Film Review: Frankenweenie

 

1. Classic Burton

2. Beautiful visuals

3. Rich with cinema history
 

1. Underuse of Winona Ryder

2. Underwhelming score

3. Felt long foronly being an hour and a half

BURTON RETURNS TO CLASSICS WITH 'FRANKENWEENIE'

Tim Burton returns to his roots with his latest film, “Frankenweenie,” and breathes fresh air into portfolio of work that has been on the decline for the last few years.

Johnny Depp is absent from the cast for the first time since 2003’s “Big Fish.” And Burton’s wife, Helena Bonham Carter, is missing a Burton directed film for the first time since they met on the set of 2001’s “Planet of the Apes.”

If that’s isn’t a signal that this film is going to be different, I don’t know what is.

In “Frankenweenie” Burton goes back to the German Expressionism style he’s known for and we’re reintroduced to actors we haven’t seen him direct since the 90s.

With a strong mixture of previous Burton elements this movie comes out looking and feeling like a blend of “Corpse Bride,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
 

“Frankenweenie” really is a blend of Burton's previous work. This movie is even a remake of his 1984 short film by the same name, released just a year before his first feature hit “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.”

Young Victor Frankenstein, played with expert tenderness by the young Charlie Tahan, is a friendless elementary school student who likes science experiments and making 1950s style horror movies in the attic. To his father’s (the enduring Martin Short) chagrin he dislikes sports and socializing with his classmates.

Victor finally gives in and goes out for baseball, but after an impressive hit his luck changes and his beloved dog Sparky is killed by a car.

Victor is thrown into a depression, but it doesn’t last long because that would be a terrible children’s movie.

In the style the 1931 horror classic “Frankenstein” he brings Sparky back to life, and a whole mess of new problems arise.

“Frankenweenie” is a great way to introduce children to older movies. If the black and white doesn’t turn kids away they’ll be presented with a collection of movie monsters that haven’t been this fun since they were hanging out with Abbott and Costello.

This movie is produced by Disney, which is amusing because they fired Burton after they financed the original 1984 short. They believed he had wasted company resources and funds on a movie that was too dark for children.

But that was 28 years ago. Burton has proven over the years that there is a niche audience for his films.

The only real loss in the remake is the spirit of the original. There are so many movie references in this film that it seems to be made by an experienced man looking back on a career, and less like a passionate love letter from a young man to the classic horror genre.

Yet, that’s to be expected when you do the math and realize that the 54-year-old Burton was only 26 when he made the short film.

Despite its PG rating parents should take a second look at this movie before taking any young children to see it in theaters.

While Sparky’s death is certainly sad it’s handled compassionately without too much trauma on screen. Kids may, however, have a problem with the resurrection of the other, less friendly, pet monsters during the film’s final confrontation. Seeing wings and fangs burst out of a fluffy white kitten is something some kids won’t be able to unsee.

“Frankenweenie” will entertain kids and parents alike. Those who remember the original will delight in revisiting the past, but it’s the new kids to the darker Tim Burton world that will have the most fun.

Fun for the whole family. Kids will enjoy the animation while parents relive the classics they grew up with. See it in theaters or rent it, but skip the 3D.