Film Review – Bookworm

Director Ant Timpson delivered a charmingly oddball picture in 2019’s “Come to Daddy,” willing to explore dark material and a sense of humor, also giving star Elijah Wood something to play in a particularly anxious character. Timpson and Wood reteam for “Bookworm,” which is more of a family film that tries very hard to avoid becoming a Taika Waititi production despite sharing many similar qualities and quirks with the “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” helmer. The movie offers a mild adventure instead, with Timpson and screenwriter Toby Harvard setting up a hunting mission for the main players, spending more time exploring their emotional states and the strengthening of their bond, and that doesn’t always result in the most engrossing study of understanding. “Bookworm” has its charms, and a few turns of plot are welcome, but it’s not a lively examination of connection, as Timpson is content to bring the endeavor to a slow boil instead. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com