Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart (2013) User Reviews

Just... a gem.

[RafVne2 · 7/10 · 9 July 2014]

I generally like animation movies, ever since Shrek I guess. This one is quite amazing. It's not your typical Disney, or Pixar production. It's French, Belgian production, and you can see cultural differences influencing it, especially music and songs. I just loved the first duet of the main characters. That tune is so catchy, melody will surely get stuck in your mind.

How great is it, that we live in the world with so many different cultures. Unfortunately world is becoming more and more bland, end everything you see seems to be the same.

...but occasionally, you find a gem like that.

It's different so it may not be to everyones liking. OK so that's the good, the bad is, story kind of drags on at few moments. Anyways it's worth checking out, even if just because of the style.

It's rather aimed at adults as a sort of animated art form musical, but kids should enjoy it too.

Fabulous movie

[abinwv · 8/10 · 11 February 2017]

We think this movie is fabulous. Both my kids love it and have watched it several times. They are 7, boy and girl. They enjoy the music and artistry. some of the topics are fairly serious but I find most kids see movies for what they are, Fun entertainment. They aren't looking for deeper meaning or emotional attachments. If they want to discuss the movie content, we do , but they mostly just enjoy the show. I suppose this movie isn't for all kids. My kids also enjoy Book of Life, which is also on the odd side. As for the "jack the ripper" part ,my kids have no idea who that is. It was just a scary looking character. They didn't pay that much attention to it.

Love is dangerous, even in your dreams, so dream softly

[ArchonCinemaReviews · 8/10 · 4 September 2014]

This whimsical animated french film about love is a delightful treat.

Jack is a boy who with a heart condition and mustn't feel any emotion in excess, you see he has a cuckoo clock for a heart. Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart is a fanciful tale from creator Mathias Malzieu.

Malzieu's Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart is a hopeless love story of a morose young fellow cursed with a faulty cuckoo heart. Not only that, this melancholic boy turned tormented teen falls in love for a girl with rose tendrils as hair who is visually impaired from crying tears of ice. The romance is doomed as his adopted mother Madeline informs him a single kiss could stop his ticking heart.

The poetic narrative twists and turns and Jack's troubles are Shakespearean, full of misguided choices and fallacious offenses. Some would say the adventitious plot is careless and designless but I think that is where the artistry lies.

The animation is dark and Gothic, decidedly Burtonesque with a Henry Selick or Laika quality yet simultaneously original. While CGI, the animation has a unique marionette picturebook characteristic. The characters are fresh and inexplicably bewitchingly fantastic – from a a bespectacled feline with metallic whiskers, a man with a xylophonic spine, to an angelic woman (women?) with wings and two heads. We don't actually know why this 19th century setting is so magical but it is imaginative enough to not care, especially when Jack lands at the carnival.

Unable to find the original French language version with English subtitles I was consigned to viewing the English dubbed version. While adequate I do wish I could have listened to the songs as they were written and the initially cast French actors. The music is lovely and moving and the English lyrics keep up.

More reviews of recent releases can be found at our website.

admirable work

[Kirpianuscus · 2 September 2017]

it is one of films who you expect. for long, long time. because, in a beautiful, touching, unique form , it is a film about yourself. and this is the most important thing. it is a trip in the heart of childhood, the old fashion childhood. and this transforms it in a gem. the source of its special spell/magic - the great work of Mathias Malzieu. . his novel. his adaptation. and, his Jack. it is difficult to define it. it is not perfect and this is one of basic good things. it is not Pixar or Disney and this is the second virtue. it is a meet with well known characters from old, oldies stories . and it is enough. because, in fact, it is a an admirable game of imagination.

Superb Visuals, Plot Faltered

[ken558 · 6/10 · 1 April 2015]

The visual animation of this movie is notches above the average Pixar and Disney fare, especially in its attention to details and inventiveness, framed from interesting perspectives with captivating clarity.

It started of with enough heart ('cuckoo' no-doubt) and sufficient bizarre to draw you in. Unfortunately, about a quarter of the way through the plot starts to falter with too many unnecessary songs that doesn't add to the story but only detracts from it - songs that are averagely catchy but tend to be repetitive and too pop-oriented to capture the essence of the movie.

