PARANORMAN

ParaNorman (2012)
Grade: A
Featuring the Voices of: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Tucker Albrizzi, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Casey Affleck, Jodelle Ferland, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Bernard Hill, Elaine Stritch and John Goodman
Premise: A boy who can see and speak to ghosts is called upon to help save his town when an ancient curse lets seven dead figures rise from their graves and walk the streets.

Rated PG (contains dark themes, rude humor, intense action and scary images)

Huh. Clearly I identify with movies about outcasts. ParaNorman is at least the third movie I've reviewed (after January's Hugo and September's Let Me In) that focused on a young man who was, if not completely unknown to other people, looked down upon and viewed as weird or different or outcast. A loner by nature, I guess I enjoy these movies so much because each gives that "outsider" a chance to fit in, be it with just one special person (as was the case in Let Me In), a family (a la Hugo) or, possibly, a whole community, as is the case here. Thus, with a story of an outsider coming into his own set as the basic framework around a thrilling adventure equipped with a heartfelt moral, ParaNorman is a treasure. It's a feast for the eyes, a laugh riot, an engaging twist-and-turn tale and an exercise, it turns out, in feeling good and making connections. What's not to like?

Oh, did I mention the zombies? There are zombies. In today's beyond-the-grave-obsessed culture, that can only be a plus ;)

Plot: Norman Babcock (voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee, the lead in Let Me In) can see ghosts. Yes, he can see the imprints of souls those who have passed on in or near his town of Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts, and he can speak with them. One frequent visitor is his recently-deceased grandmother (Elaine Stritch), who was the only person who even pretended to try and understand him. His parents (Leslie Mann and Jeff Garlin) and older sister (Anna Kendrick) tolerate his oddities with exasperation bordering on outright annoyance. And, at school, no one pays him any attention outside of a nasty bully named Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Though Norman finds something of a kindred spirit in similarly teased and nerdy peer Neil (Tucker Abrizzi), he becomes even more alienated from everyone else when he gets a vision of paranormal happenings during the school play and freaks out in front of everybody.

The vision, though, was important. The town of Blithe Hollow is particularly famous for the event the school play was emulating, the trial and execution of a witch by Puritan townspeople nearly 300 years before. Every year on the anniversary of the killings, things start to get weird, but, in the past, all supernatural activity has been held in check by Norman's eccentric uncle (John Goodman). When that uncle keels over dead (and promptly visits Norman as a ghost), Norman realizes it's up to him to read from "the witch's book" at her gravesite and the graves of the seven particular settlers who saw to her killing. However, Norman's been grounded by his parents, and he can't get to the gravesites on time on the eve of the 300th anniversary. Ominous clouds form in the sky, and the decaying bodies of the seven Puritans, headed by a still-bewigged judge (Bernard Hill), rise and move into town, causing damage and distress. In a panic, Norman and Neil, aided reluctantly by Norman's sister and her crush (Casey Affleck) try to get to the site of the witch's grave to read from the book and put her spirit at peace.

What Works?
Like the similarly-delightful Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005), ParaNorman manages to portray dead bodies, severed body parts, ghosts and other grisly images in a way that evokes both unease and glee. Thus, while certain scenes are appropriately creepy and cringe-worthy, it also hits home run after home run in the slapstick department (one stand-out gag, involving a dead, lulling tongue, is by turns horrifying and hilarious). I was rolling in my seat during the bulk of the film, which not only makes a night of the living dead scenario about as funny as Dumb & Dumber but also tickles the funnybone with tongue-in-cheek societal stereotypes (gun-toting rednecks, ditzy, simpering girls and lugheaded he-men) and crackerjack visual magic. The animation is superb--if it's not quite as glossy as a Pixar creation, it's nonetheless realistic as well as effectively gritty and creative.

The voice cast is superb, populated as it is with respectable but not necessarily A-list names. Smit-McPhee, who played a lonely outcast with paranormal company in live-action in Let Me In, has the perfect earnest and unwhiny voice for the grown-beyond-his-years hero. He really brings Norman to life. Mintz-Plasse is a scream as the snotty but wussy villain. Goodman continues building his diverse repertoire with expressive voice work as Norman's uncle, and Kendrick, Affleck, Albrizzi, Garlin and Mann all make sure this is a rollicking good time. All of Jodelle Ferland's work comes in the more down-to-earth third act revelations about the witch's history, and she, McPhee, the animation team, and the poignant dialogue come through with a message about being different and still loving and forgiving that really means a lot, especially in a "different" movie like this. I definitely didn't expect such a heartfelt message from a movie with ParaNorman's quirky looks and story--Score One for the screenwriter (Chris Butler) and directors (Butler and Sam Fell).

What Doesn't Work?
At 92 minutes, ParaNorman is briskly-paced, but it takes a few extra, unnecessary minutes to get around to the witch's story, adding a step or two to the storyboard and climactic spectacle that could have been done without. At least one gag is also dragged out considerably too long. However, these are small complaints. Most of this movie is a wonder.

Content
Can you not tell? From Norman's penchant for watching brain-eating-zombie movies to his fake-severed-head lamp and the appearances of all the ghosts he encounters--not to mention a brief, hammy death scene--ParaNorman is loaded with themes and ideas that might spook younger kids, as well as some of their parents. A mild cuss-word or two is dropped, and there are a few low-key innuendos as well. But, for the most part, it's the in-your-face nature of the darker themes that might make people uncomfortable.

Bottom Line (I Promise): Gut-bustingly-funny, wondrously-animated, intriguing and surprisingly-touching, ParaNorman is a really good time--a smart, funny movie for the family. Please don't be put off by the beyond-the-grave themes. I promise you, this movie has its heart in the right place.

Oh, and there are zombies. Did I mention the zombies?

ParaNorman (2012)
Directed by Chris Butler and Sam Fell
Screenplay by Chris Butler
Rated PG
Length: 92 minutes