ParaNorman

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!



Today's review is ParaNorman.



Directed by Chris Butler & Sam Fell.

Written by Chris Butler.



Review #171

MPAA Rating: PG for scary action and images, thematic elements, some rude humor and language.

Run Time: 92 min

Cast

Kodi Smit-McPhee ...Norman Babcock (voice)

Tucker Albrizzi ...Neil (voice)

Anna Kendrick ...Courtney (voice)

Casey Affleck ...Mitch (voice)

Christopher Mintz-Plasse ...Alvin (voice)

Leslie Mann ...Sandra Babcock (voice)

Jeff Garlin ...Perry Babcock (voice)

Elaine Stritch ...Grandma (voice)

Bernard Hill ...The Judge (voice)

Jodelle Ferland ...Aggie (voice)

Tempestt Bledsoe ...Sheriff Hooper (voice)

Alex Borstein ...Mrs. Henscher (voice)

John Goodman ...Mr. Prenderghast (voice)


Stop motion animation is a lost art. The amount of effort it takes to animate and film a 5 second shot literally takes hours. It's a form of animation that demands your attention and respect. Thanks to the computer. Stop motion films are a little easier to make but they are still a dying breed. They are however not going down without a fight. Over the last couple of years some fantastic stop motion films have come out. Coraline, The Fantastic Mr. Fox (my personal favorite) and now ParaNorman. The previous two films I mentioned gave the big studio CGI films a run for their money come Oscar time.

Does ParaNorman have what it takes to be part of the team?

Yes. But just barely.

Plot

A misunderstood boy, takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.

This film is a tale of 2 different halves. The first half deals with Norman's acceptance of his gift to see and speak to the dead. While the rest of the town he lives him refuses to see him as a normal person. His family are included in this group. Norman is bullied and ridiculed at school and has no friends. Later on the film kicks into gear with Norman's true purpose and it's at this point where the movie goes a little sideways. There's a feel of jumble with the narrative that bogs down the experience. Some of the characters are a little too cartoony which also takes away some of the shine the first half of the film develops.

ParaNorman gets saved by the end. Mostly due to the overall message it carries. It's presented in such a powerful way that the emotions are carried all the way through to the end credits. The film gets a little darker in tone. That's mostly because of who Norman deals with at the end. It was a different way too approach the final moments of an animated film that for the most part was meant to be comedic in nature. I enjoyed how the film ends and the message it offered to the audience. It was a touching way too look at a part of life we all dealt with in one form or another.

As always with stop motion films. The animation is first rate. The film is very colorful and sweeping at times. It almost gives the look of a full blown CGI film. Top notch. The voice acting is pretty standard. Very little altering of the actors voices are employed here. It was a little disappointing since the character designs were so off the wall. You would have expected some odder sounding voices.

The only other issue I had with this film was the release time. Late August seems like a really weird time to showcase a film that screams (no pun intended) October time. This poor choice has no doubt hurt it's box office draw. It's a shame too because ParaNorman is a solid film that deserved a better display that what it's getting.

On the 5 star scale. ParaNorman gets 3 stars. With a "Go See It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Lawless.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"