Review: 'City of Ember' Is about an underground society after the world ends

City of Ember   PG    

            Gil Kenan's adaptation of the book, 'City of Ember' is not part of the four book set, but an interesting take on the fantasy tales. Set in an underground city lit by electric and water power generation, the inhabitants are supposed to stay below for 200 years, and each Mayor has been entrusted with the secret key box that after 200 years will open and they can return to the surface. It seems some kind of holocaust has devastated Earth and they must remain for the time being there. The problem is the key box is lost in history, and additional amount of years passes. Rediscovered by descendants of the old people, two teenagers, they attempt to escape the city and see what lies beyond the darkness. It is a gem of fantasy and a bittersweet tale without the usual Hollywood dazzle or cheap clichés and explosions. It has a message about the triumph of some humans over adversity, even if the story's adults are kind of inept. Bill Murray actually pulls off the Mayor role decently enough, going back to his days of comedy. Own it as an easy on the eye entertainment for children.     
Review by Adam Browne