Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Paris, 1910. Emile, a shy movie projectionist, and Raoul, a colourful inventor, find themselves embarked on the hunt for a monster terrorizing citizens. They join forces with Lucille, the big-hearted star of the Bird of Paradise cabaret, an eccentric scientist and his irascible monkey to save the monster, who turns out to be an oversized but harmless flea, from the city's ruthlessly ambitious police chief.
A Monster in Paris is a charming and underappreciated French animated musical that stands out for its distinctive 1910 Belle Époque Parisian setting, lush hand-painted aesthetic blended with CGI, and genuine musical heart. Its novelty is high — the film carves out a unique niche by blending Universal monster-movie homage with French chanson and a whimsical romantic adventure, feeling genuinely one-of-a-kind in the animated landscape. The plot is functional and warm but fairly conventional in its monster-misunderstood arc and thin villain motivation. Acting (voice performances) is solid without being memorable. Cinematography captures Paris beautifully with evocative color and atmosphere, earning a respectable above-average mark. The ending, however, resolves a bit too neatly and rushed, with the villain folding quickly and the emotional payoff not fully earned.