

Adapted from a British kids' book, the fanciful second feature from Studio Ponoc continues the lively tradition of its Ghibli-trained creators, but falls short in other respects.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

Giving Voice to the New Hollywood Revolution, ‘Chinatown’ and ‘Shampoo’ Writer Robert Towne Brought Honesty to Artifice 2 days ago
‘The Imaginary’ Review: What’s a Pretend Friend to Do When His Human Creator Outgrows Him? 1 week ago
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A decade ago, legendary director Hayao Miyazaki retired, sending Studio Ghibli’s team of animators to seek employment elsewhere. Those were dark, uncertain times for the industry, which explains why veteran Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura picked the word “ponoć” (which means “midnight” in Croatian) for his new studio: He wanted to convey a new dawn for some of the medium’s most talented artists.

Reviewed at Netflix Tudum Theater, Los Angeles, June 23, 2024. In Annecy Animation Festival. MPA Rating: PG. Running time: 108 MIN.

Production: (Animated – Japan) A Netflix release of a Studio Ponoc production. Producer: Yoshiaki Nishimura. Executive producers: Yoshiaki Nishimura, Satoshi Suzuki, Nobuyuki Iinuma.
Crew: Director: Yoshiyuki Momose. Camera: Susumu Fukushi. Screenplay: Yoshiaki Nishimura, based on the novel by A.F. Harrold. Editor: Toshihiko Kojima. Music: Kenji Tamai, agehasprings. Animation supervisor: Kenichi Konishi.
With: Louie Rudge-Buchanan, Evie Kiszel, Hayley Atwell, Sky Katz, Jeremy Swift, Kal Penn, LeVar Burton, Jane Singer, Ruby Barnhill, Roger Craig Smith, Courtenay Taylor, Miles Nibbe.

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christian movie review the inventor
christian movie review the inventor
christian movie review the inventor
The Inventor Movie (2023) Cast, Release Date, Story, Budget, Collection
THE INVENTOR (2023) MOVIE REVIEW
The Inventor Movie (2023) Cast, Release Date, Story, Budget, Collection

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Logan (2017)
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COMMENTS

