Written and directed by Max Fisher, a young boy makes friends with a mouse which his dad is hell bent on killing. Starring: Sanish Shah, Rakhee Thakrar, Vikash Bhai, Deepak Anand and Sanjay Batra.
Creating an atmosphere that is family friendly and sweet with a sense of humour, that also feels sincere is not an easy thing to do but Max Fisher rises to the challenge with Mouse!. Fisher immediately creates a wholesome vibe but is also able to confidently and drastically change the tone as it moves forward. Letting the story very quickly develop its layers of family, grief and priorities. It’s an extremely relatable story, especially if you’ve ever lost someone, and thankfully though it takes place during the height of the pandemic, it doesn’t take focus away from its key themes.
There’s something very familiar about the dynamics in a way that’s both warm and still manages to feel original. Fisher does a great job of capturing that London feel in a much more everyday way than you typically see, which is a nice change. The way that the film balances its comedic side with the drama is well done, the humour tinges their experience but never takes away from the emotional weight. A weight that isn’t heavy at all, it’s nicely accessible and touching. Part of that success is with the help of the editing, which adds a tension to the air.
It’s always a risk to put the leading role of your film in the hands of such a young actor but it was terrifically safe with Sanish Shah. His performance boosts the sweetness of Mouse! to very enjoyable levels. He’s such an enthusiastic, gentle and kind presence which is paired well with his anthesis in Vikash Bhai as his father, with a tightly wound personality, needing a push in the right direction. The trio is then rounded out with a patient and supportive performance from Rakhee Thakrar. The three make a superb family and lead this story with a lot of sympathy and charm.
Mouse! is an endearing exploration of loss, lost priorities and the need for a reminder of where our time matters most. Max Fisher creates a very family driven atmosphere but also manages to bring through the different layers to its themes. There’s an adaptive nature to the direction and editing which really lets it blend the emotion with humour, balancing the tension with comedy. It’s extremely sweet, there’s a great cast at work and while the tone and premise have the warmth of familiarity, it still feels original.
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