The reason for all the intrusive songs is as follows from Wikipedia: "Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart is based on the concept album by the French rock band Dionysos, and on the illustrated novel La Mécanique du cœur written by the band's lead singer Mathias Malzieu. The music of the film was entirely composed by Dionysos"

May have worked as an audio album, but for this movie, Luc Besson (one of two producers) should have instructed that the visuals and the story alone be allowed to do the "singing", backed by good inspiring theme music.

The English dubbing (from the original French) is definitely one of the better done ones - I suspect many (but not all) of the original French actors, also did the voice-over in English, including most (but not all) the songs.

Overall, would still strongly recommend this animation, if but for the visual feast alone!

In this odd little animated love story, you watch one young boy's journey from Edinburgh to France all for perhaps one kiss.

[Amari-Sali · 7/10 · 7 September 2014]

It is rare to find English language animated films not done by Disney or Dreamworks, or have their label on it for American distribution, so imagine finding a film which looks like a low budget Tim Burton film. One which, like most Disney movies, is a musical of sorts and has its own prominent director with Luc Besson (director of Lucy & The Family). But the question is: with this film barely having much buzz or news around it, does that mean it is bad or that simply it just doesn't have a good marketing push?

Characters & Story

Poor little Jack (Mathias Malzieu) was abandoned by his mother on the day he was born and left with the rumored town witch Madeline (Marie Vincent/ Emily Loizeau). A woman incapable of having children of her own, but was given little Jack to be her son. Issue is, Jack was born on the coldest day ever known and the cold froze his little heart. So, being that Madeline is quite skilled in replacing body parts with things around the house, she decides to replace Jack's heart with a cuckoo clock.

Something which leads to quite a bit of difficulty for Jack. If just because of the rules involved with having a cuckoo clock heart: 1. He can never touch the clock's hands; 2. He must always watch his temper; and most of all, 3. He cannot fall in love. All of these issues Madeline kept Jack safe from for as long as she could, but on his 11th birthday she takes him into town, perhaps for the first time ever in his life, and naturally he falls in love at first sight.

Leading to the heart of our story which deals with Jack trying to live a normal life. One in which he deals with the issues that come with loving a woman like Miss Acacia (Olivia Ruiz). Issues which are distance, since she moves away; dealing with his own jealousy and Joe's (Grand Corps Malade), who looks like a bootleg Robert Pattinson; and a slew of other emotions which put a heavy load on Jack's cuckoo clock heart. Leaving you to wonder, in the pursuit of love will Jack find bliss, misery, or perhaps the end of his mortality?

Praise

If you look at the basic premise of the story, a boy with a weak heart falling in love, you have a wonderful tale. One which has lots of cute moments between Jack and Miss Acacia, with a handful of songs, in the beginning, which really highlight their tale of love at first sight well. Then, on top of that, you have a slew of interesting characters like Madeline, and those who she has fixed with wooden legs, or a xylophone spine, which presents a whole other story you wish was explored. Yet, even without the information you seek, just the oddness of every character, and the animation which isn't the most complex, and yet still is quite beautiful, the film is a treat for the eyes.

Criticism

But what makes this movie a bit difficult to like, without pause, is the music and the dialog. Starting with the music, the band Dionysos recorded all the music for the movie and, to me, it has a David Bowie type vibe, and not in a good way. Think some of his music in Labyrinth to get the general feel of the music in the film. Which isn't to say all the songs are bad, some in the beginning I liked, and Miss Acacia's Spanish numbers were good, but for the most parts the songs I wanted to mute for lyric wise they weren't interesting, and the voices in front of the music didn't help much either.

Moving to the topic of dialog, what I want to convey is while the story is good, i.e. what happens throughout the movie, the dialog really isn't. For, in my opinion, like the music, the more you watch the movie the more flaws and things to dislike you'll find. Like when the story is set in Edinburgh things are for the most part are good, but with the travel to France, and the introduction of Melies (Jean Rochefort), the only saving grace is Miss Acacia. For with Melies, him talking about love, among other topics, and then, anything not featuring solely Miss Acacia and Jack, just seems like people are talking for the sake of taking up time and not making any sense, or really adding to the story much.

