| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A+ |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
B |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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IGOR: Heartwarming Message, Ridiculously Funny
by Ellen (movies profile)
Sep 20, 2008
7
of
8 people found this review helpful
I LOVE humor that is just ridiculous and goofy, but doesn’t put anyone down. Kids and parents do, too. Igor really delivers with cute, goofy humor and the story wraps it in a unique brand of heartwarming charm.
Igor's biggest message: "I'd rather be a good nobody than an evil somebody" is absolutely what kids (and everyone) NEEDS to see right now. It warmly promotes the exact same message as the wonderful children’s book “Hope for the Flowers”, which is; that misusing or stepping on others to get ahead doesn’t ultimately work, and hurts everyone, including the ones doing the stepping on others.
In a dark land, under the tyranny of King Malbert, the Malarians are eventually saved from his exploitive oppression, and from having to collude with his evil blackmail of the rest of the world. Our heroes are most unlikely, and in an often-hilarious tumble of fateful events, they learn that they had a deeper purpose than even they knew at the start. This is a hopeful, purposeful, important message, especially given the current state of our own nation.
Arguably, you do have to be a bit on your toes to catch some of the subtle but constant amusing details here, especially in the unique, complex character animation design and delightfully silly sets. Igor spoofs a lot, too. The acting is superb, overcoming some fragmentation in the composition of the film. Cusak and Shannon win you over with lovable, awkward warmth. Buscemi has outrageously funny, very dry sarcasm and Izzard is brilliantly droll as an evil conniving nemesis. Leno is sharp and bullish and Coolidge is an impressive chameleon. Cleese is diabolical and cocky. Hall is offbeat fascinating, and Hayes and Slater are uniquely stupidly funny.
I think this movie may be going both over some people’s heads and also too deep for them. For others, who can see the forest, and the trees, there is much innocence (in the goofy humor and the charming story) and goodness that triumphs.
This film brings out the funniest side of awkward in many of the characters so warmly. Igor has ridiculous predicaments and scenarios and that just leave you chucking for days. Like; a huge monster made of mismatched body parts really being a sensitive actress who chose her name from a misunderstanding, the Annie theme song becoming a charge and destroy call, a “brainwash” being a carwash-like place where they go to get a brainwash, but with the wrong material, leading to crazy results. Throw in an immortal bunny, an invisible man who wears shirts, shoes, but not pants, some adorable blind orphans, etc... you just don’t see all that coming, and it’s hilarious when it arrives. There is so much subtle humor to absorb; that I think it will be one of those that is even better seeing it the 2nd time. Igor is Big, Sweet, Goofy FUN! |
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