EPIC – The Review

EPIC’s world, which unites the familiar and the fantastic, is a forest unlike any we’ve seen before: tiny seeds look like boulders; rocks are the size of spiky mountains; flowers are gigantic and complex; and a butterfly is nothing short of a flying tapestry. In this world, director Chris Wedge interweaves spectacular battle scenes with intimate and emotional character interactions, and seasons the tale with humor, fun and romance. While the film’s visual wonders breaks new ground in animated spectacle, realism, action and adventure, it is EPIC’s characters and the actors who portray them that take center stage.

Amanda Seyfried plays Mary Katherine (she prefers M.K.), a smart, spirited and headstrong 17-year-old who finds herself on the journey of a lifetime. After returning to her childhood home to connect with her estranged father, Professor Bomba (Jason Sudeikis), M.K. loses patience with his endless stories of unseen people who live in the woods. His life has been dedicated to studying a civilization of tiny people he’s never seen. But when M.K. disappears, Bomba must put his own dreams under the microscope, and find what he’s really always been looking for. When she is magically transported into the Leafmen’s world, she gains a new perspective. To find her way home, M.K. must do more than believe in this world; she’ll have to help save it. But M.K.’s incredible journey to a secret universe in the forest changes many things about her, not the least of which is her feelings about her dad.

M.K.’s stumbles upon a resident of this unseen realm, Nod (Josh Hutcherson), who is all about bucking the rules and flying solo. But his brazen individualism doesn’t square with the Leafmen’s ideals of teamwork and unity, so he quits the squad. Only after M.K. enters his world does Nod discover what it takes to be a true hero. The two find an instant connection M.K. by the circumstances of her unsuccessful reunion with her father, and Nod by his rebellious nature, which he directs mostly toward his father figure, the Leafmen’s chisel-faced, battle-hardened leader, Ronin (Colin Farrell). During a fast-and-furious dogfight, the filmmakers hurtle Nod, his opponents – and the audience – through trees, brambles and fields in an electrifying competition.

Ronin’s and his Leafmen’s mode of transportation are hummingbirds – part motorcycle, part helicopter. (The Leafmen characters are inspired by William Joyce’s book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs, which introduced the Samurai-like warriors. The author also co-wrote EPIC’s story and screenplay and serves as an executive producer and production designer.) Sworn to protect all life in the forest, the elite corps of warriors are my favorite characters and could easily have their own movie. When the forest is invaded, Ronin rallies the Leafmen into action with bravery and wry humor. Ronin’s closest and most powerful ally is Queen Tara (Beyoncé Knowles). Beautiful and strong, Tara is the life force of the forest, which she presides over with respect, compassion and humor. Her unique connection with nature gives her additional and powerful allies. Director Chris Wedge has created some of the most beautiful and silent moments in the scenes showing the powerful connection with her and the land.

Queen Tara’s home is Moonhaven, a veritable Eden formed out of living plants and stone, and which emanates perfection and harmony. One of Moonhaven’s most sacred enclaves is a patch at the end of a pond where two of her subjects tend to pods from which Tara will select her heir. Once every 100 years a new pod blooms to take over for the current queen. And who does Tara entrust with this crucial task? Mub (Aziz Ansari), a slug and self-characterized “ladies’ man” and his sidekick Grub (Chris O’Dowd), a snail and wannabe Leafman. Kids will absolutely fall in love with this slug-and-snail comedy duo and their quest to save their world.

Moonhaven’s future has been entrusted to amorphous blobs with extended eyeballs, who fancy themselves as heroes. The efforts of Mub, Grub and the Leafmen will be needed to protect the pod and the Queen’s legacy against the forces of darkness known as the Boggans – malevolent creepers that seek to destroy Moonhaven. The Boggans hail from Wrathwood, a dark, tunnel-filled place. The chief force behind the darkness and destruction is the Boggans’ ruler, Mandrake (Christoph Waltz) who has the ability to bring destruction to anything he touches. Mandrake and his Boggan minions are the arch-nemeses of the Leafmen. Mandrake is tired of hiding in the shadows, and with his son Dagda (played by Blake Anderson) by his side he plans the ultimate revenge – to claim the forest he believes should have always been his. Waltz plays it to the hilt – Mandrake is devious, dangerous and droll. His eloquent and sharp musings and threats are complemented by his vampire-like appearance. The effect is heightened by Mandrake’s bat cape and the fact that the nocturnal and feared rodents are the Boggans’ preferred mode of transport.

On the side of the Leafmen is Nim Galuu (Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler). Nim is the consummate party animal, but don’t let this larger than life caterpillar fool you – his wisdom and practical know-how make him a key behind-the-scenes player in the epic battle to save the forest. Another character in the mix is voiced by rapper/singer/songwriter Pitbull – Bufo. A tough-guy toad, Bufo profits no matter which side wins or loses. With this eclectic group of performers, the famous voices fit perfectly with the characters so it doesn’t pull you out of the movie. The emotional father-daughter dynamic is touching.

From the visuals to the production design to the costuming, the combination in this animated movie is a real spectacle and one for the ages. Blue Sky Studios characters in EPIC are very sophisticated while still looking human. Production designer Greg Couch’s work is very magical and mesmerizing. Art director Michael Knapp transforms a forest into a kind of alien universe with such bright colors. Supervising animators Galen Tan Chu and Melvin Tsing ChernTan make the characters and creatures so real. Academy Award-winning sound designer Randy Thom’s (The Incredibles) work is interwoven with Danny Elfman’s score to create additional magic. Everyday sounds such as leaves rustling in the wind become something otherworldly.

A lovely film for young women, much like last year’s BRAVE, girls will find positive role models in the determined characters of MK and the Queen. The showstopper of EPIC is the spectacular battles between the Leafmen and the Boggans. Filled with giant action, EPIC is storytelling on a grand scale.

5 out of 5 stars

Photos: Blue Sky Studios – TM and © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.