“Paranorman” is a rare family film that doesn’t waste time pandering to its target audience: children. The film isn’t necessarily “for kids” and plays as a sort of “Anti-Disney” entertainment. The filmmakers behind “Paranorman” simply tell their story and hope your wee one’s can handle it.
Of course, as the ad campaign has reminded us, “Paranorman” was hand-whittled by the animators that brought us “Coraline” (Note: That is the animators, not the director Henry Selick who adapted and directed that wonderful film as well as “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. The king of stop motion is nowhere to be found in the credits of “Paranorman”) so it should come as no surprise that the aim is something more morbid and challenging than the average kiddie’s flick. Here we have zombies, ghosts and, perhaps most frightening of all, raging teenage hormones as Norman’s sister Courtney (Voiced by Anna Kendrick) is more than a little turned on by disinterested football stud, Mitch (Casey Affleck). I don’t know your kids but you do and if you think a stop motion horror film may excite them, than you aren’t going to do much better than “Paranorman”.
You see, Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) sees dead people. That sounds very “The Sixth Sense” but the ghosts actually glow in a way that is more like Peter Jackson’s “The Frighteners”. This special gift makes Norman an outcast to everyone around him, from the dim-bulb school bully Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) to his own parents. His only friend is the plump and lovable Neil (Tucker Albrizzi) who accepts Norman for all of his quirk.
When town crazy Mr. Prenderghast (John Goodman) warns of a witch’s curse that brings back the dead, Norman is charged with the task of saving his hometown of Blithe Hollow. But before the old coot can tell him what he must do, he passes to the Great Whatever, leaving Norman with nothing but a book and vague instructions. The dead will rise but it is more than brains that they are after.
Early in the film there is a hint of an underlying statement that I picked up on. I know, you’re impressed. The filmmakers make sly remarks that we, the “normal” people, are the real monsters. Bullying those that are different. Shoveling fast food down our gaping maws. Too quick to grab a pitchfork and turn into a bloodthirsty mob ready to string someone, anyone, up to the nearest pole. I was proud of myself for noticing the subtleties but then Norman blurts out the statement that “we are the monsters” and my thematic detective work was ruined. I’m not angry, just disappointed.
The film was co-directed by Chris Butler (feature film debut but worked as a story board artist on “Corpse Bride”) and Sam Fell (“Flushed Away” and “The Tale of Despereaux”) and the two have created a beautiful world for Norman’s zombies to stalk around in. The detail is meticulous. The character design is unique and more cartoony than “Coraline” but it gives “Paranorman” its own unique feel.
The characters themselves make the movie hum. The banter between Norman and Neil is hilarious as Neil steals every minute he is on screen. The dialogue is so rapid fire and natural that it could be found in any live action film. There are plenty of people (and beasties) to root for here.
While “Paranorman” might not be for those too young, it will surely speak to those who are young at heart.