Carlitopolis (2006) User Reviews

I agree with Bob the Moo--it looks very nice, but fails to deliver on its comedic promise

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 30 January 2008]

This is a clever little Film that is technically quite impressive and funny, but it just doesn't quite deliver--like a joke without an adequate punchline.

The film begins with a lecturer telling his audience that they will be able to see the inside of his box on the view screen. It seems that inside is a cute little mouse and it's pretty sick (but funny) when he begins doing horrible experiments on the poor animal. Don't worry, it's NOT real--but it sure looks rather real and I am sure it makes the PETA-loving types out there hemorrhage to see this! However, after two sick little "experiments", the final payoff just didn't do much of anything--it just fizzled. Oddly, the credits that followed were more exciting than the final "joke"--as you see the most adorable computer generated mouse sitting and reading a magazine as the credits roll.

Because the basic idea was very good and the graphics were well handled, I do look forward to more from this team--let's just hope the next time they think it through a bit more and provide a more consistent product.

Technically impressive but comedy-wise it doesn't totally realise the potential thanks to a slightly misfiring ending (spoilers)

[bob the moo · 18 July 2007]

22nd June 2005 in the Rodin Ampitheatre, Paris. Luis Nieto pushes the bounds of scientific experimentation in front of a packed audience of his peers. Using a live camera to ensure everything is visible, he utilises a single mouse for a series of experiments that blur science and comedy.

Although I am still on dial-up, I have started to dip into You Tube as a way of getting access to short films that get shown at North American festivals but will never reach me any way other than the net. The videos of people getting slapped, people video-blogging and son on, you can keep, but for the shorts I'll happily leave my computer alone for an hour to download a short (yes, I know this makes me seem an old man but I can't get broadband because, well, I fear change). Not all of them are good but you pays your money etc.

In this case the material is clever in concept and, although it doesn't quite fulfil its comedy potential, it is different and inventive enough to do the job. Essentially we have a mix of live action and computer animation. The blend is near seamless as the screen matches perfectly with Nieto reaching into the box. At first I didn't notice that this was the case although after the first "experiment" it was of course obvious. The second is funny and the third was funnier but I didn't think that have the mouse die was the best finish – a comedy reaction to the bomb would have been much better and in line with the rest of the material.

As it is though, I found this to be a simple short that does well with an amusing concept. Technically pretty impressive even it is not as funny as it should have been.

I, Too, Expected A Bit More At The End

[ccthemovieman-1 · 4/10 · 23 September 2008]

I have to agree with the other reviewers here that the ending was a disappointment, I was expecting something a little more dramatic, or humorous. Instead, I just wound up shrugging my shoulders and asking, a la Peggy Lee, "Is that all there is?" This is another sick humored entry in "The Animation Show" series, this one being available on the "Volume Three" DVD. Almost all of these are what you call "dark" humor. Most are quite clever. This is different in that it's half "real life" and half computer animated. The man is real; the mouse is not. Thank goodness for the latter, that he's not real although what happens to the little "Carlito" is fairly funny.

I'm sorry to see so many of these too-serious short films in this collection. The first two volumes were a lot more fun to watch, even though most of them featured dark humor. There is a difference between dark humor and/or wonderful creativity and simply a mean-spirited animated effort. The latter takes the enjoyment out of appreciating what good - such as original visuals - the author has offered us. This isn't as strong in that area as some of the others, but the lack of entertainment with a negative view of people and the world certainly is there. What happened to old-fashioned Bugs Bunny-type humor or animated shorts?