Another year, and another wave of decent animated films to enjoy for the whole family.
What I've learned though?
Pixar is slipping, and all of the other studios are closing the gap.
It hasn't translated with many critics and audiences, yet, and that's a shame.
However, if Pixar (and Disney for that matter) wants to retain their crown, they've got to step up their game.
Now, on with the countdown!
Hotel
Transylvania -
Sony Animation returns to the best of the year listing with one
of Adam Sandler's best performances in ages. It simply took a cartoon
to make it happen. Surrounded by his usual cohorts, the gang lends
their voices to some of horror's finest creatures of the night to bring a
coming of age love story between a vampire and a human. Filled with
lowbrow humor (as to be expected) but with a surprising amount of heart
it was one of those surprising films to find that I liked it as much as I
did.
The Croods -
Conversely, the first of 2 Dreamworks films to
hit the list, I was actually a bit disappointed that I didn't like it
more than I did. Perhaps it's the Flintstone factor? ;) Again, it was
good, just not quite as good as I had hoped for. Sadly, that seems to
be the balancing act for animated films: They either miss or shoot well
past my expectations. In 2014, I guess I need to either set the bar
really low for every film, or not pay attention to what is coming out
until it shows up on my doorstep.
Monsters University -
Pixar returns with a prequel to one of my favorites of all time. Good, but
not great. That's been the status quo from Pixar for the last 3 years
(Cars 2, Brave and now this). While it was great to have Crystal and
Goodman back together again (for the first time!) as Mike and Sulley, it
was missing the heart (Boo) that made the first one so memorable for
me.
ParaNorman -
I totally expected to hate this one. Looking an
awful lot like a Tim Burton production, which I would have loathed
(remember Frankenweenie?) this was a movie that was smart, well-written
and had more heart than I ever expected. Not your typical animated
feature, but I think if you've overlooked this one, you've really missed
out on an underrated gem. Streaming on Netflix if you haven't seen it.
Wreck it Ralph -
So close to the best
movie on the list. It was fun. Funny. Well written. Great voice cast.
Beautifully lush animation. Wonderful story. Willing to see a sequel.
Just a great fun time. However, it loses the edge, ever so slightly to
the next film on the list. But when it comes down to it, it's comparing
animated apples to animated oranges. They are both delicious, but they
are totally different fruits. If you want to have a good time for 90
minutes, this is your film right here. However, if you want to be
mesmerized by a story that digs a little bit deeper, then you finish the
year with...
Rise of the Guardians -
Dreamworks scores big, at
least here, with one of the most hauntingly beautiful animated films
you'll get to see. Everything I said about Wreck it Ralph, Rise of the
Guardians does as well. However, replace Funny with Amusing as the
laughs are not nearly as big and broad in this film. Plus, if your
heart strings aren't plucked when you discover Jack's center, you're
even colder than Jack Frost is.
:)
Tomorrow: This is it, the best of the best of the year. Will any of these films from the last three days make the final cut???
