| Audience: | 4th - 6th Grades |
| MPAA Rating: | Rated PG for some thematic elements, scary images, action and mild language |
| Profanity: | Some mild schoolyard language |
| Nudity/Sex: | Kisses, manipulatively seductive behavior |
| Alcohol/Drugs: | None |
| Violence/Scariness: | Macabre humor involving evil scientists, "comic" suicide attempts by immortal character, humorous but scary and grotesque images |
| Diversity Issues: | A theme of the movie |
| Movie Release Date: | September 19, 2008 |
In the town of Malaria, anatomy is destiny. Boy babies get their assignments at birth. Those without hunchbacks become evil scientists. Those with hunchbacks become Igors and spend their days saying, "Yes, master," when ordered to "Throw the switch!"
Malaria was once a happy farming community. But some sort of climate change resulted in constant thunderstorms and now the entire economy depends on evil inventions and the biggest event of the year is the annual evil science fair competition. But not all of the people in Malaria are right for their assigned roles. Dr. Glickenstein (voice of John Cleese) is not a very good evil scientist. His Igor (John Cusack) has the hunchback of an assistant but the heart of an inventor. And the most evil scientist of all, Dr. Schadenfreude (voice of Eddie Izzard) cannot invent anything at all and relies on tricks and spying to steal the inventions of others. Igor, with the help of two assistants he invented, the immortal cat-like Scamper (voice of Steve Buscemi) and a brain in a jar named Brain (voice of Sean Hayes), invents a bride-of-Frankensteinish monster (voice of Molly Shannon). But she, too, turns out not to fit into the role she has been assigned.
The tone of the movie is cheerily macabre, so parents should be cautious about allowing young or especially sensitive children to see it. But for those who are able to be in on the joke, the film has a number of delights, from the Louis Prima songs on the soundtrack to the tweak and jibes at horror films, "Annie," and James Lipton's "Inside the Actor's Studio."
Parents should know that this film includes a lot of macabre humor that may be disturbing to some children. Characters keep trying to be "evil," and the film includes blackmail and extortion and "humorous" (but not mocking) references to blind orphans. An "immortal" character repeatedly tries to commit suicide and it also includes references to severed body parts and to Frankenstein-style re-animation of dead bodies. A character behaves seductively to gain the confidence of rivals and there is some potty humor.
Family discussion: Why did these characters want to be evil? Why did Eva want to be an actress? Do you think everyone has a "bad bone?" Talk about what the name Schadenfreude means.
If you like this, try: "Sky High," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Monster House," and "Shrek" And read my interview with the screenwriter, Chris McKenna.
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Personally, I didn't like it and neither did my children. We were expecting it to have a lighter, more Halloween feel. It was too scary for young children, and too romantic middle years children who don't like boys/girls yet (at least mine). I really expected more and felt that it was just a cheap attempt for box office cash.
Thanks, Colorado Mama. This is very helpful. I don't agree that it is a cheap attempt for box office cash -- one of the things I liked about it was that is is unabashedly idiocincratic and not the usual homogenized focus-grouped pre-tested multiplex fodder. I tried to make it clear in my review that it is not for everyone and that it is too scary and disturbing for younger children. Your comments provide very useful insights.
My first grade daughter and her best friend were terrified. I felt horrible! We left 25 minutes into the movie. The movie was dark and quite scary with body parts being blown off etc.. I've never taken her to see a movie without first reviewing it, so this was my faux pas. Your review was on point. Again, I should have read it first.
Thanks so much for letting us know of your experience, Lisa. This is very helpful to other parents trying to decide if this movie is right for their children. I know it doesn't help, but it gets less gruesome later in the film!
You did exactly the right thing and your daughter and her friend will always remember that you protected them. Thanks again, and I hope you will continue to report on your family's reaction to the movies you see.
95% of the children I asked who saw the movie said they enjoyed it, and thought it was funny. One of my 4th grade special education students wrote areview of the film, He states that he learned that no matter what your defects are you can make your dreams come true. He also said that he learned that it is not good to lie. As adults it is important to communicate with our children, and try to see things throught their eyes!
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