“I, Object” review

"I, Object", the latest film from New Zealand filmmaker Andrew Niccol, is a whimsical tale about a kid who can talk to everyday objects.

10-year-old Tom is the target of suspicion from his family and bullies at school. Whenever he spots a piece of furniture or an item around him, that very thing strikes up a conversation with him, and him alone.

For Tom, the things around him may speak with another voice, but it's really another person telling him the rights and wrongs of living. He's grieving the passing of his father, and at a young age, it can be hard to relate to the people in his circle. That's why he turns his attention to bringing life to inanimate objects instead.

Presented through a combination of live-action and animation, "I, Object" is a heartwarming film with a vibrant and imaginative vision that's reminiscent of '90s kids' films. I appreciate that it doesn't shy away from exploring the deeper sides of grief, especially from a kid's point of view. There's a great scene midway through about learning acceptance at a young age, where Tom has to put a pair of glasses he's been talking to into the dishwasher, hesitating because cleaning them will mean losing this very thing.

"I, Object" is a decent movie to watch with the family. I believe its strong themes will resonate well with a younger audience.

“I, Object” gets ★★★☆☆.

“I, Object” is now showing in New Zealand cinemas.

Featured images from Umbrella Entertainment.