Ponyo Review

Posted by Chad Webb on 08.25.2009

If only those prize carnival goldfish were this exciting…

Featuring the Voices Of:
Noah Cyrus: Ponyo
Frankie Jonas: Sosuke
Tina Fey: Lisa
Matt Damon: Koichi
Liam Neeson: Kujimoto
Cate Blanchett: Gran Mamare
Kurt Knutsson: The Newscaster
Cloris Leachman: Yoshie
Lily Tomlin: Toki
Betty White: Noriko
Written and Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki
Release Date: August 14, 2009
Running Time: 100 minutes







Rated G

Watching a Hayao Miyazaki spectacle on the big screen is an irreplaceable experience. The masterful filmmaker displays images that are truly breathtaking to behold. In an era of constant CGI, Miyazaki is a breath of fresh air, while his stories are often ageless in quality and spellbinding in execution. Ponyo is Miyazaki's tenth film, his eighth for Studio Ghibli, and it will certainly rank among his best. It is as sweet and innocent as any story could be, and it touches the heart.

Ponyo centers on a goldfish (voice of Noah Cyrus) who lives in an aquarium in her father's (voice of Liam Neeson) underwater castle. She has many sisters, all of whom are smaller than her. One day her desire to explore takes her above water, and she gets caught in a bottle. A young boy named Sosuke (voice of Frankie Jonas) finds her, rescues her, and names her Ponyo. Quickly Sosuke realizes that Ponyo is not a regular goldfish. As the daughter of a wizard and sea goddess, she embraces the magic of her family to become human. She and Sosuke form a strong bond of friendship, but Ponyo's transformation is starting to cause a dangerous imbalance in the world. As Ponyo's father tries to find and save her, she and Sosuke embark on an exciting adventure of their own.

I haven't seen all of Miyazaki's films, but I will, and I continue to be amazed by what he brings to the table. Various moments from his canon just percolate and linger in one's head. He creates images so inspiring and whimsical that one can't help but have the urge to revisit them. The man is certainly nearing the end of his filmmaking career, but as long as he keeps making films, I will keep paying for tickets, and Ponyo was money well spent. The premise is quite basic and easy to digest, but Miyazaki always includes an underlying message. The subtext of Ponyo is not as complex as Princess Mononoke, but it is relevant, and is not heavy handed.

Consider the opening scene, where no dialogue is spoken. The audience soaks in the varying blues, pinks, and greens, reminiscent of a delightful painting, as the jellyfish floating along, and as we are introduced to the enormous number of Ponyo's loyal sisters. It is a world that makes you smile, makes you appreciate the creativity that still exists in cinema, and makes you yearn for more. The motion of the characters, the fluidity of their actions, and the organic impressions they instill evokes a gracefulness that cannot be measured. This is what Miyazaki presents that is so indefinable, and yet so mesmerizing.

As the tsunami threatens the area, an enlivening journey commences as Ponyo enlarges Sosuke's toy boat so they can ride across the water in hopes of locating his mother. This is the most glorious sequence in the film, and it probably eclipses any singular sequence in animation this year. The two children sail over the roads Lisa was previously driving on, and look down deep into everything the waves engulfed. They spot prehistoric fish, and other boats filled with townsfolk trying to escape more destruction.

The key to Ponyo are the relationships, and how they are explored. The plot is uncomplicated and straightforward, but the relationships define the film as a truly wondrous piece of cinema. Take for instance the way the elderly and the children interact. The old women behave very much like kids would. The manner in which Lisa and Koichi converse with Sosuke and Ponyo is also quite absorbing as the job of Koichi clearly has an effect on the family. Ponyo also makes a point with the meaning of love between friends, which could be misconstrued by many viewers. The relationships that drive the picture are honest and profound.

The voice cast of Miyazaki’s films always includes popular Hollywood names. They have to; otherwise the studio would be clueless on how to market it. They don't realize that Miyazaki's name alone should be enough. In the case of Ponyo, everyone does a commendable job. Tina Fey and Matt Damon are superlative as the parents Lisa and Koichi. It is Frankie Jonas and Noah Cyrus though who hypnotize us as Sosuke and Ponyo. They sound so sincere and enthusiastic in the roles. Liam Neeson sounds like Liam Neeson because he has such an identifiable voice, but one grows accustomed to him as the enigmatic Kujimoto. And what a joy to hear Betty White and Cloris Leachman exchanging words as feisty old ladies.

Critic James Berardinelli stated that Ponyo represents a “step down in narrative sophistication” because it appeals more to children. First of all, I fail to see how the goal of aiming closer to kids makes this a “step down” in any fashion. Additionally, just because the story is not as “complex” as some of his other offerings, does not mean adults will not be interested. He then goes on to say “adults will be more taken with Ponyo”, which almost contradicts his earlier statement. The plot does indeed have similarities to The Little Mermaid and Pinocchio, but it does not rely on songs as much as the former, and it is not nearly as dark as the latter. The poetry of Ponyo should not be confused with either of those Disney classics.

It is said with every Miyazaki adventure that people of any age will love his work. This is old news, although it didn't stop me from writing it too. I believe this is true because unlike many animated films, and even some Pixar efforts which intentionally integrate some mature humor, Miyazaki's oeuvre makes us feel like we were young again. This is not as easy to accomplish as you think. Ponyo deserves all the customary compliments that Miyazaki usually receives. It is one of his most accessible films for the kiddies, and I think the parents need to recognize that. Sometimes the adults assume what their kids will enjoy, and therefore might dismiss Miyazaki. They need to give him a chance. Ponyo is a work of art that would stay with them forever.

The 411: As far as I’m concerned, Hayao Miyazaki’s films should be in just as many theaters as every other children’s film. Sadly, this was not the case for his 10th feature. The film made boatloads of money in Japan, but barely made a splash here because it was in a small number of theaters scattered across the states. The fact is, Ponyo is another breathtakingly superb film from a master at work. He has not lost his touch, and I am so glad to have seen at least one of his films on the big screen. Do yourself a favor and try to do the same. This is a great experience.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]