Review: ‘Igor’

Jeremy:

‘Igor’ is one of the second-tier, animated films that seem to get manufactured as if on an assembly line.   Over the past couple of years, animated films are released one right after the other.   Most of them have little heart.   If you’re not backed by PIXAR or Dreamworks, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to be a “by-the-numbers” family film.   There are a few shining examples of animated films outside the big two, however.   Columbia’s ‘Monster House’ was possibly the best animated film of 2006, the year PIXAR released ‘Cars’, perhaps it’s biggest disappointment to date.   ‘Happy Feet’, 20th Century Fox’s big, animated film from that same year, was also a commendable effort.

The latest animated film from MGM, ‘Igor’, is not on par with those other films, but it is enjoyable.   Many people are going to compare it to one of Tim Burton’s animated films, and those comparisons are not unfounded.   ‘Igor’ seems to be attempting its hand at following the same themes and styles as something like ‘Corpse Bride’.   On every level, it exceeds that film, but that’s not really saying much.   ‘Corpse Bride’ was cute, but it was definitely not a shining effort by Burton.

‘Igor’ is a great idea that could have been executed exceptionally had it been backed by one of the big two.   The story is set in the land of Malaria where evil scientists reign supreme and each one has their own, personal Igor.   The Igor belonging to Dr. Glickenstein has aspirations of becoming more than a lowly assistant.   He wants to be a mad scientist, himself.   One day, he gets the chance to live that dream, as Dr. Glickenstein blows himself up in failed project.

It is a week before the Evil Science Fair where all the scientists submit their best, evil efforts to be unleashed on the world.   With the help of his two friends, Scamper, a zombie bunny who does not want to go on living, and Brain, an idiotic brain in a jar, Igor makes his creation.   He builds a monster that does not turn out evil.   Instead, the creature is a docile being named Eva with dreams of her own to become an actress.

If they cannot make Eva evil, than they will try to make it appear as such.   With only days left until the fair, Igor, Scamper, and Brain come up with ways to do just that.   Along the way, they uncover a plot to overthrow the king of Malaria and, ultimately, become friends with Eva.

‘Igor’ is a fun film that everyone in the family will enjoy.   It never pushes itself to be more than just a Saturday afternoon viewing, and that is unfortunate.   It really could have been a great, animated film.   The idea is original.   The designs of the characters and sets are very well done.   The voice acting is outstanding.

John Cusack voices Igor, and it is undeniably John Cusack.   The Igors in Malaria are forced to speak with a slur in their words, and it would have been better had the speech impediment not been forced.   Cusack disguising his voice throughout the film would have cut down on the distraction that it was him.

Steve Buscemi is great as Scamper. The bunny is incredibly cynical, and his dry one-liners never get old.   Neither do the attempts Scamper makes on his own life.   It’s not prudent to laugh at something as dark as suicide, but when a red-eyed bunny crushes himself under a vat only to pop back out like an inflating balloon, it’s hard not to.

The rest of the cast is fine.   Sean Hayes provides the voice of Brain.   Jay Leno is the King of Malaria.   John Cleese is Dr. Glickenstein.   Eddie Izzard is Dr. Schadenfreude, Glickenstein’s nemesis and the main villain of the film.   The British comic’s voice is very recognizable, but it fits perfectly with the character.

As dark as it is, and there are a few instances of profanity, ‘Igor’ is very lighthearted.   It attempts the moral that ‘Shrek’ put forth about beauty being what is on the inside, and it succeeds in its attempt better than ‘Shrek’, actually.   It is missing the heart and love that seems to be put into PIXAR’s best films.   Films like ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘Ratatouille’ are something ‘Igor’ never even comes close to.   However, it’s orginality and impeccable designs are what makes ‘Igor’ better than your average, animated film.

[rating:3/5]