THE HOUSE OF MAGIC by Jeremy Derguson and Ben Stassen

Belgium’s latest animation feature The House of Magic looks set for a relatively successful run in European theatres and quite possibly cross the border due to its easily appealing nature.

The world of animation is pretty much monopolised by Disney – who are also pretty much the most powerful production house in cinema and have been for quite some time. Disney has repaid families with some animation features that were pure solid gold. Indeed, it was they who revolutionised this form by taking 3D animation in the mainstream with Toy Story in 1995.

There is reason to mention Disney in a review of The House of Magic because, well, that is the tough competition it is up against. This film is the ambitious animation in glorious 3D about a lost cat that seeks refuge in an aged magician’s house. The house is full of cute little animals and technical creations of the man’s itself. Indeed, all the side character in this story seem to be a summation of the cute talking animals, living robots and conscientious toys – the types of characters that have dominated animation feature narratives quite possibly since the beginning of times but with a modern twist that is relevant to the last twenty years or so.

Considering once again the competition, it is remarkable that Europe should produce an entertaining, cute and funny film with all the potential for becoming a true competitor for the summer family cinema box office. The film is happy, cheerful and looks colourful. The 3D is used in a solid way and one can expect it comfortably being thrown different bouncy object at.

The story is really based around the whacky house gimmick structure. At times, it resembles the ending sequences of the Home Alone films from the famous family film franchise. Add the likeable, cutesy characters and you’re on a no brainer winner. In fact, despite the fact that the story itself is nothing new – the narrative’s main body focusing on the cat named Thunder and the crew helping the old and warm hearted magician keeping his house as his greedy and cold hearted nephew is plotting to sell it behind his back and put the old man in the retirement home.

Yet, helms Ben Stassen and Jeremy Derguson are so comfortable with it all that they happily and comfortably take full advantage of all the different elements that make up every aspect of the film. In the end, that is what makes the film unoriginal but solid and fun family entertainment. What is more is that the Belgian House of Magic is obviously perfectly capable of standing up side by side most of the works by the House of Mouse with a certain and serene degree of dignity.