COOL KIDS
If I were a ten-year-old boy, I would have seen Big Hero 6 and announced at the exit that this is the best movie I have ever seen. Directors Don Hall and Chris Williams aren’t trying to redefine the superhero genre but deliver a satisfying origin story with characters you care about, terrific energy and a stupendous sense of fun. It gets carried away by the action, especially near the end, but never overtakes the storytelling. Most importantly, it isn’t afraid to be a movie made for kids. It will undoubtedly and unanimously please children of all ages.
While Marvel has perfected the live-action superhero
franchise domain, Disney has been getting back into the animated groove these
past few years. It began with The Princess and the Frog but landed its first
success in 2010 with Tangled, continuing with Wreck-It Ralph and reaching its
peak with Frozen last year. Little girls with princess dreams are successfully
letting it go; now it’s the boys who need their superhero fantasies played out.
This film’s flawless advice to the young adults: “Stop whining! Woman up!”
Rating: 8 out of 10
It’s here! This year’s lovable character from a lovable
animated movie is here! I’m talking about Baymax, the white inflatable robot-hero,
who gets the most laughs and tears in this vibrant, funny and enjoyable
animated superhero entertainment. He is a cross between the Stay Puft Marshmallow
Man and Wall-E but doesn’t wreak havoc over a city or fall in love with another
robot.
If I were a ten-year-old boy, I would have seen Big Hero 6 and announced at the exit that this is the best movie I have ever seen. Directors Don Hall and Chris Williams aren’t trying to redefine the superhero genre but deliver a satisfying origin story with characters you care about, terrific energy and a stupendous sense of fun. It gets carried away by the action, especially near the end, but never overtakes the storytelling. Most importantly, it isn’t afraid to be a movie made for kids. It will undoubtedly and unanimously please children of all ages.
While Marvel has perfected the live-action superhero
franchise domain, Disney has been getting back into the animated groove these
past few years. It began with The Princess and the Frog but landed its first
success in 2010 with Tangled, continuing with Wreck-It Ralph and reaching its
peak with Frozen last year. Little girls with princess dreams are successfully
letting it go; now it’s the boys who need their superhero fantasies played out.
This film’s flawless advice to the young adults: “Stop whining! Woman up!”
Big Hero 6 is the origin story of 6 superheroes set in San
Fransokyo. It’s a futuristic hybrid of San Francisco and Tokyo (and I actually
deciphered that for you). Precocious teenager,
Hiro Hamada (voiced by Ryan Potter), has already graduated high school and wishes
to get into the “nerd school” his older brother, Tadashi, is at. Money is
offered for his invention and we presume the villain. While the plot may not be
path-breaking, the film has a bit of something special which isn’t calculated
by technique. There is a lot of heart, which keeps you vested in to the
characters. A revenge story, which could have been an atrocious lesson for
kids, does not succumb to iniquity.
The visual palette is imaginatively designed. There are
high-flying sequences, which could give the How To Train A Dragon franchise a
run for its money and adeptly orchestrated action sequences that rival
live-action summer blockbusters. Including Marvel’s own Iron Man and Captain
America films. Moreover, the physical humor is reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy,
in a good way. This is mostly due to the white roly-poly robot.
Bringing us back to Baymax. A robot designed as a healthcare
companion becomes a lot more than that. Hint: superhero. Also: huggable. The
bond between Baymax and Hiro is touching, especially when the set-up of
deactivating Baymax by saying “I am satisfied with my care” is paid off
wonderfully at the end. The most amusing gag in the film is Baymax’s fist bump.
He goes something like “da-da-la-da-la-da-la”, after the bump. It is equally
hilarious, every single time. Scott Adsit ingeniously voices this character.
Who’s he? That actor from that TV show you love who never seems to do more
films/ television. Baymax is the takeaway character from the film. He is what
the Hulk and Groot were to The Avengers (2012) and Guardians of the Galaxy
(2014). Soon to be an action figure in every child’s room or on a T-shirt. The
last time something like this happened with an animated film, was with
Despicable Me (2010) and look what that got us: a solo Minion film.
The climax is too Marvel for its own good. It apes every
other superhero movie whilst going into bombastic action mode. I wish it gave
more weight to the supporting characters but it’s understandable when an origin
story needs to pay more attention to its leads. I hope the sequel takes care of
building on the characters of Aunt Cass, GoGo, Wasabi, Honey Lemon and
especially the Big Lebowski version of Bruce Wayne, Fred. Judging by the
post-credits scene, my wish will come to pass.
If you loved The Incredibles (2004) and have been waiting
for a sequel ever since, Big Hero 6 is a competent pacifier. It starts deflating
due to the noisy action climax but it stays inflated with its heart. Thankfully,
kids don’t care about plot ingenuities. Including the kid in me. Big Hero 6 is
a treat from start to finish.
No self-respecting review should end like so but here goes:
I am immensely satisfied with my care. Fist bump, da-da-la-da-la-da-la.
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