User Reviews

I was browsing through IMDb when I stumbled upon the reviews of this movie. As a matter of fact, 6 months ago, I saw the Dutch dubbed version with 3 kids (one 6y, 2 10y).

I have to say, everybody enjoyed it. The 6y old even asked me to buy it on DVD. I wonder if the person who gave this a "1" even bothered to look at the movie at all...

Because I like Paris, I enjoyed the little details the French animators put in it. It really captures the Parisian atmosphere. The animation is in the same league as Megamind, Despicable Me etc. It's not as good as the Pixar/Dreamworks movies, but it was still very well done.

Some jokes worked, others didn't, but all in all I found it well worth the money.

I saw this movie yesterday. I was not expecting anything ; my boyfriend and I love cartoons, he chose it, I hat no idea what it was.

The beginning and exposition are a little slow, granted. But it is worth it, it allows you to enter peacefully in the story.

And as it goes on, the story gets more original as we see the monsters are not necessarily who we think.

I did not expect it to be a musical, too, and really, that's not it. But the story revolves around a singer, so she sings (and I stop here so as not to spoil). In french, she is voiced by Vanessa Paradis (yes, Jonnhy Depp's Vanessa) who is a pretty good singer and actress. The songs are pretty good, the other singer (pretty famous in France, too) add some poetry to the thing, but the music is not too much. There is no singing for no reason like in the Disney cartoons.

The rendering of Paris, during the great flood of 1910 (true story) in very well done and the atmosphere is beautiful.

There are a few situation jokes ; you don't explode with laughter but it's funny and you can see that the writers prepared them carefully (the thief joke, for instance). Plus, in the french version, there a plenty of little allusions and puns that are really fun.

All in all, a very enjoyable experience for kids or adults.

The Computer-Generated Imagery is absolutely fabulous: it creates a fantastic and wonderful atmosphere kindly inviting the spectators to immerse themselves in the Paris of 1910, partially submerged by an exceptional flood. There is a lot of poetry and tenderness.

In the original version, the main characters are interpreted by Matthieu Chedid (better known under the pseudonym -M-), François Cluzet, the delicious and well-known Vanessa Paradis. The songs are beautifully interpreted with two versions of 'La Seine'. The first one is without -M-, with slight and voluntary low spirits. The second one, with -M-: this time Vanessa Paradis offers us an interpretation full of vitality and charm!

As a synthesis: a major cartoon for all the family. 6/7 of 10

This is not quite Pixar, but not quite awful either. It goes for a polished look similar to what we've seen in mainstream American animation, with the soft-lit cartoonish CG similar to that of Dreamworks and Pixar, and comes very close to matching their visual flair despite a more modest budget. It's pretty clear that they're hoping for commercial appeal rather than art-house obscurity here, but the film wants to have it both ways, mixing clichéd humor and characters with artistic flourishes and occasional moments of brilliance. There should be more than enough here to appeal to kids.

It's a pleasant enough experience overall and ultimately it wins you over ... but at the same time in a lot of ways it doesn't quite make it. For starters the whole story concept is painfully contrived. But this much is clear even from the shortest synopsis, so I was prepared going in.

Among the highlights of the film are the many appealing visuals drawn from the period Parisian setting. Another highlight is the rich musical score. These almost make the film a cut above, were it not weighed down by some of the more mundane elements.

On the whole it's flawed, but it does have its moments, and is worth a look.

Okay, so I wanted to go to the cinema with my little brother, the only problem was that i'd seen most of the films that were on at the time. So we decided to see 'a monster in Paris'. I admit, I didn't expect much from this movie, but I was surprised. Sure, the jokes are not funny and there are some continuity errors, but it was actually a pretty decent movie. It had solid animation, great voice acting and it knocked a couple of hours of my dull day. I found it a little strange how the 'monster' Franceur could sing. This film is certainly better than other foreign animations that made the swap into English, e.g 'Animals united'. You could certainly be dragged to the cinema with a younger family member to much worse films. Plus the singing sections fit in with the movie and were not annoying as hell. In most kid's musical animations the singing is random and the songs are terrible and cheesy. this film has characters that connect with you, even though there's not many. Overall, this film is a great one to watch with the kids, it wouldn't be a bad idea to wait for the DVD though.

A very enjoyable kids' movie which pays homage to other 'monster'-classics like Frankenstein, The Phantom of the Opera and King Kong. A feast for the eyes and a classic story with a twist in which losers become heroes, heroes become villains and a monster turns out quite different to what we expect. Well not really, because all monsters are misunderstood gentle souls and greedy ambitious people always turn out to be the real monsters. The story is accompanied by beautiful songs. I regret to have seen the English version because I just know the original French chansons must be even better. My 4 year old daughter, 11 year old son and I loved it and my wife quite enjoyed as well. Certainly not a waste of money like some of the other reviewers said.