Leading to my last issue: Joe. To me, Joe's presence in the film is overkill and so unnecessary. In my opinion, it would have perhaps been better to cut Joe and just make Jack ostracized without Joe being the central bully. Much less have him come around at the most opportune time to reveal the rules of Jack's heart to Acacia. After all, between Madeline's patients, Melies, or Jack himself, there were many better ways to reveal the rules without the happenstance of Joe showing up on the most important day of Jack and Miss Acacia's burgeoning relationship.

Overall: TV Viewing

I am on the border of saying to skip this due to the music, Joe's character, and the dialog; however, I really do like the romantic story of Miss Acacia and Jack, as well as Jack's relationship with Madeline, to the point I, with some hesitation, am going to label this TV Viewing. For while Jack's relationships aren't written to be so grand they will leave a precedent in your mind, his relationship with Miss Acacia is cute enough to deal with all the nonsense surrounding it.

Moulin Rouge + Hugo + Frozen= This amazing film

[mkleffke · 9/10 · 28 February 2015]

While the dialogue is a little muddled due to its French and English combination, that seems to be the only flaw of "Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart." The animation is simply incredible. As George Melies, a character in the story, would put it: "A labor of love down to the last detail!" The characters themselves look like porcelain dolls, and the story is so captivating with its stunning visual effects and dream-like sequences. You are immediately drawn in by the active imagination of the hopeless romantic protagonist, and the struggle he faces while living with a mechanical heart. This film touches upon the same kind of romance as "Moulin Rouge," the stunning aesthetic of "Hugo," and the complexity of ice and love in "Frozen." At first glance it may look silly, but after giving it a chance, I was not disappointed. If you love musicals, animation, and a story that is heartwarming as well as heart wrenching, then you will absolutely love "Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart."

Artistic Gem

[peggytoes · 7/10 · 14 January 2015]

This animation is definitely unique and different from any other animation I've seen! It is an artistic masterpiece, has a very clever story, unique music that I totally did not expect, and of course just absolutely wonderful animation! I do highly recommend this movie for the age group of 13 on up. I don't believe younger children will understand the story line.

I'm an artist and LOVE to see different types of animation as it helps me to sculpt and create differences.

Jack and The Cuckoo Clock Heart isn't as "dark" as some of Tim Burton's works, but still has a little gloomy feel to it. At first I wasn't sure I liked it, but seeing it through ... I LOVE IT!

A very odd film

[CubsandCulture · 9/10 · 22 October 2019]

I saw this in English. I suspect that a fair amount of nuance of the script, lyrics is lost in translation. Much of the film is incoherent if you think about, even more so than other fantasias. I am still not entirely sure what happened in the end. This largely works in the film's favor because the oddness of the text fits the visually whimsy. This feels very much like an early Burton film and it has same sense otherworldly quality.

The animation is gloriously expressive. They really push the style into some surreal and dream like images. It is a lot more striking then the generic photoreal stuff that you get in a ton of American animation. I might not understood what was happening at all times but I did understand the emotion-a rich melancholy-because the animation and the music let me know.

This was a very good film.

Bizarre and poetic, with a creaky story salvaged by inventive ideas and stunning designs.

[shawneofthedead · 6/10 · 5 November 2014]

What do you get when you animate a French art-house film and flood it with an oddball mix of music that flits from rock opera to folk-pop and back again? Something a lot like Jack And The Cuckoo-Clock Heart. At its best, the film is a sumptuously animated treat teeming with ideas and metaphors. But it also bears a few telltale, creaky signs of being a passion project for co-director Mathias Malzieu – lead singer of the French rock band Dionysos, who came up with both the concept and the soundtrack.

Jack (voiced by Malzieu) is born on the coldest day in recorded history – a day so cold that his heart literally freezes and stops beating. His mother takes him to Madame Madeleine (Marie Vincent/Emily Loizeau), the village 'witch' who replaces Jack's ticker with an actual cuckoo clock. The operation gives Jack life, but will cost him love. As Madeleine warns him in dire tones, falling in love will overheat his mechanical heart and thus must be avoided at all costs. Of course, Jack promptly meets the shortsighted and utterly enchanting Miss Acacia (Olivia Ruiz), a girl he decides to follow across Europe when he's accidentally exiled from his hometown.

