The movie opens with a young boy named Shawn (David Henrie) being brought to visit his Aunt Jessica's country home for some rest and relaxation before he has to undergo a serious heart surgery. Upon arriving, he spies what appears to be a tiny girl amongst the garden. Meanwhile, under the floorboards of the home, we meet Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler), her serious father, Pod (Will Arnett, SNL) and her overreacting mother, Homily (Amy Poehler, SNL), all members of the miniature family who inhabit the home. Tonite is to be Arrietty's first "borrowing" and she couldn't be more excited, but things go sideways when she is spotted by Shawn when trying to borrow a tissue and, worse yet, she drops her cube of sugar. She and her father have to return home empty-handed and lie to her mother about being spotted, since that is one of Homily's greatest fears.
Arrietty soon realizes that Shawn wants to be friends when she spies the lost sugar cube and a note on a low window sill, clearly left for her. Her parents advise her to leave it, because no good can ever come of a "Human Bean" discovering their existence, but Shawn is insistent and soon he and Arrietty become fast friends. Arrietty is disheartened to learn that Shawn is sick and must undergo an operation, but appreciates the things he tries to do for her family like giving them a brand new kitchen, one hand-crafted from the beautiful doll house that his Grandfather once made (specifically for the little people he knew lived beneath his home). Unfortunately, Aunt Jessica's meddling cleaning lady, Hara (Carol Burnett), is determined to expose the little people for the thieves she believes them to be, and she goes so far as to trap Arrietty's mother and call an exterminator! With her family in grave danger and a dangerous journey ahead of them to find a new place to live, it seems unlikely that Arrietty can continue her friendship with Shawn, but she soon comes to learn an important lesson about trust and friendship.
I was a huge fan of the live action version of The Borrowers many years ago, but I also really enjoyed The Secret World of Arrietty. It's a really sweet story and the voice actors did a great job of conveying their characters. Carol Burnett as Hara was a bit over the top, as was Amy Poehler as Homily, but that was the idea for those characters. Kudos to Studio Ghibli for their superb animation. There was so much detail in Arrietty's world, it was incredible, and even, at times, a bit distracting with so many little things going on.
Special features are somewhat sparse and include a handful of Japanese trailers and TV spots, the original Japanese storyboards, two music videos and a making-of for the Disney music video. The main draw is the film, however, and it looks absolutely stunning in high def.
The Secret World of Arrietty is a great film for children of all ages, including grown-up ones. It's a heart-warming, sweet, gorgeous to look at story that is sure to please all ages.
