In some ways, this movie is extra of a sequence of vignettes centered round Akino and her experiences on the division retailer than a single, cohesive story. Whereas every thing ties collectively considerably within the movie’s ultimate act, this movie is extra targeted on exploring the expertise of working within the service trade in a artistic manner than the rest.
As a concierge, Akino has much more duties than any particular person retailer clerk. Merely put, a concierge acts as a type of downside solver for the whole division retailer. On one hand, this will imply serving to individuals, utilizing the data prospects have and their in-depth data of every thing the huge constructing has to supply to search out the right present. Then again, it may well imply addressing and defusing awkward or hostile conditions, hopefully in a manner that leaves no buyer unhappy.
This might be a excessive bar for anybody to achieve, so it doesn’t assist that Akino is a little bit of a klutz. Plus, she struggles to learn the nonverbal cues of her numerous animal purchasers—she tries to determine who wants assist with a purpose to intervene earlier than it’s even requested. After which there’s the scale subject that comes with interacting with so many nonhuman purchasers: she will actually step on a few of them if she’s not cautious.
But, regardless of her rocky begin, Akino is a kind of individuals who genuinely needs to assist others. She does this work for that purpose, not only for the paycheck. She loves seeing individuals glad and content material and is prepared to do something to make that occur. But, whereas that is undoubtedly a commendable facet of her persona, it additionally will get her into hassle. Typically she goes too far in her makes an attempt to please individuals or makes guarantees she could not have the ability to preserve. The principle query of the movie is whether or not her enthusiasm makes up for her different issues or whether or not she finally turns into extra of a hindrance than a assist.
This movie may be very relatable to anybody who has labored within the service trade, and really informative for anybody who hasn’t. Whereas Akino’s experiences with the animals she helps are usually constructive, that is just one aspect of the coin. Akino additionally has to take care of points like a pair who discuss a bit of an excessive amount of in public (regardless of fixed warnings) and a nightmare shopper who takes the phrase “the client is all the time proper” manner too far. Having an overbearing, micromanaging supervisor who is continually watching her, able to pounce if she makes even the slightest mistake, is one thing many will most likely establish with (even with the comedic twist this movie places on it).
The vignettes themselves every revolve round a unique animal shopper and their issues. These are cute and enjoyable – they cowl issues like connecting with household, discovering love, and coping with the lingering ache of family members who’ve lengthy since handed. There may be additionally a powerful message about animal conservation woven all through, as lots of the animals featured are extinct – and by human fingers at that.
Visually, The concierge is a fantastically animated movie. Whereas the character designs are easy and solely evenly detailed, they’re delivered to life for probably the most half by the fluid and expressive animation. In the meantime, the division retailer is meticulously detailed in nearly each facet, making it seem to guests because the magical, luxurious retailer it’s purported to be. As for the music, it’s usually gentle and matches the temper of the movie effectively, even when it by no means actually stands out.
Basic, The concierge is a lighthearted have a look at working within the service trade. It exhibits the very best and worst of each prospects and workers, and connects all of it by a sequence of quick tales that includes animals you have most likely by no means heard of. And whereas it is not groundbreaking, it is nonetheless the right movie to look at with the entire household or to loosen up on a lazy afternoon.
