Full of heart, wit and style, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's latest cinematic endeavour is a wonderful return to English-language cinema. Written by Scott Gentry.

"The Young And Prodigious T.S. Spivet" (12A)

Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

Starring: Kyle Catlett, Helena Bonham Carter, Callum Keith Rennie, and Judy Davis. 

Rated: 12A for containing infrequent strong language. 

Running time: 105 minutes.

Out now in UK cinemas. 

It's been twelve years since Jean-Pierre Jeunet's masterpiece "Amélie" and nearly seventeen since his Hollywood debut and ultimate failure, "Alien Resurrection", but the famed French director has finally returned to independent American cinema, with "The Young And Prodigious T.S. Spivet". 

Kyle Catlett as T.S. Spivet, in "The Young And Prodigious T.S. Spivet". 

A wonderful and fairly odd film, "T.S. Spivet" follows the story of our titular character (T.S. Spivet are the initials for Tecumseh Sparrow Spivet), a child genius, who after discovering he has won a prestigious award from the Smithsonian museum for creating the perpetual motion machine, sets out on his journey across America in order to accept his award, whilst coming to terms with an event which has affected his life. 

The film's plot is most definitely fitting for the French auteur, his style literally pouring out of the ambitious adaptation (of "The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet", written by Reif Larsen), which is evident in the form of intriguing 3D effects that add a certain charm to the film. Normally, 3D is most definitely not acceptable in my eyes, especially not (shudder) post conversion 3D, but the effects are captivating and help to develop the story and perhaps benefit the audience, by exploring the wonderful mind of T.S.
  

Kyle Catlett and Helena Bonham-Carter
star in "The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet".

The film is certainly reminiscent of the style of "Amélie", but it doesn't quite live up to the previous nature of his other work. However, this isn't a large problem, as this isn't a film that is trying to recreate the style of "Amélie" in an American setting, it's a film, which is aiming to be witty and different. 

Central to Jeunet's style, the characters are played by cast members who are able to develop performances from an often-demanding script. Yet less demanding in the case of "T.S. Spivet", the film is nevertheless carried in it's subject matter, by the young actor Catlett, (at the time of filming) a newcomer who is undeniably talented, dealing with a dramatic scene, in which he confronts a shocking event which took place earlier in his life.

Niamh Wilson, Helena Bonham Carter and Callum Keith Rennie
star in "The Young And Prodigious T.S. Spivet".

Apart from the main star, the supporting cast are all as talented and charming as Catlett, in particular Bonham-Carter, as T.S's mother, providing a slightly unhinged performance as an entomologist, who cannot be left around toasters (she literally destroys them!). Keith-Rennie (often known for portraying villains and the Cylon agent, Leoben Conoy, from "Battlestar Galactica") is slightly reserved as T.S.'s father, a man who could easily be mistaken for a cowboy, yet contributes an appreciated performance. 

Verdict

Calm and gentle fun from France's most distinctive filmmaker, which might not be his most appreciated piece, yet still impresses visually and in relation to an exemplary cast of actors. A 3D Blu-Ray purchase may be required... 

7.5 Stars out of 10

- Written by Scott Gentry. 

Film Rating Key

1-2 stars out of ten = Awful.

3-4 stars out of ten = Average.

5-6 stars out of ten = Good.

7-8 stars out of ten = Excellent.

9-10 stars out of ten = Amazing.