RISE OF THE GUARDIANS – The Review

It’s such a great idea you wonder why someone didn’t think of it sooner! Well children’s’ book creator did think of it (sparked by a question posed by his young daughter) and put out a book last year, “The Guardians of Childhood”. The great idea was teaming up all the magical entities that surround kids. It would seem a natural movie since there have been team-ups of monsters (from FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN through DESTROY ALL MONSTERS with Godzilla and his destructive buddies) and, most recently, super-heroes with MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS. So, combining that book series with an animated short “The Man in the Moon”, Dreamworks has produced the full-length CGI 3D animated fantasy adventure RISE OF THE GUARDIANS. So in adapting these works for the big screen, have the film makers retained all the magic and wonder of these iconic kid idols?

The film begins with the first few moments of the origin of Jack Frost (Chris Pine), several hundred years ago. He learns how to use his powers and acquires a magic ice-producing staff. Jump to today in the Arctic. The Guardians-Sandman, The Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), and the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) meet at the workshop home of North AKA Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin). It seems that Pitch AKA The Boogeyman (Jude Law) is threatening to darken the lives of the world’s kids. Via North’s special telescope The Man in the Moon tells them to enlist Jack Frost. Frost is reluctant to join the group at first, but after Pitch attacks and loots the Tooth Fairy’s castle, he joins them to prevent Pitch from destroying the children’s innocent belief in the existence of the Guardians.

The film makers have brought together a great group of actors who bring some inspired vocal interpretations of these classic characters. The most fun may be Baldwin’s spirited work as Santa (or North). This is not the cuddly, warm grandpa’ St. Nick harkening to Edmund Gwen in the original MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. This Kringle is a gregarious Russian bear of a man ready to wield his twin swords when needed. Baldwin hits the correct deep bass tones and the accent sounds perfect (you can imagine that his breath smells of borscht). This Santa might enjoy his hot chocolate spiked with a bit of vodka. Speaking of accents, Jackman’s Australian expressions make that egg-delivering bunny a terrific action star (at times we can even hear a bit of a favorite mutant). Fisher’s fairy is a delightful flitty, flirty sprite as she admires everyone’s oral hygiene. Pine’s Frost has some of the cockiness of an extreme sports champ or a surfer dude. His bravado hides his desire to be appreciated by the world’s kids (“Hey, I make snow days!’). As Pitch, Law is a sneering gentleman villain similar to George Sanders, Basil Rathbone, or Vincent Price. He’s an educated eloquent fellow who delights in his wickedness. It’s quite an impressive talented roster.

The talents away from the microphones also impress. The character designs are wondrous. North’s look matches his booming voice. He’s a broad shouldered, bushy-eyebrowed hulk whose red coat always exposes his massive tattooed (one says ‘naught’, the other “nice’) forearms. The bunny’s large feet support his muscled torso. Tooth Fairy is hummingbird-like with bright, nearly fluorescent color (the same is true for her fleet of tiny helpers). Sandman is a sweet, bouncy elf with a constant golden glow. Jack, Pitch, and the human kids (led by Jamie, the last believer) have the right touch of exaggerated features. My only complaint is with Santa’s elves. The tiny triangles bumble, stumble, and try to emulate the much-funnier Minions of DESPICABLE ME. More inspired are the furry, gruff Yetis. They’re Santa’s back-up muscle and really make the toys (“Don’t tell the elves!”). The homes of the Guardians are spectacular (especially the Tooth Fairy’s banks). Some of the action scenes zip across the screen so quickly you may have some difficulty in taking everything in. This hinders the generally excellent 3D work somewhat (I think this film would work just as well flat). RISE is paced closer to the classic Disney fairy tales. It doesn’t have the manic zaniness of recent animated fare like WRECK-IT RALPH or the last MADAGASCAR. This is a soothing bedtime story that should entrance the little ones while the art and voice work should charm the adults. Sweet dreams, or as three of the Guardians say as they dash away, “Merry Christmas! Happy Easter! Don’t forget to floss!”.

4 Out of 5