A family-friendly thriller that ties adventure in with a little bit of history, Hugo is the perfect holiday movie for the whole family. The story takes place during a very cold and snowy winter in Paris, France in the 1930s. A young boy, Hugo, lives alone in the attics of the train station, manning the clocks day by day after the death of his father. Interested in machines, he sets out to fix an automaton (robot) deserted in a museum but discovers a secret he can’t turn away from.
After his father dies, Hugo continues to man the clocks to avoid becoming an orphan. He steals gears from the station’s toy shop but gets in trouble from the owner, George Melies. This leads to a new friendship with George’s granddaughter Isabelle. Isabelle unknowingly holds the last piece needed to get his automaton working once again. When the pair finally get the machinery to work, they discover the secret, amazing life of Isabelle’s grandfather and its devastating collapse.
I enjoyed every scene, because they were so unique from the scenes in any other movie I’ve seen. Plus, it was neat to see what it was like in Paris in 1930. I especially liked the character Isabelle, because she was strong and independent. She was very smart and a good-girl, but when she got the chance for an adventure of a lifetime, she went for it.
This intriguing film is great for families because it had something for everyone: some action and humor for the boys and a little young love for the girls. It was great to see a movie that pleased everyone for once.