This weekend sees the release of Laika Entertainment’s latest stop-motion adventure ParaNorman and the company deserves to have a box-office hit on their hands.
Writer/co-director Chris Butler and co-director Sam Fell bring to (after)life the story of Norman Babcock (voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee of Let Me In and The Road), an outcast boy with the ability to see and converse with the dead. Alongside his goofy, new friend Neil (voice of Tucker Albrizzi), Norman is forced to shuck his status and use his powers to save the town when an old witch’s curse returns the undead from the grave. As a staunch adversary of trite storytelling, I can understand why this may sound like a made-for-TV kiddie flick, but allow me to explain why ParaNorman gets a full-fledged recommendation. Instead of taking the easy path down a plotline that involves a kid overcoming his social status to save the world, Butler includes various lessons about prejudice, friendship, and inner strength without ever beating the viewer over the head. A nice second act twist subtly gives the film a deeper meaning — one that should delight parents and kids alike — and proudly sends the film onward to its wonderful climax.
Laika has rounded up an all-star cast for the film, including Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Bernard Hill, Alex Borstein, and John Goodman. I’ve taken the time to write all of their names out because each and every cast member gives his or her character emotionality and energy; everyone seems to be having a great time in the sound booth. Goodman relishes his screen time as Norman’s miserly old uncle and Kendrick goes over the top as Norman’s cheerleader sibling turned loving sister. Albrizzi steals the show as Neil, as he delivers silly one-liners with such aplomb that he brought the house down in a theater full of adult critics. The story greatly benefits from the strong voice acting and the film feels even more lively and animated than is expected.
ParaNorman oozes style throughout and it takes a multitude of cues from 80s horror films. Butler and Fell demonstrate a real love for
the genre and even more love for bringing the aesthetic of a creepy flick to a sweet, little movie aimed at the younger demographic. The screen screams in vivid purples and luminous greens as evil begins to envelope the small town of Blythe Hollow. And Laika is only getting better and better with the computer-generated and stop-motion animation blend. The characters pop off of the screen (even without the solid but unnecessary 3-D) and I promise you’ll find yourself forgetting the film is even animated. There’s an enormous amount of detail in every scene, with some shots requiring tens or even hundreds of faces and eyes for expressions and the like. It’s all filmed beautifully as well. Colorful, well-choreographed action stays firmly within the frame while character moments are given ample time to breathe and draw in the audience. Naturally, the directors have an eye for things that go bump in the night too, so there’s a good scare or two to be had, but nothing that would turn away small children in the long-run.
This is a stellar and fun piece of filmmaking that should rank among the higher rated films of the year, animated or otherwise. With a wonderfully executed and easy-to-follow tale, strong, delightful characters, breathtaking visuals, and a good amount of heart, ParaNorman is a real winner for Laika.
Rating: Exciting and funny, pretty and heartwarming, ParaNorman is all you should need to have a great time at the cinema, whether you have kids to escort or not. (9/10)
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