Frankly speaking, the script of Jack And The Cuckoo-Clock Heart is a bit of a mess. A tangle of steampunk and Gothic romance, it never really settles down into a coherent tale. Instead, its characters literally waltz through the film, singing deeply poetic rock songs in varyingly awkward blends of English and French, but only rarely forging believable connections with one another or the audience. That's probably because the film was assembled around a Dionysos concept album of cabaret songs that was later adapted into a novella. As a result, both story and characters somehow pull off the strange trick of being both simple and forced.

And yet, for all the stutterings of its narrative engine, Jack And The Cuckoo-Clock Heart is an oddly charming experience. This is due in no small part to its incredibly inventive character design and fantastic visuals. Madeleine sprouts tendrils when she must venture out of her comfort zone and into town, while the wooden cuckoo nestled in Jack's heart literally springs to chirping life every hour. Miss Acacia's travelling-circus home teems with wonderfully weird characters – a tiny world upon itself, populated by freaks who swirl around her as she dances to a flamenco beat.

Indeed, if you give yourself over to Jack And The Cuckoo-Clock Heart, the strange poetry out of which it's been meticulously constructed will start to work its magic. There's considerably more joy to be had in just enjoying the film for what it is, rather than puzzling over its slight and confused story. On this count, you'll be rewarded with the kind of imaginative mayhem that can only unfold in an animated film. Buoyed by the power of love, Miss Acacia literally floats on clouds and dances in the sky. The film doesn't so much reference the work of iconic surrealist filmmaker Georges Méliès as co-opt it – he's a full-fledged character in the film (voiced by Jean Rochefort), an inventor who tinkers with Jack's heart and finds inspiration for his fantastical films in the peculiar universe of Miss Acacia's circus.

Most of us have grown up on a steady diet of Disney and Pixar films which, while oftentimes brilliant, are characterised by linear storytelling which young children can grasp with ease. Jack And The Cuckoo-Clock Heart refuses to be bound by such strictures, instead dallying in the realm of bittersweet poetry. Its ending perversely manages to be happy and sad all at once, which fits very well with the off-kilter oddness that characterises the entire film. That can make for a deeply frustrating experience, but also a curiously rewarding one.

Incoherent and unemotional

[ddangtruong23 · 4/10 · 11 February 2015]

The idea overall is very promising: a boy with a clock as the heart must find a way to control his feelings for a girl or his heart might stop. However, the execution is embarrassingly bad.

After the first 10 minutes, which were decent, the movie starts rushing and skipping over details for no reason. First, the boy meets the girl of his dream, with whom he falls in love within seconds. Then the girl disappears, so he decides to attend her school, in which he meets a bunch of bullies, and BAM, years are skipped and he turns into a teenager. By this point, the girl and the boy still haven't had any significant on screen interactions except that one initial meeting, yet she still gives him a gift box for some reason, and somehow that gift turns up in the hands of his bully, and fighting ensues. Just like that, the movie keeps going in a very confusing and messy fashion. Many characters appear without warning only to disappear within minutes, and their emotions and motivations are rarely explored. Moreover, the relationship between the two main characters is so unconvincing that even Disney's films from 1960s can do better.

Nevertheless, the animation is pretty good. Some parts actually look great, both in technology and style, especially the musical sequences. Still, I really don't like the character style used here as it makes the characters quite creepy and emotionless.

I also find the music pretty boring, but that might be a consequence of the English dubbing, which is terrible by the way.

In conclusion, if you're a die-hard animation fan, you might want to check 'Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart' for the visuals. Other than that, I'm afraid this movie has nothing else to offer.

lol

[mfmfmfmfmfmf · 10/10 · 2 June 2017]

//SPOILERS//

Starting off I thought maybe I'd enjoy it. Seeing the prego lady I was instantly concerned. Her baby came out as a fully grown toddler, someone send her prayers???? THEN she goes "YEET" and leaves her baby with some old lady who needs a hairstylist, and collects tears on the DL. She also takes out his heart and replaces it with a clock but idk if that is important. Then this kid goes out and falls in love with this Spanish chick cause they sang together for .000005 seconds (send her prayers too cause like random thorns kinda pop up all over her ????). THEN Edward Cullen shows up and he spittin fire like DRAKE. AND THEN Jack the FREAKING RIPPER shows up on a train. I was like HOLD UP, can we just PAUSE for a second. THIS KID j CHILLING on that train, and JACK the RIPPER starts singin him a song. I think this kiddo was a little suicidal cause he killed himself???? idk. He climbed snowflakes.

