Movie Mama Rating: 3 out of 5

Starring: Bill Murray, Toby Jones, Saoirse Ronan, Tim Robbins, Martin Landau

Directed By: Gil Kenan

Running Time: 1 hr. 39 min.

MPAA Rating: PG for mild peril and some thematic elements.

Genre: Action/Adventure and Science Fiction/Fantasy

After a mysterious doomsday leaves the earth uninhabitable, the surviving human population is sent to thrive in a refuge city called Ember. Deep underground, Ember is powered by a mighty generator and thousands of lights fill the sky like a starry night. But Ember was only built to last 200 years, after which humans could once again inhabit the earth safely. However, the instructions to leave Ember were somehow lost. Now, after dozens of generations have passed, the generator is dying, and food is scarce. Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan) believes she may have found the means to escape Ember, and with the help of her friend, Doon (Harry Treadaway), she embarks on a final mission to save humanity.

At first glance, City of Ember will entice viewers with its visually captivating design and its enthralling story full of mystery and suspense. Think WALL-E meets Lost meets the computer game Myst. The acting is first-rate. Saoirse Ronan brings the adorable and endearing Lina Mayfleet to life with excellence. The oddities of this underground world (from giant moles, moths, and beetles to absent-minded robots and other crazy inventions) will fascinate movie-goers of all ages. But the pace is a bit bi-polar. The beginning of the film is too swift with clipped scenes and confusing transitions, followed by other scenes that are painfully drawn out. The real downside of the film, however, is the anti-climactic and predictable ending. The director could have embraced this obstacle with a fresh concept, but sadly, he does not. As the film draws to a close, viewers might feel impatient as they wait for the inevitable.

PROS

Even though the circumstances of the characters in City of Ember are unfamiliar, young adults will find ways to relate with Lina and Doon. Lina's parents died a few years ago, leaving her to care for her little sister, Poppy (Amy and Catherine Quinn), and her grandmother (Liz Smith) who suffers from Alzheimer's. When her grandmother dies mid-film, Lina must move in with a new guardian and learn to conform to a new house and new rules/expectations. As a big sister, Lina's responsibilities are great--she must become an adult well before her time. Meanwhile, Doon faces difficulty with his father, who once shared the same idealistic and adventuresome spirit as himself, yet has given it all up due to past failures. Doon struggles to convince his father not to give up hope and to always persevere.

The film also begs the question: do we just sit back and wait for someone else to fix our world's troubles, or do we step up and do something about it ourselves?

CONS

As with all Walden Media films, objectionable material is few and far between. City of Ember is a 100% family-friendly film, but I will note that Doon and Lina steal on occasion, as well as break into locked doors. There are a few scary scenes, but nothing too intense. Lina repeats a message that includes the word sexy.

However, the most offensive part of my moving-going experience was before the film even started. A preview for The Spirit was shown, which I felt was wholly inappropriate for the young viewing audience waiting to see City of Ember. Although the film is rated PG-13, the preview should have been rated R. Machine gun fire, as well as sexual and frightening images were splashed across the big screen. Parents beware.

OVERALL

Although lacking in a few minor areas, City of Ember is an adventurous and enthralling family experience.