The Inventor
Movie Review. In 1517, Martin Luther was busying writing and distributing his 95 Theses, a document which called for the Roman Catholic Church to reform itself from the growing corruption within it.The Augustinian monk's teaching against indulgences and in favor of salvation by God's grace through faith alone drew the ire of Pope Leo X, who branded Luther a heretic for teaching things Leo ...
THE INVENTOR
THE INVENTOR is a funny but earnest look at the end of Leonardo Da Vinci's life through the lens of nostalgic stop-motion animation. This is charmingly blended with sequences of traditionally drawn animation and a sweet musical score. Although the movie's visuals are engaging enough, there is very little action or clear character ...
The Inventor Movie Review
Parents need to know that The Inventor is an animated biopic that explores the final years of inventor/artist Leonardo da Vinci's life. The business-savvy genius (voiced by Stephen Fry) agrees to invent concepts for war machines for Pope Leo X (Matt Berry), and a sketch of a scythed chariot is imagined moving….
The Inventor Review
The Inventor is a brilliantly artistic stop-motion and 2D animated film about the final years of Italian Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci. The legendary painter, sculptor, scientist ...
'The Inventor' Review: Leonardo da Vinci in the Limelight
(Here, "The Inventor" shares a theme with a decidedly less child-friendly recent big-screen portrait, "Oppenheimer." In honoring this beautiful mind, the plot's forward motion lags at times.
The Inventor (2023)
The Inventor, 2023. Directed by Jim Capobianco and Pierre-Luc Granjon. Featuring the voice talents of Stephen Fry, Daisy Ridley, Marion Cotillard, Matt Berry, Gauthier Battoue, Natalie Palamides ...
The Inventor
TOP CRITIC. Charming and informative as it is, the film may struggle to engage younger audiences accustomed to more overt comedy in their animated movies and less grave-robbing. Full Review ...
The Inventor Review: An Innovative But Flawed Search For The ...
"The Inventor" was clearly a labor of love for its creators, and its animation work is an immediate highlight of the film. The characters — especially the antagonistic ones, like Pope Leo X ...
The Inventor Featured, Reviews Film Threat
NOW IN THEATERS! 2023 has been crammed with subpar animation efforts. Disney/Pixar's fare may look fantastic, but the dearth of originality (read: desperate attempts at being woke) quickly becomes evident and increasingly annoying. Despite lacking the visual grandeur of its big-budget counterparts, Jim Capobianco's stop-motion tale The Inventor proves superior in every other way, even down to ...
'The Inventor' Review: Bringing Leonardo da Vinci to Stop-Motion Life
It's a curious subject for a movie, realized in an even curiouser format: Written and directed by Jim Capobianco, "The Inventor" is a musical stop-motion animation film in which Leonardo ...
'The Inventor' Review: A Lovingly Animated Leonardo da Vinci ...
THE INVENTOR ★★1/2 (2.5/4 stars). Directed by: Jim Capobianco Written by: Jim Capobianco Starring: Stephen Fry, Marion Cotillard, Daisy Ridley, Matt Berry Running time: 92 mins.
FILM REVIEW: THE INVENTOR
Blue Fox Entertainment. 2023. Animated. 92 min. Grade: 2 out of 4. If someone told you that the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Pixar's Ratatouille—who once worked in the Disney story department and would later work on Mouse House classics like The Lion King—would co-direct an unfocused and meandering animated film whose target audience is near impossible to discern, you wouldn't ...
The Inventor (2023)
The Inventor: Directed by Jim Capobianco, Pierre-Luc Granjon. With Daisy Ridley, Marion Cotillard, Matt Berry, Stephen Fry. Inventing flying contraptions, war machines and studying cadavers, Leonardo da Vinci tackles the meaning of life itself with the help of French princess Marguerite de Nevarre.
'The Inventor' Review: Charming Animated Film About Leonardo da Vinci
Screenwrite r: Jim Capobianco. Rated PG, 1 hour 32 minutes. Employing a combination of Rankin/Bass-style stop-motion and hand-drawn animation, the film is set in 1516, when the elderly Leonardo ...
Plugged In Movie Awards: 2021: Best Christian Movies
Nominations for our final Plugged In Movie Awards category lands … well, right below these few introductory sentences. It was a pretty interesting year for Christian movies, and our slate of worthy nominees feels more diverse than in some past years: From comedies to dramas, from events that took place more than 100 years ago to events that could've taken place yesterday, Christian ...
The Inventor
The Inventor 2023, PG, 100 min. Directed by Jim Capobianco, Pierre-Luc Granjon. Voices by Stephen Fry, Angelino Sandri, Daisy Ridley, Matt Berry, Marion Cotillard ...
'The Inventor' Review: Bringing Leonardo da Vinci to Stop-Motion Life
It's a curious subject for a movie, realized in an even curiouser format: Written and directed by Jim Capobianco, "The Inventor" is a musical stop-motion animation film in which Leonardo ...
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Movieguide® reviews movies from a Christian perspective for families and works in Hollywood to redeem the media.
The Inventor (2023 film)
The Inventor is a 2023 stop-motion / 2D animation biographical film about Leonardo da Vinci, written, produced and directed by Jim Capobianco and co-directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon. The voice cast includes Stephen Fry, Marion Cotillard, Daisy Ridley, and Matt Berry. The Inventor is a co-production between the United States, France, and Ireland.. The film had its world premiere in official ...
The Inventor
Page 1 of 6, 11 total items. "The Inventor" follows famed inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci after he leaves Italy for France. In his new country, da Vinci joins the French court where he ...
IF (Christian Movie Review)
John Krasinski is best known for his comedic acting role in The Office, but he is quickly earning a reputation as one of the better storytellers in Hollywood.His 2018 horror flick, A Quiet Place, was excellent, and he demonstrates his capable storytelling talents once again.While IF may not appear to have much in common with his alien-invasion horror movie, they share a similar foundational ...
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
Now streaming on: Powered by JustWatch. "The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley" is the story of Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos. It's a study in deception, and as told by filmmaker Alex Gibney ("Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room"), it's a disturbing and sad one. Theranos sounds like a creature of myth, and in the end ...
The Inventor
The Inventor follows famed inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci after he leaves Italy for France. In his new country, da Vinci joins the French court where he experiments with flying contraptions, invents machines and studies the human body, all in an effort to answer the question: "What is the meaning of life?"
Despicable Me 4 (Christian Movie Review)
Despite feeling more like a series of gags than a cohesive story, Despicable Me 4 offers enough high-energy action and slapstick humor to keep young audiences entertained. About the Film . When the loveable, overalls-wearing, yellow minions burst onto the scene in 2010, Illumination Studios quickly realized they had stumbled upon a cheat code for attracting family audiences to the movie theater.
Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (2024)
Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot: Directed by Joshua Weigel. With Nika King, Demetrius Grosse, Elizabeth Mitchell, Diaana Babnicova. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot is the true story of Donna and Reverend Martin and their church in East Texas. 22 families adopted 77 children from the local foster system, igniting a movement for vulnerable children everywhere.
Fly Me to the Moon
Submit your VIEWER COMMENTS. "Will they make history… or fake it?" Here's what the distributor says about their film: "Brought in to fix NASA's public image, marketing maven Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis's (Channing Tatum) already difficult task of putting a man on the moon. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail ...
'The Nature of Love' Review: Monia Chokri's Brilliant Rom-Com
Monia Chokri brilliantly explores the beauty and limitations of love in the 21st century in 'The Nature of Love.' Read our review.
'Despicable Me 4' Review
Despicable Me 4, starring Steve Carell as Gru, is an entertaining entry in the hit animated franchise about supervillains. Read on for our review.
The Forge (2024)
The Forge: Directed by Alex Kendrick. With Karen Abercrombie, Priscilla C. Shirer, Tommy Woodard, T.C. Stallings. After graduating from high school without any plans for the future, Isaiah receives a push to start making better life decisions.
'The Imaginary' Review: What's a Make-Believe Boy Without His ...
Adapted from an English kids' book, Studio Ponoc's fanciful 'The Imaginary' continues the lively tradition of its Ghibli-trained creators.

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