Expected something more

Rating: 6/10 (14 April 2018)

The biggest problem with this movie is the expectations it came with. It wouldn't be all too bad if this was an underground movie from an debuting director. But, knowing it came from the director of the beloved Pan's Labyrinth and even won an Oscar, things start to feel jittery.
The story is like a mix between Beauty And The Beast and Free Willy(!), with a sauce of Amélie Poulain. It is especially the latter reference that makes this movie charming in the beginning. Though, as the story progresses, it gets predictable and the characters become superficial. There are some nice shots here and there (the flooding bathroom scene), but as The National would sing, we expected something more.