OK. First and foremost it's a kids film. On the whole all kids films are reviewed by adults on IMDb and therefore shouldn't be reviewed like Saving Private Ryan or the Green Mile. My 3 and 5 year old enjoyed the film, the characters and the music and came out smiling afterwards. Not as good as other children's films such as The Incredibles or Finding Nemo (larger budget I imagine), but certainly in the ballpark of Despicable Me or Megamind. Either way, lovely animation of Paris, interesting storyline, and for me it gave the adults enough to keep watching, or is that because I had a crush on Vanessa Paradis when I was 14?

I will admit at first when I first saw the trailer I wasn't entirely drawn in. But since being a fan of animation and learning from films like Lilo and Stitch, Galaxy Quest, Tangled and Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame(all examples of movies that had trailers that either didn't appeal or were misleading, but the actual film I enjoyed or was blown away by) that you shouldn't judge a movie by their trailer. I really liked A Monster in Paris, the beginning may take a little too much time to get going and like the concept there are one or two bits that seem a teensy- bit contrived. However, the way the film is written, ensures that it is all very light-hearted, with a sense of fun, a lot of charm and a big heart at its centre. The characters are still engaging, who doesn't love Franceur, and the voice acting is very dynamic. The humour is nothing absolutely extraordinary, but I was still amused by it. What I did like too were the references to early horror movies, looking at the Monster's disguise you immediately think of the Invisible Man, there are some exciting chase scenes and there is nothing overly-sentimental. There were three things though that stood out. One was the atmosphere, A Monster in Paris has such a lovely and nostalgic feel to it, seeing as that is exactly the feeling I got when I went to Paris I felt the film evoked this very well. It is a very rich film musically, with songs that completely bewitch you with their simplicity and beauty and a score that is enchanting in melody and like the atmosphere gives a sense of nostalgia. And the animation is stunning, the characters are all well-modelled and there is a clean and bright colour palette but the stars were the city landmarks, which I loved spotting, and the period setting. Overall, a very good film, not completely perfect, but better than the rating it's got at the moment and one of the more pleasant animated films of the year. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Un mostre à Paris, AKA The monster at France (2011) Is an insanely fun adventure for all the family! The introduction was like nothing i had ever seen - So powerful and teary eyed... Sean Lennon really knows how to pull a heart string with his melodies. (His dads jeans really shine through) My jaw dropped when he sang "La Seen" I cant say the kids felt the same xD i was head over heals at the sight of the beast and his beauty, Tres Bien! My critiques lie with the Raoul and Luciles relationship. Are you kidding me Dreamworks? Toxic love is definitely a No Go, No Show. Don't worry, i'm not heartless! The green man and his wife were a lovely couple, they really represented the French Romance the movie was missing! This movie is an overall hit or miss, if you don't get the jokes you've probably never read "Catch-22" Which is definitely the movies main source of inspiration besides "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and the classic sherlocks!

(2011) A Monster In Paris COMPUTER ANIMATION/ FAMILY

The movie is exactly what the title is about except that the so-called monster is really a misunderstood giant flea, accidentally created by a douche Raoul (Gad Elmaleh) who was initially informed not to touch anything from this preservation green house upon delivering bags of soil. The real star is Emile (Sébastien Desjours) trying to gain confidence into asking his crush Lucille ( Vanessa Paradis ) since they work together- Emile as a projectionist while Lucille works in a ticket booth. The movie takes place during the early 1900's but while watching it, consists many unavoidable moments. While I like the art, I can't stand stupidity who is Emile's friend named Raoul since none of this would've happened in the first place had he listened. And out of all living things to make a monster from, why does it have to be made from a disgusting little flea which this particular one was made as affectionate. Obviously inspired by 'The Phantom Of The Opera', 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' and Pixar's "Up" because of the blimp scene, but contains situations that are avoidable, such as the scene when the blimp caught onto the vehicle the main characters were riding on, why can't they just jump out instead of continuing to hang on. And they're also scenes which I was incapable to understand, such as a vehicle dropping onto a small boat, and the boat doesn't sink right away nor was their even a splash upon the vehicle falling on top of it. All this means is that I've seen animations better than this.

