I would like,
before I nosedive into Big Hero 6, to
discuss the animated short that preceded it. The minimalist in me loves these
things. Short, sweet, to the point, and yet complete, relatable stories that
speaks to our emotions.
The fact that I
can’t recall a single time I heard a word of dialogue from any of these shorts
speaks volumes. Try to write a five-page script with no dialogue that
accomplishes what these shorts manage. I remain impressed every time.
The opening of Up deserves no less recognition for all
the same reasons.
Okay. Let’s talk
about Big Hero 6.
This movie’s
unwillingness to speak down to its audience struck me right off the bat. It
gave kids credit to handle real, adult topics. Kids deal with
these topics. They deserve stories that recognize that.
Hero deals with loss, revenge,
forgiveness, sacrifice, and the things we leave behind when we die—heavy stuff
for a kid’s movie, which handles the baggage well.
Our hero in this
movie suffers the loss of his parents and then his older brother, who leaves
behind several inventions. An inflatable robot programmed to perform first aid
represents one such invention.
The awkward, slow
robot can tell that our main character hurts (from the loss of his family), but
it cannot detect his injures.
Meanwhile, someone
stole the main character’s own invention: a series of tiny robots, which a
person controls via an electronic headband-thingy. The tiny robots, under the
influence of the headband, can assume any shape whatsoever.
I won’t spoil too
much about this villain and his stolen, tiny robots beyond that his story
reflects the protagonist’s own (as often proves the case in a good story).
Our hero gets a
group of sidekicks. Each uses their “nerd power” to create inventions that will
help them stop the bad guy and his swarm of tiny robots. The protagonist even
creates what amounts to an Ironman suit for his inflatable robot.
The sidekicks each
demonstrate an individual personality. One female character twice uses her catchphrase “Woman up,” which I hope catches on with young,
female viewers.
One scene near the
end mirrors the emphasis of sacrifice from Terminator
2. I won’t spoil the details, but keep the phrase, “I cannot self-terminate”
in the back of your head.
Disbelief must
face complete suspension while it witnesses this movie. Plot holes riddle this
thing.
The sidekicks not
only build impressive, military grade weaponry in a matter of minutes, but they
also gain, for no apparent reason, gymnastic attributes and the ability to move
at the speed of sound without a moment of unconsciousness.
On the other hand,
who gives a damn? The writers knew
which parts needed to make sense. Not the superhero stuff. Not the action
scenes (which felt all the more fun for their lunacy). Rather, the emotional subtext, the characters, and their actions, made sense. Perfect.
The quality of the
animation shifted here and there, but only from good to better.
A person who
enjoys Universal Studio rides will probably love this movie. Chase scenes
abound, on a scooter, then a car, then in the air on a giant, airborne robot.
The movie often feels like both a ride and a video game.
If a video game of
Hero exists (I imagine it does) the
translation practically writes itself.
Good movie. Great
fun. Pushes all the right emotional buttons with comic-relief-to-the-rescue
when needed. Interesting characters. Imaginative. A plot that trusts its
younger audience to handle real-life material. I recommend this one.
You can catch my novels, such as Daughters of Darkwana, on Kindle.
I publish my blogs as follows:
A look at entertainment industries via feminist and queer theory, as well as other political filters on Tuesdays at Entertainmentmicroscope.blogspot.com
An inside look at my novel series, its creation, and the e-publishing process on Wednesdays at Darkwana.blogspot.com
You can catch my novels, such as Daughters of Darkwana, on Kindle.
I publish my blogs as follows:
A look at entertainment industries via feminist and queer theory, as well as other political filters on Tuesdays at Entertainmentmicroscope.blogspot.com
An inside look at my novel series, its creation, and the e-publishing process on Wednesdays at Darkwana.blogspot.com
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