Imans semi regular movie review column gets the boot as I take on this new film of outcast triumph.
In this story a outcast boy is given the task of freeing his town from a centuries old curse. Norman is the outcast because he sees ghosts. He is befriended by the fat kid in the typical 1-2 punch of all kid films of uniting of the weak. This of course, is always the case as we gravitate to our similar characteristics.
Norman's uncle the keeper of 'the book' leaves the legacy of curse prevention to him, sort of passing the torch. The issue here is that the plot is so predictable that it almost blurs to bland. The dialog is weak the music too far in the back ground to impact and the characters aren't given enough one liners to make it quotable.
I have a theory. Kids movies would be so much better if kids didn't go to see them. The theater at quarter capacity house 2 sobbing babies and a little girl who kept asking questions. "daddy does he miss his mommy?' 'what is that what is that what is that' until i literally wanted to whip my shoe at her just for the moment of unconsciousness. Also, my theater was freezing and apparently now is free refill popcorn and soda so it was a plethora of activity. I mention this for the sole purpose of pointing out that despite these distractions I didn't miss a beat.
I liked it. It was good and not great. You have to wait far too long for the 'climax' scene and for the first 4 minutes of Norman fighting the negativity I was totally engaged. Then boom- it fizzled out to mediocrity.
From the people who brought you Coraline, Para Norman sticks in that dark humor genre that Tim Burton made popular with his Nightmare Before Christmas, but this is not as grand. Animation? Well done. Soon we wont need humans in films at all soundtrack was covered by Alyson a week ago (see her review here) Speaking of Tim Burton, for you stop motion fans, Frankenweenie is due out soon!
So do I grade this? I will give it an over all C- and the 'climax 4 min' a B+