Watch Roald Dahl's Esio Trot For Free

Undescribable Perfection

Perfect cast and a good story

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Dustin Hoffman obviously did not want to make this movie! He was so detached, bored, and plane boring: Mr. Hopper was his worst act. And him being crazy for the very lovely, but way-too-old Judy Dench was so unbelievable, it hurt. This movie was made after a children's book, but who was to know? Well, after watching it,I told my mother to NOT see this film. The balcony scenes were crass and studio made, the plants made of plastic. Christ, this movie was so bad, how could all this talent be wasted in such a poor production? Certainly this was not even a good movie for children. Luckily got the DVD from a library, so saved a lot of money. In Europe the movie is called "Mr. Hopper's Secret" by the way.

This is a very curious movie. Kind of a children's film for adults. Based on a story by the wonderful Roald Dahl and co-written by the excellent filmmaker Richard Curtis, it's almost cartoonish in its approach. I felt Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman are well cast as a vivacious retired midwife, Mrs Silver, and a very shy, lonely American retiree, Mr Hoppy, who live one above the other in an apartment block. Dustin's character wants to win the heart of Judi, so he sets out to grant her wish that her tortoise, Alfie, will grow bigger. He does this by secretly winching Alfie out of her garden, and replacing him with a slightly bigger tortoise, and then replacing that tortoise, and so on until 'Alfie' - which is who Judi's character believes he still is - is the desired weight. The whole story is narrated straight to camera by the wonderful James Corden, playing their neighbour with a lot of wit and a little cynicism. The movie would be good for someone stuck in hospital or sick in bed at home, because it's very undemanding. Other reviewers say the Dustin character is deceptive, but actually Judi's character isn't perfect, either -- she can't accept Alfie just as he is, and she also can't see that her neighbour adores her. And Dustin doesn't kill off the tortoises he replaces: he keeps them all in his increasingly crowded apartment. The message of this film is that if you love someone, you should tell them directly, and not waste time, because trying to win their heart in indirect ways can create all sorts of chaos, and ultimately you can miss out. Also that it's never too late to fall in love, which is kind of nice.

A charming story from one of our great authors of both child and adult fiction.The story of one mans infatuation with his neighbour and the lengths he will go to to win her love.With the always excellent Dustin Hoffman and Judi dench. Even the sometimes annoying James cordon puts in a stellar performance as the on screen narrator.An enjoyable feel good movie that wanes a little,retains all the character of a Dahl novel or short story. This film will enchant you and frustrate you feeling melancholic. Suitable for all ages,a must for all Dahl fans and fans of the actors.

this film was tedious, typical and overall SO lame!!! Mr hoppy is SO boring and monotonous!! watch this film if you want to be put to sleep... Mr pringle is the only mildly humorous character but is eventually the one who out Mr hoppy's devious plan.Mr hoppy is a boring old man who lets loneliness and boredom get the better of him, his plan is creepy and weird and very devious which he claims to be out of love for her but clearly not.he fails to show his love for her in any way and then asks her to marry him!! really dude... and im pretty sure than you cant have 100 tortoises in one tiny flat...