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Muumit Rivieralla (2014)

Moomins on the Riviera is the first actual Moomin film in 22 years; between these two are a couple of compilations of bits from the stop-motion TV series. This return is in no way a masterpiece. But it's about the Moomins going on holiday, why should you expect it to be? This charming adaptation of the comic strips gets everything right - Snorkmaiden's still a double-crosser, Little My still loves a bit of chaos and the urchins are still misunderstood. There is no gross-out humour in any form - the worst it can do is gambling, smoking and alcohol, all of which were in the original story. It's one thing for this to happen in the 50's, but in a family film completed in 2014 it's really something else. I was amused.

Like the Japanese adaptation of Comet in Moominland, the family brings Little My and a few other familiar characters with them, resulting in a couple of new subplots and especially more mischief to make them useful. While the whole thing's not entirely hilarious, adults are sure to get some of the chuckles from their children at times, including one of the characters doing a Prince and the Pauper routine as an excuse to stay in the Riviera. The voice cast in the English dub is full of Brits; with a story like this, I can't hear them speaking in any other accent. After all, our heroes are humble, simple folks who find themselves in aristocrat hell. There's no better place than simplicity, and given that I had to travel through the city to see this, I can relate.

Clearly this film had to be seen - it's the most hand-drawn film of the year, with absolutely no CG effects, and its characters have the kind of recognition the Smurfs have and look what happened to them. Perhaps I'm being a bit overenthusiatic with this whole festival experience, but I can assure any hardcore Moomin fans that this movie was made for you - it may not top Comet in Moominland, but is it really trying to? It's a refreshing film to watch in a time where familiar characters are getting the treatments they don't deserve, even during anniversaries, and that's all that matters.