"My forecast: sunny side up!"
One word: delightful. This movie starts off at a cracking pace and rarely lets up (apart from a couple of sappy relationship interludes). The cast clearly relishes the sharp script which enables them to shine rather than merely support the (beautifully realised) visuals. From the outset, the 3D is used to clever and engaging effect, using a variety of angles and foregrounding that raises the film far above standard, simple U-Certificate fare. The origin story developed for the film is dealt with relatively quickly and effectively, and the social and emotional issues covered actually have some resonance. As the film moves into the show-stopping final disaster sequence, nods to a range of films come thick and fast, referencing sci-fi epics such as Independence Day, 2001, Alien, Cloverfield, the Star Wars prequels(!), Star Trek: The Motion Picture, etc. and neatly skewering disaster blockbusters, notably The Day After Tomorrow. The ways in which the film aims for and reaches a wide audience shows how a tired franchise like Shrek has a lot of catching up to do as the CG-animated genre moves forward. With a voice cast including the likes of Anna Faris, Mr T. and Bruce Campbell, and many audience-pleasing sequences (an ice-cream snow-day and a flying car, for example), this is easily the best animated film of the year (so far, until Up! gets its UK release).
One word: delightful. This movie starts off at a cracking pace and rarely lets up (apart from a couple of sappy relationship interludes). The cast clearly relishes the sharp script which enables them to shine rather than merely support the (beautifully realised) visuals. From the outset, the 3D is used to clever and engaging effect, using a variety of angles and foregrounding that raises the film far above standard, simple U-Certificate fare. The origin story developed for the film is dealt with relatively quickly and effectively, and the social and emotional issues covered actually have some resonance. As the film moves into the show-stopping final disaster sequence, nods to a range of films come thick and fast, referencing sci-fi epics such as Independence Day, 2001, Alien, Cloverfield, the Star Wars prequels(!), Star Trek: The Motion Picture, etc. and neatly skewering disaster blockbusters, notably The Day After Tomorrow. The ways in which the film aims for and reaches a wide audience shows how a tired franchise like Shrek has a lot of catching up to do as the CG-animated genre moves forward. With a voice cast including the likes of Anna Faris, Mr T. and Bruce Campbell, and many audience-pleasing sequences (an ice-cream snow-day and a flying car, for example), this is easily the best animated film of the year (so far, until Up! gets its UK release).
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