Having seen the preview and admired the cityscapes, I was disappointed to see that here in Israel the movie was strictly a matinée feature and dubbed into Hebrew. No showings for us folks who work during the day and would prefer subtitled French. I picked up a pirated copy, which turned out to be dubbed into English. I found the opening tribute to early French cinema a little tiresome, but I have no problem being patient while a well-deserved tribute is made. Then as the archetypal Parisian characters were introduced, I found the portraiture amusing. There was a long wait before the title character appeared and before the first song, and I found the first song less interesting than the later ones (although that may be intentional). The dance movements were nicely animated although a little sexy for a children's movie; overall I think the movie seems to have been conceived under the philosophy of "something for everyone" rather than "everything for kids." After a while, the stereotyped characterizations wore thin and there seemed to be less compensation for those of us missing 3D. I actually fell asleep during the big chase sequence near the end, which I suppose was some kind of a roller-coaster ride for the 3D audience. By the time it was over, the movie had evidently achieved everything it wanted although not always a lot of it at the same time.

I usually love anything set in the Paris of 1900s, but this movie is clearly an exception. Like many products thought for both children and adults, it's a bit boring for everyone. The locations and the backgrounds are gorgeous but I didn't especially like the characters' design. The songs are nice but the pacing is a little meh.

Not an unforgettable movie but still good for an afternoon/evening with the little ones

Generally speaking this will be very familiar to anyone who has watched an animated feature in the last twenty to thirty years, and 3D animated features specifically. The animation itself is crisp and smooth, and while it's not altogether remarkable there's plentiful detail throughout, especially in backgrounds and environments. The characters and the relationships between them are defined by classic archetypes; individual threads and the broad strokes of the narrative take their cues from other titles that have dabbled with fantasy, adventure, and light comedy. Yet for all those ways in which 'Un monstre à Paris,' or 'A monster in Paris,' may share kinship with its contemporaries and forebears, filmmaker Bibo Bergeron has nevertheless built it from the ground up with skill and intelligence, and meaningful heart and fun. This is pretty terrific!

Matthieu Chedid's score is just as rich and flavorful as one might hope of any similar fare, but the individual songs that he wrote to be sung as part of the storytelling - a staple of animation for decades now - are simply a joy. Bergeron also capitalizes on such moments to provide a bit more of an outright spectacle for the tale, to delightful results. To that point, more widely some shots and scenes are kind of brilliant and imaginative, showing that for all which this picture shares with its brethren, sharp wit is not least among the commonalities. 'Un monstre à Paris' is crafted above all with a mind for engaging escapades and good-natured humor, so there are plenty of scenes that fulfill either or both ends along the way as the plot takes shape of love, mishaps, heroism, and the appearance of an extraordinary creatures on the streets of the City of Lights. It's more pleasing still that while Emile and Raoul are primarily centered as protagonists, Lucille shows herself to be very independent and capable, more a leading lady than a damsel in distress.

I think the resolution of the climax, and the denouement to follow in the last minutes, gets a tad heavy-handed in the writing as everything is wrapped up. Setting that aside, I don't know if I could say that there's anything about this so singular as to demand viewership; it's solid and entertaining, but not necessarily something one needs to go out of their way to see. Even at that, there are no more substantive criticisms to come to mind, for Bergeron and his collaborators have made an enjoyable, satisfying animated movie that fits neatly among so many others of this type, and occupies a tier somewhere in the lower to upper middle. Anyway, there's hardly a rule that says every title has to be a proverbial lightning bolt; this is more than suitable to provide a good time, and that's all that it needs to be. Appropriate for all ages, I'm confident that 'Un monstre à Paris' is something that anyone could appreciate; it may not need to be a top priority, but if you do have the opportunity to watch it's worth checking out.

In the US, the DVD for this film only has the English language version of this French cartoon. The same goes for Netflix. Interestingly, in Canada BOTH versions come on the DVD and I wish we had that option here in the States.

The story is odd to say the least. A flea is accidentally dosed with some chemicals and grows to human-size--larger, actually. However, an odd lady chanteuse falls sorry for the nice bug and helps hide him from baddies who want to destroy him and have convinced most everyone that the flea is a horrible monster. Together with her two male friends, the three humans have adventures with the flea and explore the streets and neighborhoods of Paris.

The plot to this film is okay, but what really impressed me was the nice computerized graphics. The film is nearly as nice looking as a Dreamworks or Pixar film but also has a look about it that is uniquely French. I particularly liked seeing Montmartre and Sacre Coueur--magnificent places that look even better in this nice film.

Overall, an enjoyable film that probably would appeal more to older children than young ones due to the style of characters and types of songs in the movie.