////SPOILER OVER////

If you wanna see a movie that gives you whiplash worse than a whip givin you a lash, then be my guest.

Don't take the kids!

[happycatpaws · 7/10 · 21 December 2014]

I kept thinking, I hope people have not taken children to this movie which is so bizarre and somewhat dark and could easily be disarming and cause nightmares in children. It seems similar to Tim Burton films, offbeat, weird and dark. On one hand it, you can say it was quite creative, but in a twisted strange way. It was as if someone had written the script while drinking absinthe and watching it made you feel like you were joining them. The musical score seemed like one that would accompany a stage production, quite elaborate. A portion of the dialogue when the bully character was confronting the main character, the boy, was written in poetry form and reminded me of Poe. After watching it awhile, I began to feel like it was too long, tedious and was hoping it would hurry and end soon. The end was clever, fitting and a bit touching. High marks for creativity, but too dark for children and just one of the strangest films I've ever seen.

Animation within an animation

[xylophone59 · 5/10 · 2 July 2014]

The porcelain characters were convincing; so much so they were able to bring the more cartoon- like Tinkerbell type character in over the top. I thought wait a minute that is animation within an animation. There were a lot of good elements. I liked the carnival scenes. It needed more suspense though. It dragged slightly towards the end I felt. It seemed too young for adults to watch and too old for children; and probably a tad insipid for teenagers.I wasn't sure whom it was aimed at. Some kids would lose interest and some adults would too for different reasons. It was a sincere movie and the animation was different and interesting. But somehow the story was a bit unconvincing even if you suspended your disbelief to enjoy the movie. I mean I bought into the movie to enjoy it but it did not grab me enough with any compelling elements or drag me along enough. It had a lot of good original components and ideas. but it needed more suspense and it did not create enough concern for the characters. But to be fair I kept thinking,"get that key back'. It seemed to sacrifice the overall plot in preference to style. Indeed it was very stylish animation. I don't think it will be a cult film in America because the English accents might be a bit foreign sounding for United States audiences to engage with. Its good but something indefinable seemed to be lacking. Yet it could have just been my own obtuseness. There were many things I liked about it but the story itself did not really take hold of me.

Beautiful

[jades_21 · 1 June 2016]

I love this movie. The music. The way the story is told. The characters.

A few nights ago my 5-year-old daughter and I sat down for movie night. We chose this. Of course she asked so many questions the whole way through, but she sat through the whole movie and talked about it for days. We sat down again and watched it the whole way through. She is a lover of music and of course wanted to hear the songs, sadly we could only find on YouTube in English. Anyway, the movie was simply beautiful. Tim Burton is one of my absolute favorite directors and this movie had a similar feel to it. I would definitely recommend this movie, and I have.

Interestingly different.

[paulclaassen · 6/10 · 3 July 2018]

Fantastic animation, and fantastic music, too. Truly unique and wondrously different love and adventure story.

The only drawback is the fact that the lovers are so young. It would have been such a perfect film if they were mature.

Awesome story, animation and colors (just don't watch it is Spanish)

[jorgeandresmb · 7/10 · 26 February 2024]

I truly enjoyed this movie, as I gave it the chance for a second time. The only (huge) problem is that I found it in Spanish and the company that made the dub destroyed it. The songs are awful (the actors are out of tune and the lyrics are without rhyme or musical sense). That made the experience difficult, as I believe that the original music and voices are not that bad (hopefully). I would never recommend the Spanish version.

It reminds me of The Night Before Christmas vibe, and Pinocchio's tale, and it has an obvious relationship with Hugo Cabret's movie (I'm not sure which came first). Make sure to enjoy it with an open mind, as it may be a little odd for people who prefer a story like Disney Animation Studios (main character and their enemy defined), as this one doesn't meet those expectations.

Grandiose

[ma-nus31 · 10/10 · 10 February 2014]

This film is full of poetry, of sincerity, of lightness embellished by intense emotions and sensations. The world of Dionysos is incredible. This is an animated film, but so much done for adults to me.

/ Spoiler /

The fact is that I was truly surprised by the young age of these lovers! So much maturity in such young minds. By thinking more deeply, it is true that with everything that has happened to him, he could be full of maturity, but he never leaves home before so long, he does not have many life experience. .. It is perhaps precisely what makes it great and innocent maturity. All told, this age might be well suited.

