Directors Chris Butler and Sam Fell believe that “ParaNorman” is the most ambitious stop-motion animated film ever made. That’s a pretty big statement. But you know what? – They’re right. And this team and the thousands of others who worked for years on this movie pull it off in style. “ParaNorman” is a fantastic accomplishment.
The film comes from the makers of 2009’s Oscar-nominated “Coraline”. Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a middle school student who lives in a small New England town and he can see and talk to the dead. No one in his family or at school believes him. They just simply think he’s weird.
After he dies, Norman’s uncle (John Goodman) appears to Norman, telling him that the town is cursed and that night, on the 300th Anniversary of the town, a dead witch will wake from her sleep and seek revenge on the town with the help of seven zombies. So Norman has to take-on the witch, the zombies other ghosts and the townspeople. He enlists the help of his bratty older sister (“Up in the Air”‘s Anna Kendrick), his new friend Neil, a high school jock (Casey Affleck) and a bully (voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and together they try to save the town.
The story is serious, emotional and deep, going in directions you don’t expect. But the film is also filled with jokes, gags and very funny dialogue. “ParaNorman” deals with serious issues such as death, being “different” and coping with change. But, at the same time, it’s a laugh-out-loud comedy.
The entire voice cast is strong: Leslie Mann and Jeff Garlin have some good lines as Norman’s parents, and veteran actress Elaine Stritch is lively in her role as Norman’s dead grandma. The animation is also a star. Butler and Fell told me that even the ghosts are stop-motion characters, enhanced with the help of the special effects department. It’s an amazing achievement.
While “ParaNorman” is animated and rated PG, it’s NOT for young kids. The film features a lot of scary action and images, along with some language and the serious elements. It’s appropriate for kids 10 and up – little ones could be frightened. But older kids, parents and adults will really enjoy the humor and the scares.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “ParaNorman” gets a B+.
It’s definitely one of the best animated films of the year and should be a lock for a Best Animated Feature
Oscar nomination.