A Monster in Paris is a unique uplifting kid's movie. My niece and nephew loved it. It seems the female lead character dressed as an angel is funny and beautiful, my nieces words. Now my nephew on the other hand was more interested in the monster in the film. This is one of those films that you can watch with your young ones and still be amused yourself. The melody's that we were treated to, were both exceptional and catchy. At one point my niece commented that she loved the way the little angel lady was singing. Now, she wants to be an angel/ballerina who sings. Very good movie, which had a strong underlying message to young ones a must see with the kiddies.

There's always something fun about watching an animation that doesn't come from a big studio. A Monster in Paris is a charming little CGI animation that mixes the traditional Disney fairytale formula with romantic French Gothic literature such as Phantom of the Opera and Hunchback of Dame. Two bungling friends make a delivery to a scientist who is out of town, his ape butler invites them in and they start messing with his formulas. They accidentally create a large Flea monster that escapes into the night. As people begin to fear the monster, a young singer discovers he is gentle and has an exquisite singing voice. But the police commissioner is already on the trail, hoping the slaying of he monster will bring him fame and fortune. The animation is wonderful, if sometimes a little stiff, and the character designs are very enjoyable. I was also very impressed with how the film mixes bright colourful daytime scenes, and then hints at darker horror with fog filled nights. The relationships between characters are built up nicely, and there is more going on than in your usual animated family film. Towards the end it shrugs off the darker tones for more family friendly slapstick, and exciting action adventure chases. This is where it kind of betrays those tragic love stories, but I understand this is for kids.The songs range in styles and quality. It was fun to hear the voice of Sean Lennon as the monstrous flea. He has a very distinctive style, far removed from his late father's. It's one of those films where all involved should be proud, but may wish to take some greater risks in the future.

This movie has been a favourite of mine since I first saw it when I was young. I will always appreciate the wonderful soundtrack and the great visuals, and the plot is fun and unique the first time and enjoyable every time after.

One of the love stories (there are 2) seems a little forced to some, but kids definitely wouldn't notice and most older folks probably won't care.

The animation is very accomplished and clearly comprised of great talent, but the narrative sadly lets the film down. Though a clear narrative around the monster, there is a lack of character development with side characters being introduced before main characters, and too many tangents that go unfulfilled. Ultimately this makes the film a little boring, ending rather suddenly after uncertain attempts at romance. Despite an optimistic approach to music (with dance sequences being clearly the best parts of the film) there are only three or four songs, and it would have benefited from having singing throughout if it was going to use it at all (especially with the monster). The use of American voices is, in my opinion, rather forced, and the film would do better to have subtitles and be left in French as previously intended. All this said it was good fun, and I would recommend it as a wonderful example of french animation. Then again, from a completely blunt aspect, it does not have the promising narrative and scripting of its Pixar/Dreamworks rivals. In short - the monster is endearing. The other characters really have no place in the plot line.

I really loved this film from the beginning, but my interest petered out after the halfway mark. The characters and voice acting are all very distinct and really draws the audience into their lives. The Parisian setting is well rendered and nostalgic (if a bit empty). The quirky scenes like the lab, the straw coat and the modified truck were all quite entertaining and creative. The musical sequences combining Franceour and the singer were also quite well done. However, the "Gaston" equivalent in this film was too single-minded and not quite as charming, so his single-minded pursuit of the "Beast" felt too contrived. What follows is an odd mishmash of unattended subplots, camerawork/editing that skips about and a hollow ending.

The idea was interesting enough. But the story itself wasn't.

I suppose I could say the the songs in this movie were the only good parts to it. And even they were mediocre at best.

Other than that, characters were neither lovable nor loathsome, mostly falling flat and not inspiring much of anything for me.

Lucille, for example was way too slim and ugly as... You get it. Raoul cared mostly about his fun and experiments, thus landing them all in this situation to start with. And Emile was painfully awkward. Oh yeah, Francoeur was pretty hideous.

The story was very predictable and poorly executed. The action, jump, run scenes were kind of ridiculous and unrealistic. It's just not good.

Amazing scenery, well-made characters and lots of delicate humour that won't make you fall out of your chair, but will work overall. Such a cute movie with an unexpected protagonist, that you cannot even dislike a little bit!

Nice idea, really special, with Paris as the perfect setting, as well as the era in which it evolves which is one of my favorites in such movies!

This is a movie that you won't regret watching, it's a cartoon really fit for small children as well, despite all these horrible concepts that come out once in a while that can give nightmares even to grown ups. This is one of my favorite cartoons of 2015 - cause I actually discovered it a bit late!