/ End spoiler;) /

A wonderful not to be missed movie!

French animation

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 28 August 2022]

Jack was born on the coldest day in memory. Midwife Madeleine managed to save him but he was born with an ice cold heart. Madeleine replaced his heart with a mechanical clock. As a boy, she warns him about falling in love. She fears that his heart couldn't take it.

The start has the feel of Tim Burton. Jack seems set to become Edward Scissorhands but I have issues. The opening is so strong but I don't like the mother simply walking away. She could have died in childbirth. Dead mothers always work for Disney. It would work better if Madeleine kept Jack isolated in that epic house. Maybe I want to recreate Scissorhands. I never feel much drama from this story. It moves deliberately. The animation style is interesting. I love the initial premise but the story lets me down.

Amazing!

[bowtiesarecool99 · 10/10 · 15 November 2014]

I loved this movie so much! The music is beautiful, and there is such a wide variety of music genres/styles as well. I definitely recommend it, and it is for sure my favorite movie! However, my two younger sisters who are 5 years and 4 years of age were not able to sit through it, though that might just be them. It is not like a Disney princess movie or anything on NickJr. The movie is very surrealistic, so if you don't like that type of thing then I do not recommend this to you. If you are thinking about watching it, maybe look up a few of the songs and watch those before deciding if you would like to watch the movie or not. I really do think it was brilliant!

An unusual French animated film

[freemantle_uk · 7/10 · 27 February 2021]

Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart was a French animated film that took its jolly sweet time to come to the UK, even though the English voice cast was British and the French version is unavailable in the UK. It was distracting to see the lip-syncing not matching the dialoguing.

Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart was an interesting film that looked like it came from the mind of Tim Burton. It looked fantastic due to its strange look like the accordion train and strange circus. The film was based on a concept album and a novel by Dionysos. And this was a double edge sword because the film did have some strong music but the plot seemed like an excuse to tie together some music videos. An example of this was the Jack the Ripper song which seemed pointless.

Despite the story issues there were still some moments of tragic beauty like the puppet show and the ending. I did find the lyric 'rip your clothes off with my teeth' (sung by a 10-year-old character) and the advice that seduction works best when it looks like you're not trying. Yep, it's a French film.

Sadly Samantha Barks only has two songs in the film. Most of her character's songs kept the French singer, Olivia Ruiz. This is despite Barks being known for singing .

Fantastic and creative animation, infantile and undeveloped plot

[cguldal · 5/10 · 22 March 2014]

The animation, the attention to detail, the dream sequences... What a treat! The squeaky, porcelain flesh animation of the human characters is not ideal, but the rest of the film is full of exquisite detail and various styles of animation that really make this a visual treat.

However, the plot leaves much to be desired. Perhaps some dialog and song lyrics fall short in translation. But this is not really the main issue. The real problem here is the lack of a proper story arc and character development. Except for Jack, and maybe his adoptive mother, characters are completely flat. They have no dimension, no motive, no real driving force. Sure, there is plenty of brooding mood and dark clouds and Gothic humor (of sorts), but these cannot substitute for story elements and development. At any given point in the "story," one is never sure why any character does what they do, really. Why is the bad guy, Joe, so against Jack to begin with? Sure, OK, he is a bully. And Jack hurts him. And he seeks revenge? How? A duel of wits? What? And why does the love interest leave with Joe? I know, she is upset that Jack didn't tell her that his heart will give out if he falls in love, oh, but wait, he did, and well, she kind of knew that, so what is exactly is the problem? And even if she is upset at Jack, there is NO reason she would leave, like leave leave with Joe... No reason. She seems completely indifferent to Joe.

In the end, the only truly impressive parts of the film are the dream sequences, where there is no real plot anyway. These excel and give a glimpse of the true potential of the film, and perhaps the vision of the creator.

On top of the lack of story arc that makes any sense and the lack of character development, the characters break into song rather randomly. Here, the awkward lyric translations really made us raise eye brows and look at each other quizzically.

In the end, we liked the dream sequences and the misfit family (+ the cat!) from Jack's childhood. I still would recommend the film for animation fans just for the visuals and the whimsical circus stuff, but do not expect anything deeper than a 12-year-old boy's fantasy of a love affair.

ps. Is she really supposed to be a flamenco dancer? Uhm, maybe check out some real flamenco, or not call her that. One or the other, because really, otherwise, it is an insult to flamenco and flamenco dancers to call her a flamenco dancer.

