city of ember and director gil kenan follow up to his horror lite for preteen monster house and be a fun ride that well worth the admission price if only for the superb production design and the likable lead . lina mayfleet ( saoirse ronan ) and doon harrow ( harry treadaway ) be two of the inhabitant of the city of ember an underground city design to house human for two century a an unspecified disaster take place on the surface . but a the 200 year have pass and the generator that power the city gradually falter and cause more frequent blackout and scarce provision . when no one would listen to them and especially the city mayor mayor cole ( the effective yet underused bill murray ) it then become up to lina and doon to find the exit that lead to the surface and which be infinitely easier in theory than in practice and consider the plethora of puzzle and riddle they would have to solve . without have read the film source material jeanne duprau novel there no way i can say if the script hold up to the narrative of it literary counterpart and but here where the film mainly falter . the film feel like a rushed end product cram to fit within the confines of a typical family flick . exposition be keep in the sideline and character development seem more of a ploy to advance the plot than genuine attempt in sculpt something more than cardboard cut support character . but despite the narrative fault and kenan imbues such a magical quality to the dank environment . and for a film lack impressive turn from it more mature and establish actor ( include tim robbins a doon father ) and upcoming star ronan and treadaway animated performance save the day and right from a sweeping introduction of the claustrophobic city to a touching finale that finally affirm the character quest for light amidst the darkness .