Bookworm Review: Elijah Wood Reunites with Past Director for This Instant Audience-Pleaser


A quirky Kiwi misadventure is the basic foundation of Bookworm, director Ant Timpson's impressive follow-up to his much darker first film, Come to Daddy. He brings along the star of that movie, Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings, Everything Is Illuminated) into this enjoyable tale, which finds two souls in flux and hoping to find lighthearted resolution in their lives.







Meet Strawn Wise (Wood), a washed-up American magician/illusionist who returns to his young, estranged daughter Mildred (Nell Fisher) during a time of crisis. Raised by her financially strapped Mum, Mildred has been immersing herself in lavish literary adventures, and now, when life has become most challenging, she wants to go on a real one. In the New Zealand wilderness, in fact, and perhaps with her befuddled pops. The mission: to discover a mythical black panther.




There’s enough in that premise alone to attract audiences of all kinds, but thanks to the taut script by Toby Harvard, which never meanders too far, the film is a joy. With breathtakingly scenic New Zealand on display, and fine performances from the film’s leads, Bookworm is an instant crowd-pleaser, serving up just as much heart as it does adventure and intrigue.




A Daughter & Daddy Misadventure with Heart







Actor Elijah Wood isn’t the only person here to work with Ant Timpson again. Screenwriter Toby Harvard penned Timpson’s previous works, Come to Daddy and The Greasy Strangler, and director of photography Daniel Katz was also on board Come to Daddy. These comfortable behind-the-scenes connections make a great difference on screen in an outing that feels smooth and well-delivered all around. Think of it as the director’s “love letter” to ’70s and '80s family flicks where the adventure presented was a big selling point — Swiss Family Robinson and The Adventures of the Wilderness Family, with just a tad more of a modern edge.



Elijah Wood answers the phone in the Michel Gondry film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
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In Bookworm, Mildred has long dreamed of finding proof that The Canterbury Panther exists. Considered a mythological beast, she knows better. If she finds proof, there will be a hefty financial reward. Surely, that will alleviate her mum’s financial struggles. There’s a sudden rush to actualize that dream when her mother falls ill, and a stranger shows up on her doorstep. That’s Daddy Strawn. Long absent trying to fulfill his own dreams of becoming a renowned American illusionist, he’s since been reduced to making balloon animals at celebrity birthday parties. Oh, that eyeliner and long mane — Strawn has become a caricature of himself.



It's the perfect unlikely-couple set-up, and soon the two are forced to bond as Mildred takes command and leads the duo through the New Zealand wilderness. But it’s not the beasts of the wild they’ll need to worry about. That’s a good secret to keep for now. You’ll know when you experience it, and it sends the direction of the film in a vibrant direction, upping the stakes if not the survival of our key characters.






You can always judge a good movie by how much you end up caring about the people you’re watching on screen. To that end, Bookworm succeeds. Strawn and Mildred are easy to like and their misadventures fun to keep track of, even when the over-explaining from Mildred goes a tad too far.





A Blend of Great Acting, Scenic Thrills, Storytelling





Bookworm also stars Michael Smiley and Vanessa Stacey, who play Arnold and Angelina, respectively. The hiking duo pop up on Strawn and Mildred’s adventure and figure prominently throughout it. Smiley, in particular, stands out here. The actor turned heads in films like The Lobster, The Other Boleyn Girl, and the hit Apple TV+ series, Bad Sisters. His comedic timing (on full display in the classic series Spaced) is greatly utilized throughout these vital scenes.






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As for Wood, you tend to lose yourself in his hypnotic performance. Maybe it’s the long hair and make-up, but there’s something both oddly sexy and disturbing about his character. You can see the man he once was, or at least thought himself to be — a kind, Criss Angel-adjacent illusionist who’s quick with the hand and whose wide eyes enchant you. Wood and Fisher make a fine pair, and it must be said: Stay on the lookout for Fisher. Based on her wise-beyond-her-years vibe and her bright spark, you can see this actress eventually winning big awards someday. We felt as if we were watching a young Maggie Smith by way of a girlish Cate Blanchett. You wouldn’t want to cross this one.




The other grand star of the film is New Zealand herself, spellbinding all around and extremely captured here. Talk about a sense of place. Thematically, this film becomes a tale of understanding and forgiveness, but the filmmakers side-step any kind of gooey hugs-save-the-day mentality. There’s some extra pep here as the ominous panther figure lingers through the story. It’s a great mix of adventure and heart. If you appreciate parent/child misadventures, the film will surely entice you. It can charm the socks off you in the vein of Definitely, Maybe, Captain Fantastic, the brilliant Eighth Grade, and the best of the best, 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine. Fun, sharp, and spirited, Bookworm might capture your heart. Bookworm hits theaters and on demand October 18 from Vertical.







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