A Wonderful Film. One Of The Top Five Animated Features Of The Decade.

[rannynm · 10/10 · 27 October 2014]

I didn't think I could love French cinema any more than I do. I've watched some of the best of live-action French cinema, but I've never seen an animated French feature (produced by Luc Besson produced, no less). Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart kindled an interest in me to watch more French cinema.

The beautiful thing about this movie, other than the way it looks, is its style. It is based on a rock concept album by the rock band Dionysus, so it is a musical - a feature animated musical. Simply put, Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart is the best animated feature since Toy Story 3 (not counting The Wind Rises for the sake of our mostly American readers) and it is the best musical since Sweeney Todd and Hairspray.

The movie has a very unique animated look. It is not quite as clay animated as Mary and Max but not as "normal looking," per se, as Finding Nemo. It comes off as a cross between the two. I'll admit, I am no expert in the creation of animated films but I do know what works in a film. Another aspect of the film's look, its art direction, is quite beautiful. It is dark, mysterious and effective in its tone. Speaking of which - the tone is quite dark with an underlying feeling of loss and rejection.

Even the score, in its happiest moments, have a heavy feeling under the surface. Although love does find its way into the story and the objectives of the characters, loss and judgment resurface. The themes are quite adult and not appropriate for young children.

As to the finest aspect of the movie - the score and songs, I would love this to be turned into a Broadway musical. The style of the musical and the editing combined is reminiscent of Moulin Rouge, filled with vivacity and rapid pacing. The songs each carry their own beat and enhance the personalities of each character and its intentions. There is a mixture of ballads, rap, rock and even Latin. I would buy the soundtrack to this movie.

The story itself is about a boy born with a heart so weak that falling in love would be too much for him. The movie follows his early life where he inevitably falls in love (screenwriting 101) and the strength of his heart is put to the test.

I have learned over the years that just because a film is animated, it's not necessarily designed for children. Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart isn't exactly The Grave of the Fireflies but it is not for young children either. I recommend this film for ages 13 to 18. And my rating is 5 out of 5 stars. It is a wonderful film. It is one of the top five animated features of this decade.

Reviewed by Willie J.

Generally good-looking movies

[kiradykesky · 7/10 · 5 May 2020]

Various creative elements: the winter is too cold, the tears are frozen, the birds are frozen in the air, and they have fallen; the heart of the clock, the spine of the instrument; the girl 's inner body is covered with vines; the witch on the mountain is actually steam Punk scientist ... The picture is different from any animation I've seen. The soundtrack is very beautiful, but the story is very heartbreaking.

Bad when they sing, average when they don't

[voyou-703-655350 · 3/10 · 11 September 2014]

Out of curiosity, I watched both the French and the English-dubbed versions. The latter is slightly worse than the former, which isn't very good to begin with, except for some bits.

It's an animated musical, written and directed by Mathias Malzieu. The score is a rock album released in 2007 by the band Dionysos, in which Mr Malzieu sings. The album itself is adapted from a novel written by... Mathias Malzieu. Who also leads the cast of the movie. And like most multi-tasked artists, he isn't very good. I can't talk about the novel, but the movie's writing is poor. At least, the man sings in tune.

The worst of it all is definitely the score. The music is rather unpleasant and often out of place, but the French lyrics are so bad that they make the average lines of Grand Corps Malade sound good by comparison (the man wrote his own pieces.) When the French sing in English, it's even more ridiculous. The lyrics of the English version are also poor, but not because they lost something in translation.

The French cast is very uneven. The many artists invited to perform on the album also play their parts in the movie. Sure, they can sing, but some of them have no clue about acting. When seasoned veteran Jean Rochefort shows up as Melies, it's like a breath of fresh air. He steals the show and makes the film suddenly watchable. Unfortunately, the English version loses him, and all his charm; it also loses a few good voices for more neutral ones.

The animation is subpar for a French product, but not always. It plays with different styles along the story, sometimes with great effect.

Too bad it's a musical. It could have been good otherwise, losing the annoying songs and replacing some of the cast with proper actors in the process. That and some work on the script.